Gunflint Trail Re-opening Event- Tomorrow

Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting, May 22, 8 a.m.

Gunflint Trail, MN — The last seven miles of the Gunflint Trail will be officially open as of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22 permitting unrestricted access to the entire 57-miles of paved road between Grand Marais and the end of the Trail. To commemorate this event, a ribbon-cutting and tree-planting ceremony will take place at the Cross River bridge. The public is invited to attend this event.

The recent Ham Lake Fire started in this area and the residents and businesses along this seven-mile stretch were not only the first to be evacuated, but are also the last to return home. The evacuation order issued on May 6th forced business owners and residents to temporarily relocate while up to 1,000 firefighters based their operations in this area. Thanks to their efforts, the Ham Lake Fire is now contained, crews and equipments have left the area, and residents are now free to go home and get back to business.

“Even if my nearest neighbor is two miles away, they’re still my neighbor,” said Barb Bottger, a resident on Hungry Jack Lake. “What happens to one of us, happens to all of us. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge this homecoming.”

Coinciding with the re-opening of the area at the end of the Gunflint Trail, all but two entry points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) will be re-opened and permits can once again be issued for wilderness canoe trips.

“It’s time to welcome back our friends and neighbors who have spent the most time away from home, and offer help and encouragement as they jump back into business,” says Ted Young of Poplar Creek Guesthouse. “And, of course, we’ll plant some trees.”

“The best thing people can do to help is to come visit us,” says Deb Mark, of Seagull Outfitters. “Tourism is our business, and we look forward to a busy summer vacation season, welcoming visitors to the one-and-only Gunflint Trail.”

# # # #