Grand Portage National Monument guide

This guide is for travelers deciding whether to stop on the way to the border, the High Falls or the Isle Royale ferry. It covers what the monument is, seasons and hours, the two trails, getting there, and how it compares with Grand Portage State Park, the separate park at the border crossing on Highway 61.

Every fact below comes from the National Park Service's Grand Portage site unless another source is named.

What the monument is

Grand Portage marks the overland route around the falls and rapids of the lower Pigeon River. The NPS explains that waterfalls blocked the route from Lake Superior up the Pigeon River, so the North West Company used the Grand Portage footpath to reach the navigable part of the river. From this spot, the NPS says, "a canoe can reach the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico with no portage longer than 12 miles."

Congress established the monument in 1958 to "preserve and interpret fur trade and Ojibwe history and culture." It sits within the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation, and the NPS says it is "the first National Park Service unit to be co-managed with a Tribal Nation."

The monument covers 710 acres in three pieces:

The depot buildings are reconstructions. According to the NPS, "the four buildings and stockade fence were reconstructed in the 1970's by Ojibwe carpenters of Grand Portage" over foundations found in archaeological digs that began in 1936.

Seasons, hours and fees

The NPS did not post summer depot hours on its hours page as of November 11, 2026. Check the operating hours page before a summer visit.

Fees: the NPS fees page says "an entrance pass is not required" and that the Heritage Center, exhibits, films, Historic Depot, trails, picnic areas, parking and special events "are all free of charge." Donation boxes are at the Heritage Center and the Great Hall. National park passes are not sold here; the nearest place listed is the Gunflint Ranger District office in Grand Marais.

Events: the NPS home page calls Rendezvous Days "the most popular time to visit," with costumed interpreters reenacting 18th century fur trade life. The NPS page does not give a year with its listed dates, so check the park calendar or call 218-475-0123 for the dates in the year you plan to go.

Trails: Mount Rose and the Grand Portage

Both trailheads are across Mile Creek Road from the historic depot, and the NPS says the trails are open year-round. Bicycles are not allowed on monument trails.

Mount Rose

The NPS Mount Rose page describes two ways up to the overlook at 906 feet:

• Mount Rose Trail: "asphalt trail with stone steps and guardrails in steepest sections, ~1.5 miles round trip from the trail head across from the Depot."
• Mount Rose Loop Trail: a dirt path between flights of wooden stairs, starting from the picnic area at the Heritage Center parking lot, "a little less than a mile round trip."

The NPS suggests 30 to 90 minutes. The view takes in Grand Portage Bay and the depot, and the NPS says Isle Royale is visible on a clear day. A separate NPS hiking page calls Mount Rose "the one mile round trip trail," so the NPS's own figures range from a little under one mile to about one and a half miles round trip, depending on the page and the route. In winter the trail "can be icy with areas of deep snow."

The Grand Portage (Gichi Onigaming)

The portage itself is "the 17 mile round trip Grand Portage," 8.5 miles each way to Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River. The NPS camping page warns that "the hilly, rocky, rutty route challenges even experienced hikers," and the trail "crosses water and has narrow boardwalks in wet areas."

Camping is allowed only at two remote campsites at Fort Charlotte, each limited to nine people, with a free backcountry permit. The NPS says to allow two weeks for permit processing. Day hikes do not need a permit. Fires are allowed only in the fire rings at Fort Charlotte.

Pets: leashed pets (6 feet or shorter) are allowed on trails but not inside buildings or the stockade.

Visiting in winter

The depot is closed, but the Heritage Center, grounds and trails stay open. The NPS suggests borrowing a pair of historic snowshoes at the front desk, walking the snowy grounds, or skiing the Grand Portage trail "1.5 miles one way from the Depot to new Highway 61," ready to break trail. See our North Shore in winter guide for other cold-season stops.

Monument vs. Grand Portage State Park

These are two different places run by two different agencies.

The NPS itself suggests rounding out a day with "the High Falls at Grand Portage State Park," which it calls the tallest waterfall in Minnesota. Details are in our Grand Portage State Park guide, and North Shore waterfalls, in driving order lists the falls you pass on the way up.

Getting there and before you go

• Location: about 150 miles northeast of Duluth and 50 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
• Directions: from Highway 61, turn onto Casino Road at the Grand Portage Trading Post, turn left at the stop sign onto Mile Creek Road, drive about 3/4 mile, and turn left at the large wooden NPS sign. The parking lot entrance and exit are one-way.
• Services nearby: the NPS lists the Trading Post for gas, groceries and fishing supplies, Ryden's Border Store for gas and money exchange, and Grand Portage Lodge and Casino for lodging, restaurants and camping.
• Bus: the NPS notes Arrowhead Transit service between Duluth and Grand Portage.
• Contact: Heritage Center, 170 Mile Creek Road, Grand Portage, MN 55605, 218-475-0123.
• Going on to Isle Royale? The ferries leave from a marina in Grand Portage. See the Isle Royale ferry from Grand Portage guide.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota road trips · Grand Portage State Park · Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop

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Sources

• National Park Service, Grand Portage National Monument home page: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/index.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Operating Hours and Seasons: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/hours.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Basic Information: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Fees and Passes: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/fees.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Directions and Transportation: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/directions.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Things To Do: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Outdoor Activities: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/outdoor-activities.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Camping: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/camping.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Permits and Reservations: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
• National Park Service, Grand Portage, Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/faqs.htm
• National Park Service, Hike Mount Rose: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-mount-rose.htm
• National Park Service, Hike Grand Portage Trails: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-grand-portage-trails.htm
• National Park Service, NPS Data API, Grand Portage operating hours (parkCode grpo): https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=grpo
• Minnesota DNR, Grand Portage State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00173