A GREAT PLACE TO RIDE The Sawtooth Mountain Range gives
| |||
the Arrowhead its dramatic , scenic | |||
characteristics , and this region makes | |||
Minnesota a uniquely shaped state . It | |||
juts out between the northern shore of | |||
Lake Superior and the southern border | |||
of Canada . | |||
Not to be confused with Idaho ’ s | |||
significantly more dramatic Sawtooth | |||
Mountain Range , these Upper | |||
Midwestern Sawtooths are more old | |||
hills than peaky mountains . Topping |
|
out at a little more than 2,000 feet , the
Sawtooths rise above the Lake Superior
|
The Gunflint Trail is an iconic getaway for Minnesota tourists . |
||
shoreline and feature cliffs , valleys and |
|||
|
large rock faces . Those rugged features
are especially common north of Grand
Marais . Rocky rivers and towering trees
are other dramatic land features in the
backcountry , and there ’ s a real charm
to going off the grid in this remote
area and stopping at the mom-and-pop
resorts and pitstops that are scattered
around the area .
The region is home to the fabulous C . J .
|
Ramstad North Shore State Trail that runs parallel with the big lake about 5 miles inland , connecting the towns of Duluth on the southern end and Grand Marais to the north . It ’ s one of Minnesota ’ s best snowmobile trails . It ’ s a well-marked trail with flat sections , hilly areas and many river and creek crossings . Visibility through most turns is excellent , but it ’ s by |
no means a wide-open trail .
Spurring off from the northern end the Ramstad trail , the tight Gunflint Trail is a much more twisty and hilly snowmobile path , and there are parts where a blown corner would send a sled and its rider down a steep grade into the trees . A paved roadway by the same name essentially follows the same route
|
as the snowmobile trail , but it provides entry to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , a place where only non-motorized travel is permitted .
Lake effect snow usually keeps trails in the area in good condition . There might be 2 feet of snow in the woods while there ’ s bare ground a few miles away down on the shore .
|