A Drive Down Minnesota's Loneliest Road Will Take You Miles And Miles Away From It All
By Betsy Rathburn|Published July 19, 2017
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
When you imagine Minnesota’s most remote place, what do you think of? More than likely, you imagine somewhere among the plentiful forests and lakes in the northern part of the state. That is certainly where Minnesota’s loneliest road lies. It’s full of trees, wildlife, and not much else, and you’ll be 50 miles from the nearest town when you reach the end.
Minnesota's loneliest road is Cook County Road 12, better known as the Gunflint Trail.
Though the Gunflint Trail is a popular spot - especially in the summer - it is possible to drive its entire 50 miles without seeing many other people. If you truly want to get away from it all, go in the off months, when only the most dedicated hikers and fishermen venture that far north.
The route stretches 55 miles through the North Woods, starting at the North Shore.
While there are quite a few resorts along the route - and a restaurant at the very end - you'll be impressed by just how remote this road is. To put things in perspective, the end of the Gunflint Trail is a nearly 6-hour drive from the Twin Cities. It's more than 3 hours from Duluth.
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The trail starts from Grand Marais, right on Highway 61. Grand Marais is the only town along the way.
It's a great drive to take if you're enjoying a weekend along the North Shore. You're likely already there to get away from it all, so why not go a little further? Because Grand Marais is the only town on the entire Gunflint Trail, you'll be over 50 miles from civilization when you reach the end.
Being in the Arrowhead region, you'll travel through the remarkably vast Superior National Forest. The forest is made up of 3.9 million acres of mixed woods. It is truly a nature lover's paradise. Visitors can access hiking trails and a campsite at the very end of the Gunflint Trail.
The Boundary Waters make up more than one million acres of the Superior National Forest as well.
As you drive along the Gunflint Trail, you'll notice a few of the many lakes. that make up the Boundary Waters. Because no motorized vehicles are allowed on the lakes, you can be sure that they are pristine. There is easy access to at least one of the lakes at the end of the road.
Travel along this lonely road could give you you up-close glimpses of wildlife.
The Gunflint Trail is known as a great spot to see wildlife in action. It's not uncommon to see smaller animals such as rabbits, foxes, and birds. But it's also not unheard of to spot a deer, bear, or even an elusive moose. Keep your eyes peeled, and you'll realize you aren't as alone as you thought.
The Gunflint Trail is one of Minnesota’s treasures and certainly a contender for its loneliest road. Have you ever driven on it? Let us know your experience down below!
