Hike Grand Portage Trails (U.S. National Park Service)

A person carrying a large box held in place with a head strap. — Hike like a voyageur!
NPS photo / S. Layton

Temporary Trailhead for the Grand Portage Trail

Please note: the Depot trailhead for the Grand Portage trail is temporarily moved to the Fire Hall on Store road (see map below) until mid-October.

Hiking at the Monument

Grand Portage National Monument offers two trails:
the one mile round trip trail to the top of Mount Rose and the 17 mile round trip Grand Portage. Hikers may camp at Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River by obtaining a free backcountry permit. Fort Charlotte is the only place within Grand Portage National Monument where camping is allowed.

Bicycles are prohibited on the trails at Grand Portage National Monument.

Trail Safety

Wear sturdy foot wear
Carry water
Pack rain gear and/or warm clothing, dress in layers and long sleeves/pants for bug and sun protection
Remember insect repellent, sunscreen, and a first aid kit
Know the difficulty level of the trail and your physical abilities and limitations

Leave No Trace!

Stay on the trail
Carry out all trash
Leave what you find
No fires except in designated fire rings at Fort Charlotte
Please do not feed or disturb wildlife

Pets

Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.8 m). Pets are not allowed inside buildings or the stockade of the historic depot. There are trails around the perimeter of the stockade allowing a bypass.

Leashed pets are allowed on trails and not allowed inside the historic depot or inside the Heritage Center. Service animals are allowed in all areas of Grand Portage National Monument.

Grand Portage National Monument is a fee free area.

Both the Mount Rose and Grand Portage trailheads are located across Mile Creek Road from the historic North West Company Depot.

The trails are open year round. Snowshoes are recommended for Mount Rose during winter. Snowshoes or skis are recommended for the Grand Portage when there is significant snow on the trail.

Trails at Grand Portage National Monument are steep and narrow in places with uneven, rocky footing and areas of standing water. They are not wheelchair accessible.

A map showing the location of a temporary trailhead on the Grand Portage Trail. Find detailed alternative text below. — A temporary trailhead is at the Fire Hall on Store Road.
NPS Graphic / B. Clayton

Temporary Grand Portage Trailhead

Construction/road realignment on Mile Creek Road scheduled to begin May 28, 2024, closed the Grand Portage Trailhead at the Historic Depot near Lake Superior.

Find additional alternative text describing this map below.

Map detail of the Grand Portage Trail near Lake Superior, showing the temporary trailhead. North is indicated by an arrow in the lower left corner of the map. Beginning at the Heritage Center at the bottom and moving north on the map, Mile Creek Road and the NW Co. post, Fire Hall, and Store Road are labeled in yellow. A scale of 1000 feet is along the bottom right. A legend lists the following:

⦁   The temporary trailhead is marked by a hiker symbol in a white circle at the Fire Hall along Store Road.
⦁   Grand Portage Trail is a yellow line.
⦁   A section of closed trail indicated by a magenta line.
⦁   The temporary trail spur from the main trail to the temporary trailhead is marked by a dashed line.
⦁   The Stone Bridge and New Bridge on the road realignment are marked by light-colored rectangles.
⦁   Proposed road construction is outlined in white.