Over 150 community members helped "green-up" the Gunflint this past weekend
Jun 09, 2026 10:50AM ● By Content Editor
All photos by Laura Durenberger-Grunow
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 9, 2026
Over 150 community members joined forces to "green-up" the 57 miles of the Gunflint Trail and surrounding areas this past weekend. The Gunflint Trail Cleanup, in its 4th year, officially kicked off the morning of Saturday, June 6.
Before the actual cleanup day, participants signed up for a section of the trail to collect trash, and had the option to join the official cleanup on Saturday morning or tackle their section anytime over the weekend. Trash was collected by volunteers in garbage bags and left along the side of the road for pickup by the Cook County Highway Department on Monday morning.
After the morning clean-up on the 6th, some attendees gathered at the Schaap Community Center for lunch, activities, and mingling, all part of the "Trash Bash." Local organizations were also in attendance, providing the opportunity for community members to learn about local invasives with the Cook County Invasives Team, pick up free seedlings from Let's Plant Trees, make two types of loon-themed bracelets with Get the Lead Out, and connect with Friends of the Boundary Waters (who also hosted BWCAW-themed trivia) and Firewise.
Andrea Hofeldt, who has organized the Cleanup for the past three years, shared during the event that, new for 2026, she added seven additional sections at popular boat ramps and planned to add more areas in 2027.
As in past years, Hofeldt asked participants to document and share the most salvageable and unique/interesting items found while picking up trash. Some items included:
Prizes, donated by local Gunflint Trail businesses, were also awarded for the best team name, which went to the "Garbage Patch Kids," and for raffle winners.
Hofeldt thanked the volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly: Mona Hanson, Cherlyn Morrison, Ken and Pam Spangler, Carl Madsen, and an extra-special shout-out to Shari Ramy at Gunflint Pines for providing lunch.
The 2027 event will take place on Saturday, June 5. A sign-up will be available in late April or early May.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 9, 2026
Over 150 community members joined forces to "green-up" the 57 miles of the Gunflint Trail and surrounding areas this past weekend. The Gunflint Trail Cleanup, in its 4th year, officially kicked off the morning of Saturday, June 6.
Before the actual cleanup day, participants signed up for a section of the trail to collect trash, and had the option to join the official cleanup on Saturday morning or tackle their section anytime over the weekend. Trash was collected by volunteers in garbage bags and left along the side of the road for pickup by the Cook County Highway Department on Monday morning.
After the morning clean-up on the 6th, some attendees gathered at the Schaap Community Center for lunch, activities, and mingling, all part of the "Trash Bash." Local organizations were also in attendance, providing the opportunity for community members to learn about local invasives with the Cook County Invasives Team, pick up free seedlings from Let's Plant Trees, make two types of loon-themed bracelets with Get the Lead Out, and connect with Friends of the Boundary Waters (who also hosted BWCAW-themed trivia) and Firewise.
Andrea Hofeldt, who has organized the Cleanup for the past three years, shared during the event that, new for 2026, she added seven additional sections at popular boat ramps and planned to add more areas in 2027.
As in past years, Hofeldt asked participants to document and share the most salvageable and unique/interesting items found while picking up trash. Some items included:
- Credit card (not expired)
- A dog toy
- A new fishing lure
- A truck tire ramp
- Whole back end of boat trailer with license (2003)
- A car floor mat
- A piece of wood with a message written on it ("meet me somewhere...")
- A 30ft heavy cable
- A 1930s golf club (fully intact), which won a 1st-place prize for the most interesting item found
- A brand new temporary tattoo, which won a place prize for the second most interesting item found
- A boat trailer hitch, which won 1st place for the most salvageable item found
- Two hot dogs and one steak wrapped in foil won 2nd for one of the most salvageable items found
Prizes, donated by local Gunflint Trail businesses, were also awarded for the best team name, which went to the "Garbage Patch Kids," and for raffle winners.
Hofeldt thanked the volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly: Mona Hanson, Cherlyn Morrison, Ken and Pam Spangler, Carl Madsen, and an extra-special shout-out to Shari Ramy at Gunflint Pines for providing lunch.
The 2027 event will take place on Saturday, June 5. A sign-up will be available in late April or early May.
