Bridal Veil Falls
Blog post by Kari, Summer 2018 We took a boat down Gunflint Lake a few years ago, landed on a beach near the west end of the lake and took the short hike to Bridal Veil Falls. It was gorgeous and we...
View ArticleHistorical lodge on the original Gunflint Trail
Original log lodge built between 1926-1932, large meeting room, check-in, check-out, hi-speed WiFi (over 100 mbps) picnic shelter with gas grill Rockwood Lodge Rockwood Lodge was founded in the...
View ArticleLooking forward to Summer
It won’t be long and the ice will give way to open water. Now is a good time to give us a call and plan your Summer trip into the Wilderness. Let’s go have some fun!
View ArticleMoose
A moose decided to take an early Sunday stroll at Rockwood. The blackbird monitored the event for us.
View ArticleHoneymoon Bluff Hike
Honeymoon Bluff is located off Clearwater Lake Rd, roughly 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail, or a 17 minute drive, if you’re staying at Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters. Our family has hiked Honeymoon Bluff...
View Article270 Overlook Border Route Trail
Tuesday, October 12, 2021: Hiked to the 270 overlook at the intersection of the Superior Hiking Trail and the Border Route Trail. Started by driving the Gunflint Trail to Greenwood Lake Road, and...
View ArticleFew days in the Boundary Waters
— A few days in the BWCAW with your brother-in-law can expand an already solid relationship. Erik Jensen and his BIL Ben Thompson started coming to Rockwood Outfitters three years ago. That first trip...
View ArticleWhy Go Paddling
In case you’re asking, there are many reasons for you to go canoeing. Of course the best way to experience the BWCAW, when the waters aren’t frozen, is in a canoe. A canoe is a long and narrow boat,...
View ArticleFishing One Generation to The Next
My dad was my first fishing guide. By Steve Fernlund Not that it was his career of course, he was a salesman, but he is the guy who taught me how to fish.Life was simpler in the early 1960s. Fishing...
View ArticleHiking is nothing but walking with purpose
Making a wilderness hike safer and more fun for you and the family Hiking is a great way to experience the woods and the wilderness of Cook County and the BWCA.Mark Twain once referred to the game of...
View ArticleDark Sky
A highlight of a BWCAW adventure is the spectacular night skies that cannot be seen in more settled areas–like home. From the brilliant spread of the Milky Way to the Aurora Borealis cavorting across...
View ArticleEastern Spruce Budworm
Visitors along the North Shore and Gunflint Trail will notice that many of our stately evergreen trees appear to be ever brown. All of us are concerned about the loss of this important resource.So what...
View ArticleMosquitoes, Ticks, and Black Flies–Oh my!
Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Black Flies–Oh my! It’s a tired old joke. The State Bird of Minnesota is the mosquito. But on the Gunflint Trail, we like to say that the mosquitoes keep the cowards away. There...
View ArticleEVs in The Arrowhead
Rockwood’s Carl Madsen Stars in PBS Report on EVs in The Arrowhead Rockwood’s Carl Madsen appeared in a segment of Almanac, a weekly news and public affairs program produced by Twin Cities Public...
View ArticleRockwood Lodge Offers Pressure Washing to Help Halt Aquatic Invasive Species
Fortunately, less than five percent of the lakes in Cook County are infested with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Unfortunately, some of those lakes are in or near the BWCAW.Rockwood Lodge has joined...
View ArticleAnnual Old Fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social
Annual Old Fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social at Chik-Wauk Museum September 3rd The annual Old Fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday, September 3, at the Chik-Wauk Museum and...
View ArticleTime For Fall Colors on The Gunflint Trail and the BWCAW
If you appreciate Fall Colors like we do here at Rockwood Lodge, you know we are entering that most beautiful time of the year. As you drive to Grand Marais in the next few weeks, you’ll see the start...
View ArticleA Step Closer to a Stable and Growing Moose Population
— Alces alces is the scientific name for moose, often called the Monarch of our Boreal forest. Seeing one of these majestic animals is on the bucket list of many visitors to the Gunflint Trail and...
View ArticleDogs Are Welcome
We understand the difference between family dogs and dogs that are family. More and more people are traveling with their dog family and want to share the wilderness adventure with them. Dogs are...
View ArticleSeptember Boundary Waters paddle
A nice paddle across Poplar Lake and into the Boundary Waters on September 13th. The lake is warmer than the air and the temperature inversion creates a nice fog.
View ArticleJustine Kerfoot–Woman of the Boundary Waters
The US Forest Service reports that just a quarter of visitors in the BWCA Wilderness are women, and that percentage has been relatively consistent for the last few decades. One of the most well-known...
View ArticlePack it in, Pack more out
Pack it in, Pack more out–and Where Does it Go? Trash on the Trail. Trash happens when more than 150,000 people visited the BWCAW last year. Thousands more who recreate along the 57 miles of the...
View ArticleDog and Cat Rescuer Suzanne Grindle Visits Rockwood
We’re amazed at how our social media presence connects us with some of the best people. In 2018, Suzanne Grindle heard about a last-minute cabin cancellation at Rockwood from her friend, who saw it...
View ArticleA Small Business Success Story At The Edge Of The Wilderness
The owners of Rockwood Lodge, a family-owned outfitter and resort, made the strategic decision when they bought the resort to keep it a small business. That decision has proved a good one as Rockwood...
View ArticleFriends of Rockwood, the Holman Family
“I feel like I’m visiting friends, not going to a resort, when we head to Rockwood,” said Derek Holman of Big Lake, MN. “They take good care of stuff, have great advice if you ask, and offer...
View ArticleThank You For Making 2023 The Best Season at Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters
We have officially wrapped up a successful 2023 season here at Rockwood. We put the canoes in storage, and the cabins are shuttered for the long winter’s slumber. Whether you are veterans or...
View ArticleLearning Things I Never Knew About in My Backyard.
By Carl Madsen Last summer, my friend Dan Cooke and I shared the joy of being on the water together, through Horseshoe Lake out the Brule River to the Lima Grade. It was a perfect day for me as Dan...
View ArticleSuperior National Forest and BWCA Hit by Derecho on July 4th, 1999
Many of us in Cook and Lake County had never heard the word “Derecho” until a massive summer storm knocked down an estimated 25 million trees in the Superior National Forest and a large part of the...
View ArticleDogs and Sleds Helped Settle the Gunflint Trail
The commotion is striking. Eight dogs are yipping, bouncing, and barking excitedly as they are harnessed to the sled. The musher releases the claw brake and calls to the dogs, and all becomes orderly...
View ArticleEight Years Here and Ready for Next Year
Last week, we (Carl, Stephanie, Mike, and Carol) celebrated eight years of owning and operating the wonderful Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters. As we light a fire in the stone fireplace in the main...
View ArticleCross-Country Skiing on The Gunflint Trail
As you can see on Rockwood’s webcam today, winter is finally here. It won’t be long, and our massive trail system will be groomed and open for you to explore the unparalleled wilderness while gliding...
View ArticleA Brief History of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area
— The history of conservation of wild areas in the USA can be said to have started during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, sometimes called the Conservation President. During almost two...
View ArticleSolo Trips in the BWCAW–for Introverts and Adventurers
Solo travel is a growing trend within the tourism industry. And it’s not just for introverts. Introverts are people who are more interested in their own thoughts and ideas. They may also be shy,...
View ArticleConnecting With Nature: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Finding Peace in the BWCAW
According to a 2020 survey by Unify Cosmos, the BWCAW came in the top five places in the world for the most relaxing sounds. Since almost all the sounds you’ll hear on your BWCAW adventure are natural,...
View ArticleBWCAW for Beginners: Conquering Your First Canoe Trip With Confidence
In 2022, more than 150,000 people entered the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), according to the Superior National Forest (SNF) officials. All those folks have vivid memories of their...
View ArticleStone Fireplaces–Iconic Symbols of the Northwoods
A stone fireplace is hand-built with locally sourced stones by experienced masonry professionals. Many of the fireplaces in our neck of the woods were built decades ago, and the artisans who created...
View ArticleThe Way to a Canoeist’s Heart is Through Their Stomach–So Many Ways
One of the most important things to plan in advance of your BWCAW adventure is what culinary delights will enhance your experience. What will you eat? Most of us spend time each day thinking about what...
View ArticleBWCAW Quota Permits For 2024 Season Go On Sale January 31st–Here’s what you...
Quota permits for the BWCAW go on sale January 31st at 9 a.m. CST. The quota season for the BWCAW is May 1 through September 30. All parties entering the BWCAW for overnight adventures during that time...
View ArticleIce Fishing in Gunflint Trail and BWCAW Lakes
— We will start this post about ice fishing on our beautiful lakes with an important reminder for those planning to visit the BWCAW in the upcoming softwater season. Quota permits for the BWCAW go on...
View ArticleUnpredictable Weather–Everybody Talks About It, El Nino Does Something About It
The effects of weather with little snow and warm temperatures have profoundly affected our region.
View ArticleRemembering Fine Dining at Rockwood Lodge
“Good food, plenty of it, and treating people well was the secret of our success,” Rick said. In the 20 years the Austins operated the restaurant, dinner guests came from near and far. The excellent...
View ArticleResilience: Rockwood Lodge and Resort During the Austin Era
Dana and Tim Austin purchased Rockwood Lodge and Resort in 1979 from Don Lobdell and Rick Whitney. After taking the reins, Dana and Tim brought their son, Rick Austin, into the ownership ranks.
View ArticleThe Gunflint Trail–A National Scenic Byway
— Preserving, protecting, and honoring the historic Gunflint Trail is the focus of The Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway Committee, which consists of residents, seasonal property owners, and business owners...
View ArticleA life worth living
A great way to redirect that pattern is a trip into the canoe country wilderness of the BWCAW or the Quetico Provincial Park with your phone turned off and packed safely away. Periodic breaks from...
View ArticleLow Snow And Warm Temperatures Tempt The Intrepid Into The BWCAW
— Low snow Spring 2024 As the winter of low snow and unseasonably warm temperatures have brought March in like a lamb, many intrepid BWCAW adventurers are thinking about an early trip. And why not?...
View ArticlePrevent Forest Fires: Ninety percent of wildfires in Minnesota are human-caused
“Ninety percent of wildfires in Minnesota are human-caused,” said Leanne Langenberg, MNICS's Public Information Officer in Grand Rapids, MN. In addition to burning brush and garbage piles, careless...
View ArticleRespecting Tradition to Make Your Gunflint Trail Adventure Meaningful
— Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters has hosted wilderness adventurers for almost 100 years on beautiful Poplar Lake at the edge of the BWCAW. Its history is inextricably bound to the history of development...
View ArticleArtwork at Rockwood
— Our website and social media are essential ways we communicate with our regular guests and those we hope to see at our BWCAW area resort and outfitting business. Visual communication through...
View ArticleSpring and Trees in the BWCAW
— Exploring the BWCAW is not just a journey through hauntingly beautiful landscapes; it’s an opportunity to appreciate the iconic White Pine and the different tree species that make up our forest....
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