Grand Portage National Monument is a National Monument in Minnesota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Grand Portage
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Grand Portage. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Grand Portage the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 126° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 65° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:45 AM | 8:35 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:33 PM | 239° | 8h 49m |
| February | 7:07 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:22 PM | 252° | 10h 15m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:23 PM | 7:04 PM | 268° | 11h 51m |
| April | 6:10 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:49 PM | 286° | 13h 39m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:31 PM | 300° | 15h 10m |
| June | 5:00 AM | 5:49 AM | 8:12 PM | 9:01 PM | 308° | 16h 01m |
| July | 5:16 AM | 6:03 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:55 PM | 304° | 15h 40m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:14 PM | 292° | 14h 19m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:18 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:14 PM | 276° | 12h 37m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:12 PM | 258° | 10h 53m |
| November | 7:06 AM | 7:54 AM | 3:35 PM | 4:23 PM | 243° | 9h 17m |
| December | 7:43 AM | 8:36 AM | 3:14 PM | 4:07 PM | 235° | 8h 24m |
Computed for the park's reference point (47.9929, -89.7557); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Grand Portage, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through July. June gives the longest window (about 1.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 3:35 AM – 4:05 AM | 0.5 | 12° |
| May | 1:37 AM – 2:47 AM | 1.2 | 13° |
| June | 12:16 AM – 1:36 AM | 1.3 | 13° |
| July | 11:42 PM – 12:42 AM | 1.0 | 13° |
| August | 10:20 PM – 10:40 PM | 0.3 | 11° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Short, warm summers and long, cold winters define the climate of northern Minnesota. Average range of summer temperature is from 55°F to 78°F in July and average range of winter temperatures is from –11°F to 12°F in January. Average annual precipitation in Grand Portage, MN is about 32 inches.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 73% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (89%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Traveling northeast or southwest on MN Hwy 61 visitors will see signs alerting the approach to Grand Portage National Monument. A right turn exit lane or left turn from Hwy 61 at the Grand Portage Trading Post will take visitors onto Casino Road. Turn left at the first stop sign from Casino Road to Mile Creek Road. About 3/4 mile on Mile Creek Road, look for the large wooden entrance sign. Turn left up the short hill into the Heritage Center parking lot.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Group Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
