The Gunflint Scramble This Fall: Remote Racing at the Edge of the Boundary Waters

Tucked deep in Minnesota’s Arrowhead, the Gunflint Scramble is a small but demanding mountain bike race that starts and finishes at Bearskin Lodge on East Bearskin Lake. With a course built on ski and snowmobile trails, plenty of climbing, and the quiet backdrop of the Boundary Waters, it’s a low-key event that favors good riding, good food, and the camaraderie that comes from pushing hard together in a remote place.

To learn more, visit the Gunflint Scramble.

The Gunflint Scramble is back for its third year this fall, starting and finishing at Bearskin Lodge on East Bearskin Lake, right at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s a small, focused race in a setting that feels about as far north and remote as you can get while still rolling in on two wheels.

The Setting

Bearskin Lodge sits in a classic dense forest with rocky ridgelines and quiet lakes around every bend. It’s the kind of place where families have been coming for generations, and that slower pace is part of what shapes the atmosphere of the Scramble.

Riders can sign up for a pre-race breakfast, which doubles as a fundraiser for the local high school mountain bike team, and a simple lunch will be on offer afterward. There’s no big festival scene or blasting music, just good food, plenty of donuts and fruit from local sponsors, and the camaraderie that comes from pushing through a tough course together.

The Course

The Scramble is defined by its climbing. The long course kicks off with a sustained climb that tricks you into thinking you’re near the top more than once before the trail actually crests. This year, a KOM award from Cedaero goes to the first riders who make it up.

The rest of the route blends ski trails, snowmobile tracks, short stretches of gravel, and bits of singletrack. While not overly technical, the terrain includes steep, loose descents and enough remote miles to make it a true mountain bike course, not something to tackle on a gravel setup.

The reward is a landscape that feels far away and wild.

Staying at Bearskin

Lodge accommodations are already booked for race weekend, but the nearby East Bearskin Campground offers camper cabins and sites. Bearskin itself has a nice waterfront for a post-cool down, plus a bonfire Friday night during packet pickup. It’s an easy place to settle in and feel like you’re getting more than just a race.

Making a Weekend of It

The Gunflint Trail has no shortage of ways to fill a weekend. Bearskin rents canoes, kayaks, and motorboats for exploring the lakes, and there’s plenty of hiking and wildlife viewing nearby. On the way in or out, Grand Marais makes a natural stop, think ice cream at Superior Creamery, a donut run, or a browse at Northern Goods.

The Event

The Gunflint Scramble is still young. This will be its third running, but it’s already carved out a niche. It isn’t just for the ultra-serious racer; most riders show up looking for a solid challenge in a low-stress environment. You won’t find an expo area or spectacle here, but you’ll likely leave with tired legs, a few new friends, and a fresh appreciation for one of the North Shore’s most scenic corners.