My eyes and mind adjust to the confusion of oriented strand board as I wake. It takes me a second to recall my surroundings. We squeeze out of our narrow bunks and begin packing yesterday’s purchases. Our story may have included a weary retreat if it had not been for Jim and the people at Canoe Canada Outfitters, we are...
Over the years in talking with people on a daily basis in the summer about what we do up here in the winter I have come to the conclusion that what keeps most people from enjoying the Gunflint Trail and Boundary Waters in the winter is their fear of the cold. Although I am not advocating that everybody jumps right...
Winter on the Gunflint Trail is a special thing and just being here can be enough, but when you want to get out into the pristine cold there is no better way to explore it than on cross country skis. In a world where actually finding snow is getting harder and harder the groomed cross country ski trails in Cook...
We are on the cusp of the finest month of the year. The long, hot, sun-soaked days of summer are behind us and they have been replaced by the shorter, cooler days of early fall. This time of year on the Gunflint Trail is our favorite. Considering the lack of bugs, humidity, and crowds, its hard to imagine how anyone...
There are a lot of questions and confusion out there about BWCA permits, so we’re doing our best to answer the questions and clear up the confusion. What are BWCA Permits? They are the key to entering one of the most untamed places on the planet. Because the BWCA is protected wilderness a permit is required to enter the area....
At roughly a latitude of 48° N and healthy distance from any major metropolis our location at Clearwater Lodge makes for a perfect place to catch the northern lights. Also known as the aurora borealis this incredible light display is primarily caused by a disruption of the magnetosphere by solar winds or flares leading to the ionization of particles in...
After “Is this where I check in?” the second most common question we get here at Clearwater Lodge is “Where can we find moose?” It makes sense as Northeastern Minnesota is one of the few places in the Midwest to find the largest member of the deer family; it also helps that a moose is featured on the Gunflint Trail...
For the longest time one of the most popular questions we would get upon somebody walking in the front door of the historic lodge was, “What’s the story behind that big boat on the porch?” Considering it took up a good portion of the already massive porch and it was right next to the front door it was not a...
Throughout the year the most common question I get about wildlife and safety is what to do if you encounter bears in the BWCA. The concern is funny to us because we live here and know there is nothing to worry about but we’ll go ahead and try our best to set you at ease. First off, it is highly...
Lake Trout Dreams Over the years I have come to recognize Clearwater Lake as a fickle temptress for BWCA fishing. Every spring afternoon she beckons me to continue my eternal investigation into the whereabouts of the furtive Lake Trout that call her waters home. I have returned fish-less more times than I would like to divulge and every time the...
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