Grand Marais

Grand Marais is a harbor village along Lake Superior's shoreline in Minnesota.

Understand
Grand Marais is a small village built along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. Grand Marais is situated on a doubled-harbor stone outcropping of the shoreline. It is 110 miles (177 km) northeast of Duluth and 40 miles (64 km) southwest of the Canadian border along Highway 61, an All-American road and national Scenic Byway. Fully half of the full-time residents of Cook County, Minnesota live in Grand Marais - that's about 1,300 people.

"Grand Marais" is from the French: "big marsh," to distinguish it from the town of Little Marais, which is about 60 miles (96 km) down the road and apparently was built on a smaller marsh. This is apparently boosterism run amok, "You think you have it bad, we have it worse!" Never fear, the town is no longer swampy.

Grand Marais offers a great deal to multiple kinds of visitors. Whether you are interested in getting into the outdoors, shopping, fishing, or getting a great bite to eat, there is a lot to be had in this small town.

Please keep in mind that many restaurants and shops are only open seasonally. Call ahead or you may be disappointed.

Get in
The only way in, and the only way out (at least by car), is Minnesota Highway 61, which parallels Lake Superior. There are other roads that leave town, but they just head into the woods and eventually stop. Highway 61 is the only paved through road in Cook County, so enjoy it. As a historical note, Highway 61 didn't open until the 1920s; before that, most travel to much of anywhere was by scheduled steamer on Lake Superior. This meant, of course, that between sometime in November and about April, there was no service due to ice. During that time, you had your option of horses or dogsled, but this was confounded by the fact that there was really no continuous road where highway 61 is now. There is an airport a few miles out of town, up on the ridges overlooking the lake, but no scheduled service.

And of course, you can boat in via Lake Superior. There is a municipal marina  to dock at and get fuel. The harbor generally has a few fair-sized sailboats or powerboats in it, often having sailed across the lake from the Apostle Islands. Boating on Lake Superior isn't necessarily dangerous but isn't for novices, either. The State of Minnesota has created about 15 "safe harbors" up and down the North Shore, because there are virtually no natural harbors along this 130-mile (209 km) stretch. There's a reason they're called "safe harbors;" think about it before you just up-hook and set out.

Get around
There appears to be little public transport in Grand Marais, however the average person should be able to walk the entire town with no problem. Most people drive in and park their car and then proceed to window shop and walk around town. Some rent bikes. Crossing MN 61 is a risky endeavor. Be forewarned.

See
Grand Marais is one of the principle gateways to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, via the Gunflint Trail, which starts in the middle of town and heads up and back into the woods. The Gunflint Trail is 65 miles (105 km) of blacktop winding through very beautiful woods and lakes, with numerous resorts and cabins along the way. Deer, bear, and moose are often seen along (or on) the road at all hours, so keep the right foot light on the pedal. At resorts, or from outfitters, canoes and kayaks are available by the day or week, along with complete or partial outfitting and even guides, for day-to-week-long canoe trips. The BWCAW is one of only a few areas in the U.S. where you can canoe back into a significant true wilderness for weeks at a time, and it adjoins the Quetico Wilderness of Ontario; if you want, you can canoe all the way to Hudson's Bay.

Do

 * Grand Marais is home to a thriving art colony, has lots of galleries with local and regional artists' work, and a well-attended summer arts festival
 * Grand Marais also has several outfitting and charter companies. Call ahead for reservations and spend the day, afternoon, or evening sailing Lake Superior with lunch served, or earn your keep fishing.
 * Near Grand Marais are several smaller villages, including Lutsen and Schroeder, as well as other State Parks with trails and natural beauty to keep you plenty busy. Try Cascade River State Park, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, and Grand Portage State Park. At Judge C.R. Magney State Park, be sure to hike the Devil's Kettle trail, which leads to a magnificent 50-foot (15-m) waterfall that mysteriously disappears into the rock.
 * Near Grand Marais are several smaller villages, including Lutsen and Schroeder, as well as other State Parks with trails and natural beauty to keep you plenty busy. Try Cascade River State Park, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, and Grand Portage State Park. At Judge C.R. Magney State Park, be sure to hike the Devil's Kettle trail, which leads to a magnificent 50-foot (15-m) waterfall that mysteriously disappears into the rock.
 * Near Grand Marais are several smaller villages, including Lutsen and Schroeder, as well as other State Parks with trails and natural beauty to keep you plenty busy. Try Cascade River State Park, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, and Grand Portage State Park. At Judge C.R. Magney State Park, be sure to hike the Devil's Kettle trail, which leads to a magnificent 50-foot (15-m) waterfall that mysteriously disappears into the rock.
 * Pick up a copy of the Cook County News-Herald to connect and find out more about what to do while in Grand Marais.

Learn

 * Take a class at North House Folk School, teaches traditional northern crafts, everything from wooden boat building to knife making to baking.
 * Grand Marais Art Colony, Begun in 1947, it is Minnesota's oldest art colony. Offers classes in oil, water colors, ceramics, glass, print and more.  Special events include the Grand Marais Art Festival, held in the middle of July, and the Plein Aire Painting Competition at the end of August.

Eat

 * The Pie Place, known for having great breakfast and pie
 * Johnson's Foods, a family owned grocery store known for their friendly smiles, located next to the only stoplight in the county!
 * Johnson's Foods, a family owned grocery store known for their friendly smiles, located next to the only stoplight in the county!
 * Johnson's Foods, a family owned grocery store known for their friendly smiles, located next to the only stoplight in the county!
 * Johnson's Foods, a family owned grocery store known for their friendly smiles, located next to the only stoplight in the county!

Sleep
Grand Marais has many lodging options, depending on the kind of vacation that you would like to have. Options include wonderful hotels with fire places, jacuzzi tubs, and beautiful views, all the way down to simple cabins with running water and not much else. Many smaller lodging places that are family run may only be open seasonally.



Go next
Take a short road trip out from Grand Marais to visit the many sites. Travelers can head north on Hwy 61 to the Canadian border and visit Fort William Historic Park in Thunder Bay. The kids will enjoy this historical fort with actors recreating many activities. Otherwise, head south on Hwy 61 from Grand Marais and visit Lutsen. Here you can ski (in winter), ride the gondola, and hike. On your way south on Hwy 61, be sure to stop in Tofte and visit Coho Cafe Bakery & Deli where you can munch on gigantic sandwiches and fantastic spreads.