Gitchi-Gami State Trail
About Gitchi-Gami State Trail
The Gitchi-Gami State Trail is the paved, non-motorized path being built along Minnesota's North Shore. When complete it will run 86 miles from Two Harbors to Grand Marais; more than 36 miles are open in completed segments (Minnesota DNR, accessed 2026-08-13).
Two Harbors is the southwestern terminus, which means residents can start a ride at the edge of town and be at Gooseberry Falls on separated pavement. The segment around Silver Creek Cliff, built on the old highway alignment after the tunnel opened, is one of the most spectacular pieces of paved trail in the Midwest: a cliff-top route directly above Lake Superior.
Because it has been built in stages over decades, the trail is not yet continuous, and riders should plan around the gaps rather than assume a through route. The Gitchi Gami Trail Association advocates and fundraises for the remaining segments.
Good to know: paved separated path, Lake Superior shoreline, state park connections, Silver Creek Cliff segment, non-motorized.
Neighborhoods it serves
The North Shore's working town: ore docks, a lighthouse, and a real grocery store.
Silver BayA whole town built at once in 1954, with the best cliffs on the North Shore behind it.
Knife River212 people, a working harbor, and the smokehouse that has been curing fish here since 1908.
North Shore (Duluth)Duluth's last two miles: lakefront on one side of the road, woods on the other.
Where these facts come from
- Minnesota DNR, Gitchi-Gami State Trail accessed 2026-08-13
Last reviewed 2026-08-13 by Guide editorial.