Highway Department repairing washed out roads following significant rainfall in Cook County
Updated 1:40 p.m. on April 29.
The Arrowhead region received substantial rain on Monday, April 28, creating large washouts on county roads and rendering some areas near the Gunflint Trail impassable.
On Tuesday morning, the Cook County Highway Department released a list of damaged roads due to washouts. The list included many roads near the Gunflint Trail, including Hungry Jack Rd, Clearwater Rd, Round Lake Rd, North Gunflint Lake Rd, and South Gunflint Lake Rd.
Highway department crews are actively working on repairs to county roads, and a contractor is en route to fix washouts on the Subordinate Service District (SGSD) roadway Mile-O-Pine off South Gunflint Lake Road.
“Hungry Jack appears to be the gnarliest so far,” said Cook County Highway Department Engineer Robbie Hass.
Hungry Jack Road | Photo by Highway Department
North Gunflint Lake Road | Photo by Highway Department
Round Lake Road | Photo by Highway Department
Farther east, near Hovland, the Cook County Highway Department reported washout damage to Moose Valley Rd. On the Arrowhead Trail, the Cook County Highway Department is currently repairing washouts immediately north of the Superior Hiking Trail trailhead. Due to the washout, the road is impassable, and a road closure is in place as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
“The repairs are expected to take at least 3 hours,” the highway department said.
Due to the washouts, the Cook County Highway Department said partial or full road closures may be required on some roads. Highway department crews are assessing county road conditions throughout the area and will have more information later today.
Precipitation reports from WTIP listeners have ranged from 2-4 inches throughout Cook County. Below are precipitation reports:
- Hovland – 3 inches
- Mid-Trail of Gunflint near Poplar Lake: 4.2 inches
- Gunflint Lake – 3.5 inches
- Grand Marais: 3.5 inches
On Tuesday, April 29, the U.S. Forest Service reported that numerous roads throughout the Superior National Forest are also damaged. Roads impacted include Shoe Lake Rd (FR 313), Trout Lake Rd (FR 140), and South Brule River Rd (FR 325).
Furthermore, the Forest Service said, the Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Districts office phones are currently down as of noon. The Tofte Ranger District administration area is currently closed.
As of 1:40 p.m. on April 29, the Cook County Highway Department is still working on repairs to the damaged county roads. Round Lake Rd remains closed. Hungry Jack Rd remains closed past Bunn Trl.
The highway department said, “All other county roads are passable.”
Kalli Hawkins April 29, 2025
