Forest Service finalizes transfer of ‘The Grade’ to Cook County

Cook County has finalized the transfer of ownership of Forest Road 170, commonly known as ‘The Grade’, from the U.S. Forest Service.

The transfer follows discussions between Cook County and the Forest Service that began in early 2025. County officials explored taking over jurisdiction of the road in part because it provides an alternate route if Highway 61 is inaccessible.

The conversations were also spurred by construction of the Cascade River bridge along The Grade in the summer of 2024, which caused several delays and an extended road closure.

The Grade spans roughly 23 miles, stretching from Sawbill Trail to Ball Club Road and connecting the county’s west end to areas closer to Grand Marais.

Cook County Highway Engineer Robbie Hass said the road provides an important connection between different parts of the county.

“We also know the Grade is a big connector from the central part of the county to the west end. It connects Ball Club Road to the Caribou Trail to the Sawbill Trail. Those three routes provide more connection throughout the county, so it’s a great addition to provide more redundancy in our road system,” Hass said.

Hass said the transfer strengthens the county’s transportation network, especially when severe weather or other emergencies affect road access.

“The transfer of The Grade to county jurisdiction benefits Cook County in several ways. The largest reason is emergency access. As weather events become more and more intense, we need to ensure we have a reliable transportation network up here,” Hass said. “With Highway 61 being our main route in and out of the county, if something were to happen to it, we would be in a very difficult place.”

While the Forest Service previously managed and largely maintained the road, the county’s highway department has plowed The Grade for several winters. The county will now be fully responsible for maintaining the road.

The road transfer took nearly a year and involved a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, the collection of right-of-way information, and a center-line survey.

During an Oct. 13 update to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Superior National Forest Acting Supervisor Drew Stroberg acknowledged the work required to complete the transition.

“I know that’s a long time coming, so I really appreciate the work the county has done on that and our own staff to try and get that through. So happy to make that happen,” Stroberg said.

Kalli Hawkins October 17, 2026