Plan Like a Park Ranger! Top 10 Tips for Visiting Grand Portage National Monument

Rendezvous Days Opening Ceremony
The Depot is open Memorial Day weekend though Indigenous People's Day.

NPS photo

Let’s Plan Like a Park Ranger! See below as rangers share their insider tips for visiting Grand Portage National Monument. A little advance trip planning can help ensure you get the most out of your summer vacation.

1. We are a fee free area! - We don’t charge a fee to visit Grand Portage National Monument. This also means we do not sell or provide any of the America the Beautiful Interagency Passes. These can be purchased online or at your nearest participating location.

2. Take a Hike – Grand Portage National Monument has two trails. Take a trip through history by hiking the 8.5 mile historic Gichi Onimaning (Grand Portage) trail to Fort Charlotte. For a shorter hike with a stunning view of the monument and Grand Portage Bay hike the Mount Rose Trail and Loop (1 -1.5 miles). **Looking for High Falls trail? This trail is located along Highway 61 at Grand Portage State Park six miles north of Grand Portage National Monument.

3. Plan for Limited Services – Cell phone service is limited in Grand Portage. Download the NPS app and any other guides you need before you arrive. Wifi is available at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino. There are no restaurants at the monument. Pack a lunch and use one of the two picnic areas located in the monument or check out nearby dining options.

4. Visit the Historic Depot and Heritage Center - The Historic Depot area is open Memorial Day Weekend through Indigenous People's Day and closed the rest of the year. The Heritage Center is open year-round with staff available to answer questions. For those with accessibility needs there is a staff driven golf cart as well as two wheelchairs available upon request for use navigating between the Historic Depot and Heritage Center.

5. Reserve Your Campsite – There are two remote campsites available for backcountry campers. Make a reservation to camp at Fort Charlotte online preferably two weeks prior to your trip. There are no drive-up campsites located at the monument. Drive up campsites are available outside the monument at the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino.

6. Plan for Your Pets – Pets are not permitted within the Historic Depot area or Heritage Center. Leashed pets are welcome on the Grand Portage and Mount Rose trails, and in the Ojibwe Village and walking paths outside of the stockade.

7. Dress for Success - We are on the shore of Lake Superior where afternoon fog and rain are common. Be prepared for cool temperatures and check the weather forecast. The trails can be very buggy! When hiking wear sturdy shoes for uneven terrain, a long-sleeved shirt, and a head net. Consider using bug spray for biting insects. Be sure to check for ticks when you complete the trail in the summer.

8. Get the Kids Involved – Become a Junior Ranger! Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the Heritage Center or download one online before your trip. Other activities for kids include educational coloring pages available online and in the Heritage Center.

9. Explore the Grand Portage Story – Join a program during your visit. Stop by the Heritage Center to see the programs for the day. Explore the partnership between the Grand Portage Anishinaabe and the North West Company during the North American fur trade by watching the park film “Rendezvous with History: A Grand Portage Story” at the Heritage Center upon request or online.

10. Join Rendezvous Days - This event takes place the second weekend in August and is open to the public. Come prepared to participate in workshops and games! This is our busiest weekend of the season.