The High Falls at Grand Portage State Park are popular with visitors seeking Minnesota’s highest waterfall. Part of the trail system is getting a much-needed upgrade thanks to a $1.1 million investment from Get Out MORE. Park staff plans to have all improvements completed by fall 2027.
Grand Portage State Park sits along the Minnesota-Canadian border. A mix of hardwoods and coniferous trees fills this wild landscape. The Pigeon River cuts through forest, flowing 31 miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). About 150,000 visitors come to the park annually to see Minnesota’s highest waterfall and breathtaking river gorge.
As a result of normal wear and tear, crews will redo the paved trail from the visitor center to High Falls. While maintenance has been ongoing, the trail and connecting boardwalk were built in 1994. Additionally, they will replace the wooden stairs leading visitors to the viewing platforms near the falls with more durable materials. Finally, parts of the visitor parking lot will be fixed.
Fund supports recreation and access
The 1.1 million investment came from the Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences), a state-funded program. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has received $150 million through the Get Out MORE initiative. Officials then allocate these funds to improve and expand outdoor recreational opportunities across the state. Areas of investment include increasing access to public land, upgrading camping facilities, boat access, and other infrastructure. The DNR also uses the money to rehabilitate streams and improve fisheries.
As the project began to move forward, Tribal leaders, as well as DNR officials and staff, came to the park to learn more and view some of the much-needed improvements.
Park Supervisor, Travis Novitsky, who is part of the Grand Portage Band, told WTIP that, “Thirty-two years of our seasons here in northern Minnesota are pretty hard on facilities, and so the paved trail has quite a few cracks in it,” He added, “We did some crack sealing on the trail in 2020, but it’s old enough and worn out enough now that it needs to be addressed on a broader scale.”
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A stream of history
Channels of water plunge from the 120’ High Falls, shooting up mist and creating a striking view as the river flows east. The walk to the falls is 1 mile round-trip from the visitors center and is wheelchair accessible. Those who’d like to venture further can include the Middle Falls Trail. This 4.5-mile round-trip dirt trail challenges hikers with rugged, steep sections. It also leads you along the river gorge and offers far-off views of Lake Superior. The visitors center provides area history, shares Ojibwe (Chippewa) culture and traditions, and highlights their subsistence lifestyle. Signs within the park are in Ojibwe and English, and park naturalists are well versed in the Tribe’s language, practices, and culture.
The name “Grand Portage” comes from Kitchi Onigaming, the Ojibwe term for “the Great Carrying Place.” French fur traders later adopted a variation of this name when they established themselves in the area, hauling goods overland around the falls. The trail they used was originally created by Indigenous people. It’s nine miles long and is located south of the state park, connecting Lake Superior to inland lakes. Today, many day hikers, history buffs, and canoeists heading to the BWCAW still follow this historic route.
The park lies within the Grand Portage Reservation, and the Band owns the land and oversees stewardship. They have a unique partnership with the state, with the DNR handling day-to-day operations. This is a day-use park only; there is no camping available, though camping options are nearby. Visiting the park is free.
More info:
- Get Out MORE – Investments for Minnesota – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Grand Portage State Park receives $1.1 million for trail, infrastructure improvements – WTIP
- Indigenous Informed Management at Grand Portage State Park – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota
- A Turnaround at Grand Portage – National Parks Conservation Association