National Monument

Grand Portage National Monument

Midwest

About Grand Portage

Travel into the past to discover the present. Explore the partnership between the Grand Portage Anishinaabe and the North West Company during the North American fur trade. Experience the sights and smells of a bustling depot reconstructed in its historic location. See how it shaped co-management with the NPS today. Follow pathways to the past to imagine a drum echo over Gichigami - Lake Superior.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Midwest
State: Minnesota
Designation: National Monument
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Grand Portage.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Trails & Grounds

Mon: Sunrise to Sunset
Tue: Sunrise to Sunset
Wed: Sunrise to Sunset
Thu: Sunrise to Sunset
Fri: Sunrise to Sunset
Sat: Sunrise to Sunset
Sun: Sunrise to Sunset

The Anishinaabe Oodena (Ojibwe Village), the grounds outside of the palisade, and the Mount Rose and Grand Portage trails are open daily year-round.

Weather and when to go

Short, warm summers and long, cold winters define the climate of northern Minnesota. Average range of summer temperature is from 55°F to 78°F in July and average range of winter temperatures is from –11°F to 12°F in January. Average annual precipitation in Grand Portage, MN is about 32 inches.

Getting there

Traveling northeast or southwest on MN Hwy 61 visitors will see signs alerting the approach to Grand Portage National Monument. A right turn exit lane or left turn from Hwy 61 at the Grand Portage Trading Post will take visitors onto Casino Road. Turn left at the first stop sign from Casino Road to Mile Creek Road. About 3/4 mile on Mile Creek Road, look for the large wooden entrance sign. Turn left up the short hill into the Heritage Center parking lot.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 170 Mile Creek Road, Grand Portage, MN 55605
Phone: (218) 475-0123
Email: grpo_information@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/grpo

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Grand Portage

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Grand Portage

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Visit Grand Portage State Park

Front-Country Hiking · about 2 hours

Grand Portage State Park is the location of the highest waterfall in Minnesota. The waterfalls and rapids along this section of the Pigeon River caused the significance of the Gra…
Hike Grand Portage Trails

Hiking · about 2 hours

Hike the Mount Rose Trail for stunning views of Grand Portage Bay and the Depot. To experience the trek the Voyageurs made as well as Indigenous people before them, hike a portion…
Hike Gichi Onigaming (Grand Portage)

Canoe or Kayak Camping · about 7 hours · Reservation required

Several options exist for exploring the Grand Portage. From a canoe adventure starting in the Boundary Waters to a short walk from the Depot, this trail offers year-round options…
Browse the Bookstore

Bookstore and Park Store · about 45 min

A selection of books and souvenirs are available for sale in the bookstore.
Visit the Reconstructed North West Company Depot

Reenactments · about 1.7 hours

Boozhoo! Bonjour! Welcome to the Depot! In the days of the fur trade, a great variety of people passed through its gates to do business with the North West Company. As you wander…
Birding on Mount Rose

Birdwatching · about 50 min

From the Heritage Center parking lot to the top of Mount Rose and down to the Historic Depot, you'll pass through different habitats. Listen for Merlins and White-throated Sparrow…
Snowshoeing at Grand Portage

Snowshoeing · about 45 min

Ask at the front desk to check out a pair of historic snowshoes for the day. Explore the snowy Depot area.
Investigate Archeology at the Heritage Center

Museum Exhibits · about 40 min · Reservation required

View archaeological artifacts from excavations from the 1930s to the present. Most of what we know about Grand Portage and the fur trade came out of the ground! Through excavation…
Explore Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Culture

Museum Exhibits · about 40 min

Learn about Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) culture past and present. Explore the art and craft of the Grand Portage community with many museum objects on display, including tools for woodwo…

Campgrounds in Grand Portage

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Fort Charlotte Backcountry Campgrounds

2 reservable sites

Two backcountry campsites, accessible to hikers and canoeists, are located at the Pigeon River (Canada/U.S. border) end of Grand Portage National Monument. Eac…