A 1/3-mile gap on the Gitchi Gami State Trail has been completed in Tofte, connecting Schroeder to Lutsen. Photo courtesy of GGTA

By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - December 4, 2025

A long-awaited section of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) in Tofte has been completed and open for use since November 4th. The 1/3 mile gap from Sawtooth Outfitters to the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum was all that was left in the construction of a 13-mile section of trail, which takes bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, and others from Schroeder to Tofte and Lutsen.

This new section adds another accessible route in an area already popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Inland from the newly constructed portion of trail, the Jackpot and Highliner mountain bike trails, along with the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT),  parallel the Highway 61 corridor. The Gitchi-Gami Trail’s continued expansion adds safer options for mountain bikers and hikers to come into a nearby town. 

In terms of year-round use, Executive Director of the Gitchi Gami Trail Association (GGTA), Michelle Pierson, told Boreal Community Media that in the winter months, there are opportunities for the trail to be plowed or groomed.  “Communities along the Gitchi-Gami State Trail can work with the MnDNR to get permission to plow portions of the trail,” she said before adding, “For example, part of the trail in Schroeder gets plowed so that folks can walk/bike/walk doggos in the winter, but not the whole trail. This is true for portions of the trail in Lutsen and Tofte, too.”

The GGST is a collaboration between entities, including the MN DNR, MnDOT, with advocacy support from the GGTA, and partnerships with MN state parks, Lake and Cook Counties, local townships, and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission. The DNR owns and maintains the asphalt trail while the GGTA steps in to continue the expansion. The non-profit lobbies for support at the capital and has worked with Representative Roger Skraba and Senator Grant Hauschild to continue supporting maintenance and expansion projects. With the ultimate goal of spanning the 86 miles from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, the DNR continues to apply for grants and federal funding for trail construction.

The section of trail from Schroeder to Tofte was constructed in 2004. An extension was finished in Tofte in 2021. In 2023, the trail was awarded funds from the legislature in the form of a bonding bill, which allowed the completion of the recent expansion. 

Bethany Chaplin, the DNR area specialist, has played a significant role in the continued expansion and maintenance of the trail. Chaplin said that construction for this most recent section of trail went smoothly, even with the lengthy timeline of utility relocation in the corridor. 

Pierson shared that the freshly opened section was strongly anticipated for several reasons. A community of seasonal international employees travels in this area primarily on foot or bike. Additionally, there are high numbers of visitors who use the corridor. Highway 61 is busy and narrow in this section, so keeping pedestrians off the road is a significant safety improvement.

The next step in the expansion of the trail involves a DNR application to the Federal Transportation Alternatives grant that could connect the trail from Tofte to the center of Lutsen.

Pierson said she is grateful for their relationship with the DNR, MnDOT, Representative Skraba, and Senator Hauschild for their collaboration on the projects. The GGTA is currently working on a local match through state bonds to meet requirements for a 2027 federal funding opportunity.

To learn more about the organization, visit the website at GGTA.org