3 Secret Fall Hikes of the Gunflint Trail
Think of these secret hikes I’m about to give you as short and sweet little gems of fall color!
These are perfect for those driving up the Gunflint Trail in search of easily accessible yet quiet spots. Spots where locals who are “in the know” would go for a stroll.
How secret is “secret”? *skeptical tone
Right, so these hikes are not the truly secret hikes out of a locals backyard. Those will remain secret!
However, these three hikes (plus one bonus) are definitely the lesser-known spots. They aren’t Honeymoon Bluff, George Washington Pines, Northern Lights Trail, Magnetic Rock, Centennial Hiking Trail, or the Caribou Rock Trail.
All of those are fantastic hikes…and everybody knows it.
The three hikes I’m going to show you here aren’t listed anywhere. You can’t really Google them and nobody is talking about them.
Why?
- They aren’t long
- They aren’t obvious
- A couple of them aren’t really even hiking trails
Yet, they’re all accessible from the gunflint trail!
**I should note, I live at the very very end of the Gunflint Trail so naturally, my favorite spots are towards the end too. However, I’ve included a bonus spot at the end of this post for those at the beginning of the Trail.
#3 Laurentian Divide
Ok here me out on this one!
The Laurentian Divide overlook on the Gunflint Trail is super obvious, super easy to find, and super talked about. (sick of the word “super” yet?)
My point is, you might be thinking, “Why the heck is this a secret spot?”
Everybody pulls over to take in the view at the overlook BUT rarely do they get out of the car to hike down to Birch Lake below the overlook spot!
Perhaps nobody hikes down to the lake because of the steep stairs…or maybe they don’t know its there. Either way, if you can tackle a few stairs I promise you’ll love this sweet little lake.
Year-round, Birch is a hidden gem. Forget catching the sunset! Hike down to Birch Lake for the moon rise.
Directions:
Without a doubt, this is the easiest spot of the three to find. Once you park at the overlook, get out of the car and walk to the West end where you’ll find a staircase down to the lake.
#2 Seagull Rapids
If you’ve ever camped at Trails End Campground or portaged from Seagull Lake into Gull Lake, you’ll know about Seagull Rapids.
Other than those two scenarios, a person might never know it exists. There are no posted signs in the campground or on the Gunflint Trail.
However, now is the perfect time to visit! The mosquitos are gone, the leaves are colorful, and the ground is covered in a blanket of orange pine needles!
This spot is a beautiful place to sit on the rocks, have lunch, read a book, play in the water, and take in the forest. Plus, you can say you’ve been to the end of the Gunflint Trail!
Also, if you’re looking to spend the night I would HIGHLY recommend Trails End Campground. It has some of the prettiest campsites around. Campsites 16, 17, and 18 will put you right by the rapids.
Directions:
Take the Gunflint Trail until it dead-ends into a parking lot. Park your car and start walking towards the boat landing. (Chances are decent you might see me checking the mail or grabbing a bite to eat at Trail’s End Cafe.)
Keep walking past the first group of campsites until you hit the road to campsites 14-28.
You’ll pass an outhouse. Follow the “one-way” sign until you see a sign for campsite 18 on your right. If there isn’t a group camping there you can take the stairs up to the campsite and access the rapids. You’ll hear the water before you see it.
If campsite 18 is in use, retrace your steps back the tiniest bit and you’ll see an unmarked footpath on the right side of the road just before campsite 18. That path is actually a canoe portage but it will get you to the water just the same!
#1 Don Enzenauer Bridge
Alright folks, this is my favorite spot on the Gunflint Trail!
I probably shouldn’t be talking about this hike but I think you’ll really enjoy it. Anything for you!
It’s a simple little bridge over the Cross River called the Don Enzenauer bridge, situated off County Road 47. Technically, this is part of the snowmobile trail but it the perfect little escape year-round!
The bridge’s namesake, Don, was the owner of the canoe outfitters across the river from me. My parents knew Don and his wife, Opal, back in the 1980s. I have no idea why this bridge is named after him…maybe he put the sign there himself but either way, it’s a slice of heaven and easy to get to (if you know what to look for).
**Tip: If you visit the bridge, you must continue walking until you’ll find yourself underneath a family of towering White Pines. They might take your breath away, they’re that beautiful.
Directions:
This hike is super short, maybe ten minutes if you’re taking your sweet time.
Turn off the Gunflint Trail onto county road 47. You’ll pass a beautiful little beaver dam pond and immediately see the trailhead for the Centennial Hiking Trail on your right.
Park at the trailhead, step out of your car and turn to face the other side of the road. Just down from your car you’ll see this “no motorized vehicles” sign:
Just to the left of the sign is the path underneath the power lines. All you have to do is follow the path until you see the bridge on your left. Easy-peasy!
Bonus: Wild Flower Sanctuary
I don’t know if I’d qualify this as a hike…more like a stroll.
It’s right at the beginning of the Gunflint Trail and I’m always surprised by how many people don’t know about it.
It is the Devil Track Wild Flower Sanctuary located on the beautiful Devil Track River.
If you’re curious about flowers or just need a serene place to sit, this is a really good (and convenient) one. You’ll find walking paths along the river and through marked plants/flowers just steps away from the gravel parking lot.
Directions:
I don’t know about your Google Maps but mine cannot for the life of itself find this place. It sends me off in the wrong direction!
Good thing you don’t need technology to find this place. As you’re heading up the trail, take a right onto Country Road 60. If you see Hedstrom’s sawmill you’ve gone too far.
Drive down County Road 60 for less than a mile and turn into the sanctuary on your left. Simple!
There you have it – my favorite fall spots along the Gunflint Trail!
If you’re heading up the trail at the end of September you will likely get a good dose of autumnal vibes in all of these locations.
I would be so so so jazzed if you do any of these micro-hikes and then tell me how it went! Better yet, share this post so we can get even more people up the Gunflint Trail for fall color scouting!
As always – Happy Trails,
P.S. If all of these hikes are actually known by everybody and their second cousin and I’m just an idiot…maybe don’t tell me. I know you’re nice and will let me live in my delusion.
Think of these secret hikes I’m about to give you as short and sweet little gems of fall color!
These are perfect for those driving up the Gunflint Trail in search of easily accessible yet quiet spots. Spots where locals who are “in the know” would go for a stroll.
How secret is “secret”? *skeptical tone
Right, so these hikes are not the truly secret hikes out of a locals backyard. Those will remain secret!
However, these three hikes (plus one bonus) are definitely the lesser-known spots. They aren’t Honeymoon Bluff, George Washington Pines, Northern Lights Trail, Magnetic Rock, Centennial Hiking Trail, or the Caribou Rock Trail.
All of those are fantastic hikes…and everybody knows it.
The three hikes I’m going to show you here aren’t listed anywhere. You can’t really Google them and nobody is talking about them.
Why?
- They aren’t long
- They aren’t obvious
- A couple of them aren’t really even hiking trails
Yet, they’re all accessible from the gunflint trail!
**I should note, I live at the very very end of the Gunflint Trail so naturally, my favorite spots are towards the end too. However, I’ve included a bonus spot at the end of this post for those at the beginning of the Trail.
#3 Laurentian Divide
Ok here me out on this one!
The Laurentian Divide overlook on the Gunflint Trail is super obvious, super easy to find, and super talked about. (sick of the word “super” yet?)
My point is, you might be thinking, “Why the heck is this a secret spot?”
Everybody pulls over to take in the view at the overlook BUT rarely do they get out of the car to hike down to Birch Lake below the overlook spot!
Perhaps nobody hikes down to the lake because of the steep stairs…or maybe they don’t know its there. Either way, if you can tackle a few stairs I promise you’ll love this sweet little lake.
Year-round, Birch is a hidden gem. Forget catching the sunset! Hike down to Birch Lake for the moon rise.
Directions:
Without a doubt, this is the easiest spot of the three to find. Once you park at the overlook, get out of the car and walk to the West end where you’ll find a staircase down to the lake.
#2 Seagull Rapids
If you’ve ever camped at Trails End Campground or portaged from Seagull Lake into Gull Lake, you’ll know about Seagull Rapids.
Other than those two scenarios, a person might never know it exists. There are no posted signs in the campground or on the Gunflint Trail.
However, now is the perfect time to visit! The mosquitos are gone, the leaves are colorful, and the ground is covered in a blanket of orange pine needles!
This spot is a beautiful place to sit on the rocks, have lunch, read a book, play in the water, and take in the forest. Plus, you can say you’ve been to the end of the Gunflint Trail!
Also, if you’re looking to spend the night I would HIGHLY recommend Trails End Campground. It has some of the prettiest campsites around. Campsites 16, 17, and 18 will put you right by the rapids.
Directions:
Take the Gunflint Trail until it dead-ends into a parking lot. Park your car and start walking towards the boat landing. (Chances are decent you might see me checking the mail or grabbing a bite to eat at Trail’s End Cafe.)
Keep walking past the first group of campsites until you hit the road to campsites 14-28.
You’ll pass an outhouse. Follow the “one-way” sign until you see a sign for campsite 18 on your right. If there isn’t a group camping there you can take the stairs up to the campsite and access the rapids. You’ll hear the water before you see it.
If campsite 18 is in use, retrace your steps back the tiniest bit and you’ll see an unmarked footpath on the right side of the road just before campsite 18. That path is actually a canoe portage but it will get you to the water just the same!
#1 Don Enzenauer Bridge
Alright folks, this is my favorite spot on the Gunflint Trail!
I probably shouldn’t be talking about this hike but I think you’ll really enjoy it. Anything for you!
It’s a simple little bridge over the Cross River called the Don Enzenauer bridge, situated off County Road 47. Technically, this is part of the snowmobile trail but it the perfect little escape year-round!
The bridge’s namesake, Don, was the owner of the canoe outfitters across the river from me. My parents knew Don and his wife, Opal, back in the 1980s. I have no idea why this bridge is named after him…maybe he put the sign there himself but either way, it’s a slice of heaven and easy to get to (if you know what to look for).
**Tip: If you visit the bridge, you must continue walking until you’ll find yourself underneath a family of towering White Pines. They might take your breath away, they’re that beautiful.
Directions:
This hike is super short, maybe ten minutes if you’re taking your sweet time.
Turn off the Gunflint Trail onto county road 47. You’ll pass a beautiful little beaver dam pond and immediately see the trailhead for the Centennial Hiking Trail on your right.
Park at the trailhead, step out of your car and turn to face the other side of the road. Just down from your car you’ll see this “no motorized vehicles” sign:
Just to the left of the sign is the path underneath the power lines. All you have to do is follow the path until you see the bridge on your left. Easy-peasy!
Bonus: Wild Flower Sanctuary
I don’t know if I’d qualify this as a hike…more like a stroll.
It’s right at the beginning of the Gunflint Trail and I’m always surprised by how many people don’t know about it.
It is the Devil Track Wild Flower Sanctuary located on the beautiful Devil Track River.
If you’re curious about flowers or just need a serene place to sit, this is a really good (and convenient) one. You’ll find walking paths along the river and through marked plants/flowers just steps away from the gravel parking lot.
Directions:
I don’t know about your Google Maps but mine cannot for the life of itself find this place. It sends me off in the wrong direction!
Good thing you don’t need technology to find this place. As you’re heading up the trail, take a right onto Country Road 60. If you see Hedstrom’s sawmill you’ve gone too far.
Drive down County Road 60 for less than a mile and turn into the sanctuary on your left. Simple!
There you have it – my favorite fall spots along the Gunflint Trail!
If you’re heading up the trail at the end of September you will likely get a good dose of autumnal vibes in all of these locations.
I would be so so so jazzed if you do any of these micro-hikes and then tell me how it went! Better yet, share this post so we can get even more people up the Gunflint Trail for fall color scouting!
As always – Happy Trails,
P.S. If all of these hikes are actually known by everybody and their second cousin and I’m just an idiot…maybe don’t tell me. I know you’re nice and will let me live in my delusion.
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I knew about all but the bridge! Awesome of you to do this Ash.
Ok, you’re like THE local though haha! Of course, you knew about the first two!
Seagull Rapids, check, I’ve done that portage several times. The others, nope, nope, nope! They are on my list for next summer… unless I get an itch to make the 10 hr. drive sooner.
Hey Ned! I’m so glad you were able to spend a good amount of time up here this summer! Those other two hikes will be waiting for you next summer! 🙂
Hey Ash, today was probably the last of the warmer beautiful days up here on the trail so I ventured out to 2 of your “secret fall hikes”.
Funny thing about the Don Enzenauer Bridge one is that whenever I get the chance I drive down to the small beaver pond and to Round Lake in search of the beavers and the mom and 3 bear cubs. I always wondered what the trail across the road was and where it leads to. Thanks for the mini adventure.
The other one I did today was Seagull Rapids. I was there back in May but figured I’d go back one last time before I leave for the season.
Hey George! Yay! I’m so happy you were able to get out to check out the bridge. That little beaver dam is such a great spot for wildlife, isn’t it? It’s especially beautiful in the winter.
If you need more fall colors before you leave, the Honeymoon Trail area by Lutsen is ablaze at the moment!