A walk through Chik-Wauk Museum can get you thinking about the Gunflint Trail’s history. Luckily, just eight miles back down the Gunflint Trail, is a 3.3 mile hike that highlights historic events on the Gunflint Trail more than a century ago.  The Centennial Trail was constructed last year by the U.S. Forest Service to commemorate the centennial of the Superior National Forest. The Trail follows parts of the Port Arthur, Duluth & Western Railroad, a Canadian railroad that crossed into the United States at the Gunflint Lake Narrows  to access the Paulsen Mine.

Before the emergence of the resort industry along the Gunflint Trail, people spent a lot of time hoping to find their riches in the area. The Paulsen Mine was one such attempt. Prospectors had hoped to extract iron ore from the Gunflint Lake region and make their fortune.  As it was, only one train load of iron ore was ever removed from the mine.  However the test pits are still visible along the Centennial Trail today.

Tomorrow, as part of the Taste of the Gunflint Trail festivities along the Trail, USFS interpreter Steve Robertsen will be offering a guided hike of the Centennial Trail. You can meet Steve at the Centennial/Kekekabic Trail at 3:00 tomorrow (Saturday, September 11). Bring decent footwear, a water bottle, and be prepared for the hike to take approximately 2 hours. What a great way to cap off a day of history on the Gunflint Trail!