2024-02-19 16:39
Leif and Hope welcomed Emily to the world yesterday at 1:04pm. She was five weeks early, weighs just 4.5 pounds but she is healthy. Janice and Ingela are smiling as both of their names are E… Read More
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Boundary Waters Blog
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superior national forest
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adventures
spice lake
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Outdoor enthusiasts find information about wildlife, camping products, the Boundary Waters, Quetico Park, and life on the Gunflint Trail.
2024-02-16 23:42
Readers of my blog are most likely familiar with the Quetico Provincial Park. It’s the Canadian counterpart to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Janice was the Cache Bay Range… Read More
2023-12-24 15:08
Life is all about people and the adventures we have with the people we love. We’ve been a part of many people’s adventures over the years and we look forward to being a part of m… Read More
2023-10-06 12:56
There are so many wonderful hiking and biking trails in Cook County and they only get more beautiful as the leaves begin to change colors. The more vibrant the colors become the more tourist… Read More
2023-09-12 01:05
There’s still time to paddle and camp in the Boundary Waters this fall. Just keep in mind bears are looking to fatten up before they hibernate for winter. When camping in the wildernes… Read More
2023-07-18 17:06
The Spice Lake Fire is out, the fire bans in the wilderness areas are over and things are back to normal in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park. We are so grateful for rain and cooler tempe… Read More
2023-06-18 19:11
The wildfire that started on June 13th between Ogish and Spice Lake is 65% contained. Fire crews have been actively fighting the fire since it began and are working to create fire lines to k… Read More
2023-06-14 15:20
The forest is dry and yesterday we received news a fire ban would go into effect today. Unfortunately it is a little too late as a fire has been detected near Ogishkemuncie Lake. There are n… Read More
2023-04-23 15:27
Wilderness Watch is suing the US Forest Service in order to remove towboats from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. They want tow boat use to end and to not allow them on the lakes w… Read More
2023-04-05 15:04
While some parts of the USA are experiencing spring like conditions we still have a couple of feet of ice on the lakes and snow up to our waist in the woods. The crazy weather system produce… Read More
2023-03-03 16:25
These fun and playful animals can be seen around moving water in the winter. Where there are rapids or falls you can look for evidence of their presence. You can also spot their slides throu… Read More
2023-02-25 18:15
It won’t be long before our local bald eagles will be back on the Gunflint Trail. We often see them at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters as soon as the ice begins to melt. If you’ve read… Read More
2023-02-13 20:08
It seems like the wolf population is thriving on the Gunflint Trail right now. We have seen wolves on the Gunflint and in the Boundary Waters in the past but it’s usually just a fleeti… Read More
2022-11-16 15:43
What’s new? It’s been awhile since I’ve posted and one reason is the blog editor I use changed. I’m not usually a fan of change especially when it comes to technology… Read More
2022-07-18 22:33
It’s official, folks can now apply for and receive a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit and travel into Canada via Saganaga Lake. It’s been a very long wait but the wait is over… Read More
2022-07-01 16:14
Great news for canoe campers who love to enter the Quetico Park through the end of the Gunflint Trail. Fabulous news for cabin owners on the Canadian side of Saganaga Lake. The Canadian Gove… Read More
2022-06-16 00:42
There are bugs in the Boundary Waters and this year is no exception. This spring we have had perfect conditions for bugs to thrive. The late snow melt, wet spring and high water levels have… Read More
2022-06-13 14:09
I just read an article about tow boat use in the BWCA. The article itself was fine but some of the comments about tow boat use on Saganaga Lake made me cringe. Saganaga Lake allows motors of… Read More
2022-06-10 15:02
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a place to get away from it all and enjoy the solitude and serenity of a secluded private campsite. The campsites are normally situated quite a d… Read More
2022-05-25 21:16
We don’t have enough planks to make it out to our docks at Voyageur without getting our feet wet. The water is still rising and its made it’s way up to the paddle shack and to be… Read More
2022-05-20 16:28
Have you heard the latest and greatest news on the Gunlint Trail? Yes, the huge Minnesota State record walleye is coming back to Saganaga and will have a new home at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nat… Read More
2022-05-16 22:05
After last summer’s drought the water level of the lakes and rivers in the BWCA was at an almost all time low at the end of the paddling season. While I was sure we would get plenty of… Read More
2022-05-16 01:59
Just in time for the Minnesota fishing opener many of the Boundary Waters lakes are liquid once again. Thanks to very warm temperatures, a little bit of wind and some rain the ice disappeare… Read More
2022-04-29 14:51
While the weather may delay this year’s start to the Boundary Waters canoe camping season it doesn’t mean you should delay reserving your permit. The BWCAW has become increasingl… Read More
2022-04-28 22:07
There’s a battle going on between winter and spring on the Gunflint Trail. I wish I could say spring is winning but winter still has the upper hand. The ice on the lakes is thick, the… Read More
2022-04-19 20:13
Winter just keeps on hanging on in our neck of the woods. It’s April and according to an article in MPR, “Much of northern Minnesota has seen two to four times their normal snow… Read More
2022-04-15 14:06
We have had major April snowstorms on the Gunflint Trail in the past. With those the snow comes and goes relatively quickly but this year the snow just seems to keep sticking around. The dit… Read More
2022-02-12 16:07
That’s how cold it was last night at the end of the Gunflint Trail. That’s nose hair freezing, instant brain freeze feeling kind of cold. What do you do when it’s that cold… Read More
2022-01-21 16:02
Reservations for the upcoming paddling season in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area will be available starting January 26th. Whether or not an overnight paddling permit for the BWCA will be avai… Read More
2022-01-17 15:46
The temperature on the Gunflint Trail was -31 degrees on Saturday morning but it quickly warmed up into the high teens to make for a beautiful opening day on the ice. Anglers enjoyed sunshin… Read More
2022-01-15 15:24
It’s that time of the winter once again and lake trout fishing outside of the Boundary Waters is now open. There are so many options to choose from when you’re looking for trout… Read More
2022-01-14 19:10
Now there is a pressing reason to plan ahead and reserve your BWCA canoe camping permit this season. The USFS has reduced the number of Boundary Waters overnight paddling permits by about 13… Read More
2021-12-25 19:16
We wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year!
Abigail, Mike, Sue and Josh Prom
Matt, Cassidy and Bosley Read More
2021-11-02 15:41
November is here and snowflakes have begun to fall. The air is crisp, the leaves are down and all things in nature are preparing for the approaching winter. I’m not sure where October… Read More
2021-09-11 04:49
We’re thankful the USFS made the decision to open up more entry points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Saganaga and Seagull Lake entry points are open but some areas re… Read More
2021-09-07 15:21
We feel it is time to open up the rest of the Boundary Waters due to the lack of threat from the John Ek Fire. The fire has not grown in size, crews have established fire lines, temperatures… Read More
2021-09-03 03:10
More good news today as the US Forest Service announced folks can camp in the Superior National Forest once again. This opens up the dispersed camping and backcountry campsites. This does no… Read More
2021-09-02 03:03
BWCAW closure Map
The recent rains, cooler temperatures and additional fire resources in the Superior National Forest are allowing the USFS to open up most of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area… Read More
2021-08-30 19:10
That’s what we’ve been doing lately in regards to the wildfire situation on the Gunflint Trail. Waiting to see if the fires will produce a plume of smoke again, watching for upda… Read More
2021-08-28 14:20
A little bit of rain
We received a total accumulation of .14″ of rain at the end of the Gunflint Trail in the past 24 hours. The cloud cover, cooler temperatures, higher humidity we ex… Read More
2021-08-27 15:48
Rain in the forecast
In a quest to find good news I took a look at our weather station information from the Seagull Guard Station. It’s easy to look at the amount of precipitatio… Read More
2021-08-26 11:26
National Forest lands and roads on the upper section of the Gunflint Trail are now closed. Private and public roads are still open so homeowners and guests can access resorts, outfitters and… Read More
2021-08-25 11:12
No significant amount of rain has fallen on the Superior National Forest and none of the fires on the forest have been even partially contained. Fire fighting resources are inadequate for th… Read More
2021-08-24 17:22
Last night the powers that be ordered a pre-evacuation for the end of the Gunflint Trail. What does this mean? The Sheriff’s Department and the GTVFD went door to door to inform people… Read More
2021-08-23 12:54
What began as the John Elk Wildfire has now been renamed the John Ek Wildfire. Yesterday was a bad day for John and a good day for the Boundary Waters as temperatures and wind were moderate… Read More
2021-08-22 14:56
I never thought I would write that as a blog title, but here it is. The rumors were true and the entire BWCAW has been closed for 7 days due to wildfires, threat to public safety, drought co… Read More
2021-08-21 15:22
We’re happy to report our immediate area of the Gunflint Trail received over a half of an inch of rain last night. We’ve been in drought conditions much of the summer and wildfir… Read More
2021-07-29 14:44
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters
The official Gunflint Trail Canoe Races didn’t happen last year due to Covid 19 and they didn’t happen this year due to a lack of organizers and volunte… Read More
2021-07-27 18:44
We all breathed a sigh of relief after receiving much needed rain over the weekend. We felt like it was enough to alleviate a little bit of the fire danger but unfortunately it wasn’t… Read More
2021-07-23 16:22
The good news, that really isn’t “news,” is the entry points into the Boundary Waters on the Gunflint Trail are open. The fires affecting recent BWCA entry point closures a… Read More
2021-07-10 14:40
Fire Ban in the BWCAW
It’s been dry and hot in the Boundary Waters and the USFS has implemented a complete fire ban. No campfires and no grills may be used in the BWCAW. It’s a b… Read More
2021-07-09 17:53
Boundary Waters
Forest Service Ranger offices are opening up for the first time since Covid. This means people will be able to pick up their Boundary Waters permits in person again. This is… Read More
2021-07-02 17:20
I can’t think of a more perfect place to celebrate the 4th of July than in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. And in spite of the fact we have owned Voyageur Canoe Outfitters f… Read More
2021-06-09 11:11
Celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week in the Boundary Waters this year! It began this year on June 4th and extends through next weekend. It was created as a national holiday by G… Read More
2021-06-08 14:50
We’ve received some rain over the past few days but there’s still high fire danger in most of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We are super lucky to live in an area whe… Read More
2021-06-04 01:02
After all of the excitement and anticipation of a Boundary Waters Canoe camping trip no one expects their trip to end in a tragedy but it happens. People drown because they don’t wear… Read More
2021-05-27 13:42
I love to paddle around the perimeter of small lakes both inside and outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. While there are some people who will do this willingly my son usually wouldn&r&hell…Read More
2021-05-25 15:19
There was a time when I was alive… We only had to dial the last four digits of a person’s phone number if they lived on the Gunflint Trail. The only communication we… Read More
2021-05-23 14:58
I wonder if that headline got you? No new human babies at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters or anywhere else on the Gunflint Trail that I know of. There is however other births or rebirths happening… Read More
2021-05-21 14:58
It’s in the news so I thought I should at least mention it in my blog. There’s a small fire burning on the other side of the Boundary Waters that started on May 17th from a light… Read More
2021-05-18 20:42
When you see a headline that says, “A Busy Year Ahead in the Boundary Waters,” what does that mean to you? Does it conjure up images of people filled streets during the great get… Read More
2021-05-14 21:50
It’s difficult to believe this weekend is the Minnesota Fishing Opener but here it is. The excitement is in the air as folks make last minute preparations for the big day. Boats… Read More
2021-05-09 17:59
Here’s hoping your Mother’s Day is a special day. Take a Mom fishing for free is happening this weekend in Minnesota so hopefully some of you took advantage of the opportunity an… Read More
2021-04-29 13:01
It’s a special time of the year on the Gunflint Trail. The trees are budding and new plants are emerging from the earth every day. Living on the Gunflint Trail is a privilege we… Read More
2021-04-27 22:45
The lakes are slowly becoming liquid once again. Matt and Cassidy took a tour of Saganaga over the weekend and there was just one big chunk left on the Canadian side of the lake. We&rs&hell…Read More
2021-04-22 23:38
Happy Earth Day! I hope you made the most of it by getting outside to enjoy nature. I wasn’t able to enjoy the Boundary Waters or the Gunflint Trail but I did get out for a hike up a f… Read More
2021-04-17 14:23
It’s so refreshing to see open water in front of Voyageur once again. It’s a special time of the year when grouse drum in the woods, moose lick residual salt off of the roads and… Read More
2021-03-11 19:09
What a difference a day can make at the end of the Gunflint Trail. With temperatures in the 50’s Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the snow was melting quickly. It looked and felt like spr… Read More
2021-03-10 20:56
The days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting warmer and the strength of the sun’s rays are getting stronger. It is only March yet it feels a bit more like April and that h… Read More
2021-02-27 13:15
Ben Nichols captured this video of a timber wolf at the Saganaga Lake public landing. It was hanging around the BWCA entry point 55 parking lot just around the corner from Voyageur Canoe Out… Read More
2021-02-19 15:35
What’s the best thing about Matt and Cassidy managing Voyageur Canoe Outfitters? It’s hard to pick just one thing because together they share so many wonderful qualities. I… Read More
2021-02-14 18:47
A low temperature of -50 degrees was recorded near Snowbank Lake and the Boundary Waters on Saturday. If verified it’s the lowest temperature recorded for February 13th in Minnesota. M… Read More
2021-02-12 16:31
Last year saw an unprecedented number of visitors in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A number of these visitors were experiencing the canoe country for the first time and may not… Read More
2021-02-10 19:14
If you’ve visited Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in the last few years then you’ve probably met Bosley. Bosley enjoys interacting with guests when he’s not snuggling with Matt o… Read More
2021-02-09 01:44
Minnesota is experiencing some cold temperatures and the Gunflint Trail and North Shore of Lake Superior are no exception. The thermometer at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters read around negative 2… Read More
2021-01-18 16:50
We now have a sauna at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Our winter guests are enjoying the magical experience of crossing the frozen Seagull River and heading up the hill to the sauna. The days ar… Read More
2021-01-16 16:48
If you’re on social media and you like fishing then you’ve probably seen posts by Girl of 10,000 Lakes. She took a trip to the Boundary Waters through Voyageur Canoe Outfitters i… Read More
2021-01-13 03:09
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me but it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you! Hope to see you… Read More
2020-10-15 16:28
There’s no need to carry a big stick when you’re paddling and portaging in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area but you should probably think about carrying a Big Six Camp Chair made b… Read More
2020-10-12 21:21
People who paddle canoes may be familiar with the sound the bottom of a kevlar canoe makes as it comes into contact with the mucky bottom of a shallow creek bed. It’s a sort of shloshi… Read More
2020-10-05 15:51
A dog went missing on portage in the Boundary Waters on September 17th. Eden is a Tibetian Terrier and only weighs around 25 pounds. When we heard the news about the dog being lost on the po… Read More
2020-09-24 05:27
We are so happy to announce the marriage of Matt and Cassidy.They were wed on Saturday, September 19th and we are so pleased to announce their union. Cheers to the most amazing people we kn… Read More
2020-09-13 15:01
Those of you who have visited Voyageur in the summer may have noticed a guy in a golf cart. That was Goat. He was a fixture at Voyageur as he spent 2-4 weeks with us every summer. He arrive… Read More
2020-08-16 22:57
Here’s an informational video I stumbled upon recently, it’s worth the watch especially if you own property on a lake Read More
2020-08-06 15:58
It is with the deepest sadness we let you know about Janice’s passing. She was diagnosed with Glioblastoma brain cancer the first week of June and left her body sometime late Tuesday n… Read More
2020-07-11 20:25
The campfire ban for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has been lifted due to the significant amount of precipitation received recently. That’s great news for people who love t… Read More
2020-07-01 13:59
It’s been a dry summer so far in the Boundary Waters and the Superior National Forest has enacted a fire ban. This means no open campfires are allowed in the BWCA during the 4th of Jul… Read More
2020-06-23 13:50
Our favorite Quetico Park Cache Bay Ranger Janice received some bad news recently. First it was you can’t go to your summer home island where you’ve lived and worked the pa… Read More
2020-05-26 15:11
The Magnetic Rock Trail is probably the most well-known hiking trail on the Gunflint Trail. The well-marked trailhead is 48 miles from Grand Marais and the parking lot is directly off of the… Read More
2020-05-23 15:34
It’s always a sobering thought to think about death but especially when it happens in the Boundary Waters. We received news on the 20th of May a canoe had capsized on Tuscarora Lake an… Read More
2020-05-22 14:24
Walleyes in Saganaga Lake of the Boundary Waters spawn in the Seagull River in the spring. They swim against the current and make their way through the rapids and to the falls between Seagul… Read More
2020-05-21 16:32
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is open for overnight canoeing and camping. At Voyageur Canoe Outfitters we are super excited to be a part of your BWCA canoe trip. It’s been a crazy tim… Read More
2020-05-15 18:01
Happiness is camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters and starting May 18th the BWCA will be open for day use and overnight canoe camping trips. We’re super excited at Voyageur Cano… Read More
2020-05-14 21:53
There are so many wonderful hiking trails on the Gunflint Trail and lucky for us, many of them are located near Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Our cabin guests can access the numerous trails at… Read More
2020-05-13 18:27
I don’t like to see bears when I’m camping in the Boundary Waters or when they are rummaging through our garbage cans at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters but I do love to see them. They… Read More
2020-05-07 18:03
The spawn is on! We were able to see quite a few walleyes in the Seagull River yesterday. It’s always neat to see the various sizes of fish as they make their way against the current… Read More
2020-05-04 22:07
We had a wonderful time canoeing on Sunday. There is still ice on Saganaga and the bigger lakes on the Gunflint Trail so we found a creek to paddle. The weather wasn’t perfect as it wa… Read More
2020-05-01 16:49
The lakes on the Gunflint Trail still have ice on them. The swamps, ponds and rivers are relatively ice free. There are different methods of determining when the ice will be off of the lakes… Read More
2020-04-27 22:39
The wildlife is out and about and we’ve been treated by numerous moose sightings on the Gunflint Trail. The waterfowl is also abundant since we’re one of the few places with open… Read More
2020-04-24 13:54
Yesterday was a glorious day at the end of the Gunflint Trail. The wind finally quit blowing and the temperature reached 52 degrees! The forecast calls for a beautiful weekend with temperatu… Read More
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