Riley Road to Highway 2

Go back down Jean Duluth Road to Glenwood, turn left on Glenwood to 60th Ave East. Then turn right on 60th Avenue East to Hwy 61 (London Road). Stay on Hwy 61 for 19 miles through Two Harbors to Hwy 2, turn left on Hwy 2 and go 8.5 miles to North Shore Trail Parking Lot (Snowmobile crossing sign just before entrance to parking lot).

Highway 2 to Beaver Bay

Location of John Beargrease’s gravesite

Drive back down Hwy 2 to Two Harbors and turn left (north) on Hwy 61 at the light. From this intersection, stay on Hwy 61 for approximately 25 miles to Lax Lake Rd (Co. 4). After a left, turn up the hill, the checkpoint will be on the left side of the road.

Highway 2 to Finland

Drive back down Highway 2 to Two Harbors and turn left (north) on Highway 61 at the light at the Holiday gas station. From this intersection, stay on Highway 61 for approximately 32.9 miles to the town of Illgen City and turn left onto MN Highway 1 (west) to Finland.

Stay on Highway 1 for approximately 6.2 miles to the small town of Finland and turn right onto Lake CR 7 (not Lake CR 6) – there will be a sign for George H. Crosby Manitou State Park. Stay on CR 7 for approximately 0.8 miles and the checkpoint will be on the right.

Finland to Sawbill

Backtrack down CR7 and Highway 1 back to Highway 61 and turn left (north) onto Highway 61 at Illgen City. From this intersection, stay on Highway 61 for approximately 23.4 miles to Tofte and turn left onto the Sawbill Trail (Cook CR 2) – there is a green sign on Highway 61 that says Sawbill Trail with an arrow and a blue sign that says camping. (There is a small Mobil gas station and the North Shore Market and Bottle Shop on the left at this intersection.)

Stay on the Sawbill Trail (Cook CR 2) for approximately 5.5 miles to the checkpoint at the intersection of Sawbill and Six Hundred Road. [Note: You probably will not see the Six Hundred Road sign, but there will be plenty of cars parked along the road at the checkpoint.]

Finland to Tofte (Finish for Mid-Distance)

Backtrack down CR 7 and Hwy 1 to Hwy 61 and turn left (north) onto Hwy 61 at Illgen City. Stay on Hwy 61 for 23.4 miles to Tofte, turn left into the AmericInn Parking Lot.

Sawbill to Trail Center at Poplar Lake

Backtrack down the Sawbill Trail to Highway 61 and turn left (north) onto Highway 61 at Tofte heading to Grand Marais. From this intersection, stay on Highway 61 for approximately 26.5 miles to the Gunflint Trail (Cook CR 12) – there is a green sign on Highway 61 that says Gunflint Trail with an arrow. Turn left onto the Gunflint Trail (follow the sign for the hospital). [Note: The Gunflint Trail road is in Grand Marais, just before you get to the downtown area.]

Stay on the Gunflint Trail for approximately 30 miles to Trail Center at Poplar Lake – this is the checkpoint – it will be on the left side of the road. Hot food and drinks will be available for sale.

Trail Center at Poplar Lake to Sawbill

Get back on the Gunflint Trail and drive back down to Hwy 61, turn right go back to Tofte. Turn right onto the Sawbill Trail (Cook CR2) Stay on trail for 5.5 miles to the checkpoint at the intersection of Sawbill and Six Hundred Road.

Sawbill to Finland

Drive back down the Gunflint Trail to Hwy 61, turn right and stay on Hwy 61 for 23.4 miles to the town of Ilgen City and turn right onto MN Hwy 1 to Finland. Stay on Hwy 1 for 6.2 miles, turn right onto Lake CR 7 (By the sign for George H Crosby Manitou State Park) for 0.8 miles. The Finland Area Recreation Building is on the right which is the checkpoint

Finland to Highway 2

Backtrack down CR7 and Hwy 1 back to Hwy 61 and turn right (south) onto Hwy 61. From this intersection, stay on Hwy 61 for approximately 33 miles to Two Harbors. At the first set of stop lights at the Holiday Gas Station turn right on Hwy 2 and go about 8 miles to North Shore Trail Parking Lot. (Snowmobile crossing sign just before entrance to parking lot.)

Highway 2 to Billy’s (Finish for Marathon)

Turn left on Hwy 2 for 8.5 miles to traffic lights, turn right onto Hwy 61. Stay on Hwy 61 for 19 miles to 60th Ave E, turn right on 60th Ave E to Glenwood St. Turn left on Glenwood, stay on Glenwood St to Jean Duluth Rd. Turn right on Jean Duluth for 3.0 miles. Billy’s is located at the corner of Jean Duluth Road and W. Tischer.