The Gorge
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.5 mi
- round trip
- 190 ft
- climb
- 1,230 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Aug
- best months
Is The Gorge open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name The Gorge, so check the source for the area it covers.
Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026
Agency closure covering Superior National Forest · Order 09-09-00-26-11 · USFS · Superior National Forest
Forest Road Improvement Projects
Agency alert covering Superior National Forest · USFS · Superior National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Gorge is an easy, 1.5-mile out-and-back hike on gravel in the Lacroix Ranger District of Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The trail is rated easy, with about 80 feet of elevation gain on the way up and the same on the way down, and it's about 1.5 miles long from start to finish. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Orr run to highs around 75°F in July, with lows near 51°F. Winters are severe, with January highs around 15°F and lows near -8°F. Bikes are allowed on the gravel surface, so the trail works for hikers and riders alike. For more time on foot, Johnson Lake Spur BA is about 3 miles away, and Baylis Herriman Main is a little farther. Climbers can head to Government Bay and Crane Lake Wall, both about 3 miles off.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- JOHNSON LAKE SPUR BAHiking3.2 mi
- Government BayRock climbing3.3 mi
- Crane Lake WallRock climbing3.3 mi
- Baylis Herriman MainHiking3.4 mi
- VERMILION FALLS SPUR JHiking3.5 mi
- C SectionRock climbing3.5 mi
Echo Lake (minn)CampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7.1 mi- Echo Lake CgCamping7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- JOHNSON LAKE SPUR BAHiking · ~5 min drive
- Baylis Herriman MainHiking · ~6 min drive
- Baylis Herriman River RunHiking · ~6 min drive
- VERMILION FALLS SPUR JHiking · ~6 min drive
- Baylis Herriman Dovre LoopHiking · ~7 min drive
- Baylis Herriman Lake LoopHiking · ~8 min drive
- FRANKLIN LAKEHiking · ~6 min drive
- Herriman TrailHiking · ~8 min drive
- Echo Hunter East LoopHiking · ~15 min drive
- VERMILION FALLS SPUR LHiking · ~7 min drive
Best time to visit The Gorge
Best months: August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
15° / -8°
13 wet
Feb
21° / -6°
10 wet
Mar
34° / 8°
9 wet
Apr
48° / 23°
11 wet
May
61° / 35°
14 wet
Jun
71° / 46°
15 wet
Jul
75° / 51°
14 wet
Aug
74° / 48°
12 wet
Sep
64° / 41°
13 wet
Oct
50° / 31°
14 wet
Nov
33° / 17°
14 wet
Dec
21° / 2°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Orr 3e, MN, 18.7 mi away at 1,315 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Superior National Forest · Order dated July 12, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Aug 25, 2026 · Forest Service
