Grand Portage State Park guide

This guide is for anyone driving to the top of the North Shore and deciding how much time to give the park: the short walk to High Falls, the longer hike to Middle Falls, or both. It also covers what the park does not have, so you can plan where to sleep and eat. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR unless noted; sources are listed at the end.

What makes this park different

Grand Portage is unusual among Minnesota state parks in three ways, all from the DNR park page:

• It is on tribal land. The park lies within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. The DNR calls it "the only state park not owned by the State of Minnesota": the land is leased from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which holds it in trust for the Grand Portage Band. The park was established in 1989 through a partnership between the state and the Band.
• It is also a highway rest area. The visitor center (which the DNR calls a welcome center) doubles as a Class 1 Highway Rest Area for MnDOT and an Explore Minnesota travel information center. All parking is rest area parking.
• It is free. The DNR's current park alert says state park vehicle permits "are not required at this park."

The park covers 291 acres. The Pigeon River forms its northern boundary and is the international border. Lake Superior is about a mile east.

The name comes from history. The DNR explains that the falls and rapids of the Pigeon River blocked river travel, so a nine-mile carrying trail from Lake Superior went around them. That trail became known as "The Grand Portage."

The trails, compared

The DNR's 2026 park map lists about six miles of trails. Three matter for most visitors:

The DNR's two listings for this trail disagree slightly (1 mile on the park web page, 1.2 miles on the park map), so plan for the longer one.

High Falls

The High Falls Trail starts at the visitor center and runs northwest along the Pigeon River. The last 700 feet are boardwalk, ending at three viewing platforms. The DNR park map says one platform is wheelchair accessible. The Pigeon River is the border here, so the far side of the gorge is Canada.

The DNR's geology notes explain why the falls exist: a band of hard diabase rock resists erosion far better than the softer Rove Formation shale around it, so the river drops over it.

There is one rustic toilet near the start of the boardwalk.

Middle Falls

The Middle Falls Trail leaves from the High Falls Trail before the boardwalk. The DNR describes it as "challenging," with "several hundred feet of elevation change," and says it climbs to the highest point in the park for views of Lake Superior before reaching the 20-foot Middle Falls. The DNR's estimates for the 4.5-mile round trip: "three to four hours" on the trails listing and "at least 3 hours" in the park notes.

The current trail update warns of muddy conditions after rain. The DNR asks hikers to walk through mud rather than around it so the trail does not widen.

Picnic Trail and the border marker

The Picnic Trail is a half-mile loop east of the visitor center. The DNR says it leads to grassy picnic sites over the river and, at its end, to the international border marker between Canada and the United States. There is also a covered picnic shelter near the visitor center.

Hours, services and what isn't here

No camping or lodging. The DNR is direct: "This is a day-use only park with no overnight camping or lodging." The rest area allows stops of up to four hours, and "overnight vehicle camping in the rest area parking lots is not allowed." The DNR park map points campers to Grand Portage Marina and RV Park, 6 miles south on Highway 61. For more options, see the camping near Grand Marais guide.

Watch your phone's clock. The DNR warns that phones may pick up a signal from Ontario, which is on Eastern time, and jump ahead an hour if set to update automatically. The DNR's printed park map, meanwhile, says there is no cell service in the park. Expect a weak or foreign signal, and use the courtesy phone in the visitor center lobby to call 911 in an emergency, as the map advises.

Other rules from the DNR park map:

• Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter; only service animals go in buildings.
• Drones are not permitted in the park.
• Plants, flowers, birch bark and cultural items may not be collected.

Free to borrow: the DNR lists birding kits, GPS units, sensory kits and kids' discovery kits that can be checked out at the visitor center. The DNR also says naturalist programs run year-round.

Visiting in winter

The park stays open in winter. According to the DNR, snowshoers may use any trail: the High Falls and Picnic trails are wide and relatively flat, while the Middle Falls Trail "should only be attempted by advanced snowshoers." Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. For what else is open along the shore that time of year, see the North Shore in winter.

Fitting it into a trip

Grand Portage is the last stop on Highway 61 before the border. The DNR's directions: from Grand Marais, drive north on Highway 61 about 36 miles to the border. The park entrance is on the west side of the highway, just before the U.S. Customs station.

Two other Grand Portage stops come up in the same trip. The DNR describes Grand Portage National Monument as a reconstructed fur trade fort from the 1700s, run by the National Park Service rather than the state. Boats to Isle Royale National Park also leave from Grand Portage: the National Park Service lists the Voyageur II and Sea Hunter III ferries departing from the Grand Portage Marina; see the Isle Royale ferry guide.

If you are also stopping at Judge C.R. Magney State Park for the Devil's Kettle on the way up, remember that park does require a vehicle permit. The North Shore state parks compared page shows all eight parks side by side.

Before you go

1. Plan about an hour for High Falls and the visitor center (the DNR map's suggestion for a one-hour visit), plus 3 to 4 hours if you add Middle Falls.
2. Bring sturdy shoes for Middle Falls and expect mud after rain.
3. Arrive between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. if you want the information desk and exhibits open.
4. Don't plan to sleep here. Book a campsite or room elsewhere before you drive up.
5. Check the DNR park page for current trail conditions before you leave.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota hikes and waterfalls · North Shore waterfalls, in driving order · Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop · Things to do in Grand Marais

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Grand Portage State Park (park information, trails, alerts, narratives): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00173
• Minnesota DNR, Grand Portage State Park map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00173.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Top stops at Grand Portage State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/grand_portage/things_to_do.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• National Park Service, Grand Portage National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/grpo/index.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park, Directions and transportation: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/directions.htm