Winter Driving on the Gunflint Trail

Driving on the Gunflint Trail in the winter can be challenging.  In recent months, I have seen people engaging in many dangerous practices which put their life, and the lives of others at risk.  As a member of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, I have seen the results of this carelessness, and know that many of those accidents could have been prevented.  Here are some basic tips of how to drive safely on the Gunflint Trail in the winter:

1. Don't drink and drive in a car or snowmobile!  In the state of Minnesota, if you get caught over the legal limit drinking and driving, drinking and snowmobiling, or drinking and boating, you lose the right to do any of those activities.  Many of the worst accidents I have responded to have involved alcohol.

2. Remember that your 4-wheel or all-wheel drive can get you going faster, but your brakes don't work any better.  If the conditions dictate it, drive slower.

3. If you are driving slower, and there is a line up behind you, pull over in a parking lot, turnaround, or side road to let them pass.  People generally don't mind if you drive slow, but they may not want to follow you for 40 or 50 miles at that speed.

4. If you see an animal or some beautiful scenery, look behind you before you put on the brakes!  I have had multiple cars slam on their brakes in front of me this past year and nearly cause an accident.  The first time I was driving a red fire truck with the emergency lights on, when someone saw a moose, and slammed on their brakes in front of me.

5. Follow other cars at "country distance" instead of "city distance."  In the rural areas, we give the vehicles about 3 times the distance as in the city.  When I had vehicles slam on their brakes in front of me, any one of those incidents could have resulted in an accident if I had been following at "city distance."

6. Don't stop in the middle of the road.  There are plenty of spots to pull off the road if you want to get pictures.

Picture from Gunflint Lake Scenic Overlook Parking Lot

Gunflint and Magnetic Lakes from the Gunflint Lake Scenic Overlook Parking Lot

7. Don't stop in the middle of a curve or on a hill.  Other cars will not have the time to stop if the drivers do not see you until the last second.

8. Don't come up the Gunflint Trail with bad tires.  It doesn't matter if you have 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive if your tires cannot grip the road.  I started out a winter with worn tires once, and it made a huge difference.  Shortly after the first winter driving conditions, I went to Duluth to get some new tires, making the driving much safer and more relaxing.

9. Put your phone away and enjoy the scenery.  American cell phone service disappears as you pass the George Washington Pines just outside of Grand Marais.  If you pick up a signal after that, you will be paying international rates since your signal is bouncing off the Canadian towers.  Besides, it is illegal to make calls on anything but a hands-free device while driving in Minnesota.

10. If you see emergency lights, be prepared to stop!  Please keep first responders and others at an accident scene safe!  Since the Gunflint Trail is only a 2-lane road, there will most likely be someone stopping you if there is an emergency incident.  Have patience, we will let you continue your drive as soon as it is safe.