Recreation

There is no shortage of outfitters ready to send you out into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Two well-known and highly experienced operators, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters (189 Sag Lake Trl., 218/388-2224 or 888/226-6348, www.canoeit.com, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily summer) and Way of the Wilderness (12582 Gunflint Trl., 218/388-2212 or 800/346-6625, www.wayofthewilderness.com, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily), sit at the far end of the road and have lodging available on-site.

Boundary Country Trekking (11 Poplar Creek Dr., 800/322-8327, www.boundarycountry.com, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily) specializes in inn-to-inn trips for bikers, hikers, and paddlers, plus offers yurt cross-country ski touring and dog-sledding. It also has on-site lodging.

Hotels

One of the first resorts up the trail is also one of the best. Each of the ever-so-cozy cabins at Bearskin Lodge (124 E. Bearskin Rd., 218/388-2292 or 800/338-4170, www.bearskin.com, $230) are widely spaced along East Bearskin Lake and come with a fireplace, grill, and private dock. Amenities include a whirlpool and sauna that can be reserved for private use.

Famous for its friendliness, the Gunflint Lodge (143 Gunflint Lake S., 218/388-2294 or 800/328-3325, www.gunflint.com, $220) has been run by the Kerfoot family since 1927. All of the two dozen cabins have fireplaces, many have whirlpool tubs, and most have private saunas. There’s a busy schedule of activities for young and old, including horseback riding. Both resorts offer boat and canoe rentals and some of the state’s best cross-country skiing is right out your door. They are expensive, but low-season rates are more reasonable.

Another year-round destination with an enthusiastic following is Hungry Jack Lodge (372 Hungry Jack Rd., 218/388-2265, www.hungryjacklodge.com, $99–499). The beautiful setting offers a wide variety of cabins—from rustic to almost luxurious, in a Northwoods sort of way, sleeping from two to 20 people—and both tent and RV sites. It has boats for rent on-site and is just a mile from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Restaurants

Gunflint Lodge serves excellent food, but you should have at least one meal at Trail Center Lodge (7611 Gunflint Trl., 218/388-2214, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., closed Apr. and Nov., $4–36), which is as close to a neighborhood tap as you can have in these parts. The menu has all the usual, but also choices like peanut butter and mayo burgers, Italian fried chicken, and a popular peppermint schnapps malt. Not only is the food great, but so are the Northwoods atmosphere and friendly service.

Way of the Wilderness (12582 Gunflint Trl., 218/388-2212 or 800/346-6625, www.wayofthewilderness.com, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily) runs the Trail’s End Café (8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, May–Oct.), with pizza, burgers, and the like.

Trail Information

For more area information contact the Gunflint Trail Association (800/338-6932, www.gunflint-trail.com). They run the Gunflint Trail Information Center (218 Wisconsin St. W., 218/387-3191, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun. June, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. daily July–Aug., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun. rest of year) in Grand Marais and keep a vacancy list.

© Tim Bewer from Moon Minnesota, 3rd Edition