1) Staying at my brother's night before my trip and driving up early in the morning. Can someone give me a time estimate for Coon Rapids area to mid-Gunflint Trail area?

2) Thinking of adding two people to trip. With new permit system, can I still add and pay for add on people at time of permit pickup?

1. Google maps says 5 hours from Coon Rapids to Trail Center Lodge on Poplar.
2. I believe you can add names to your permit online or at ranger station, but I'm no expert as I've never done on new system.

Picking up permit at Rockwood

1. Stayed at the Rockwood bunkhouse a couple of weeks ago. Drive up from White Bear Lake (just north of St Paul) took around 5 hrs with a few stops along the way.
2. Picked up the permit from Rockwood and was able to add additional people to the permit.

Cannot change group leader but can add / subtract persons on permit as long as they're with at time of pick-up. Did both this summer, once at outfitter, once at ranger station. Cowdoc, highly recommend adding an hour to your trip and stopping for pie and coffee or local beer and local lake trout at the rustic inn! Have a great trip!

jillpine: "Cannot change group leader but can add / subtract persons on permit as long as they're with at time of pick-up. Did both this summer, once at outfitter, once at ranger station. Cowdoc, highly recommend adding an hour to your trip and stopping for pie and coffee or local beer and local lake trout at the rustic inn! Have a great trip! "

Alternate leaders can pick permits up and make changes.

Thanks for all replies. Was just gonna be my brother (his first trip) and myself but my kids found time to go, so adding them. Driving up, getting permit and dumping in all the same day, so not a lot of time for rose smelling. Only high priority stop may be to fill growlers at Voyageur ;). Our last day is scheduled for a short paddle out and then I'm going to take the rest of the day to try to show my brother as much of the Gunflint as possible. Maybe a few stops along the shore on the drive home next day.
I am familiar with Rockwood and good people there, just was unsure about new permit system and adding people. Looks like it will all be good.

Side not on that cowdoc. New permit system is no good lol.

I’m not sure what you mean by early, but I35 road construction in Forest Lake and around Rush City can make the Saturday morning drive to Duluth a PITA.

inspector13: "
I’m not sure what you mean by early, but I35 road construction in Forest Lake and around Rush City can make the Saturday morning drive to Duluth a PITA.


"

Plan is to leave 4-4:30. I've been told we are going up 65 to Isanti, then over to North Branch. FL will be avoided but not RC.

I think you're good then. To some in my life early means 7 am. : )

x2jmorris: "

jillpine: "Cannot change group leader but can add / subtract persons on permit as long as they're with at time of pick-up. Did both this summer, once at outfitter, once at ranger station. Cowdoc, highly recommend adding an hour to your trip and stopping for pie and coffee or local beer and local lake trout at the rustic inn! Have a great trip! "

Alternate leaders can pick permits up and make changes.
"

As long as the person remembers to list an alternate, which I did not (shocking, I know. Now if only I could find the cell phone I'm holding).

1) Just drove from northern Twin Cities to Grand Marais including a stop for food at a sit down restaurant...8:20 a.m. until 2 pm. Another 30-40 minutes for halfway up the Gunflint Trail.

2) No problem adding people at time of permit pickup. I just did it. All they asked was for a name and the extra payment.

Doc - you'll be in my neighborhood! Shoot me an email if you have time for a cold one either on the way up or the way back. Willy McCoys in Andover has a decent selection.

Harris to Pine City was a very long (45 minutes) delay. Since you are going early and heading north I think you should be fine. Have a great trip Doc.

snakecharmer: "Doc - you'll be in my neighborhood! Shoot me an email if you have time for a cold one either on the way up or the way back. Willy McCoys in Andover has a decent selection."

Coming up friday evening (sept 20th). Staying overnight in Andover. Maybe I'll talk bro into checking said place out. Night sure yet what time I'll get up there. Checked the map and I see not far from his house. He's in the neighborhood just north of Bunker Lake.