Name: Winter Trip to The North Shore of Minnesota
Start: 2025-02-17T08:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-02-21T20:00:00-06:00

Most of you don't remember the 2021 Minnesota North Shore winter trip because, well, you weren't there. 19 below zero before windchill left just 9 brave adventurers, four of whom were guests. It turned out to be a great and memorable trip. We skied, hiked and explored many venues "briefly" to avoid frostbite. I've always wanted to go back and re-visit the best places a little longer. Check out the 2021 trip here; the photos tell it all:
https://4142298.xyz/outdoor-adventures/events/275292305

There is so much to do along the North Shore whether there's snow or not; whether it's below zero or above freezing. For this trip we'll limit our area of exploration from Sugarbush Ski Trails (56) near Tofte on the South to Pincushion Mountain Ski Trails (45) near Grand Marais on the North. See the map of all the ski trails along that stretch in the photo below. Hiking Devils Track Gorge and Kadunce River Gorge, 4 miles and 9 miles respectively north of Grand Marais, will also be on the venue list. That's a stretch of about 30 miles along Highway 61 so it's important that we all sleep/stay as close together as possible for ease of getting to each day's venues.

How about that for a smooth segway into where to lay your head each night. I have researched extensively winter accomodations for this trip. Short answer: Few and far between, many substandard and overall relatively expensive (supply and demand Economics 101). Restaurants on the North Shore are also few and far between with many not open in the winter. So I wanted to find accommodations that had kitchens or atleast a microwave and refrigerator for morning and evening meal prep. Lunches will be packed.

I've booked a large VRBO home 6 miles south of Grand Marais. I decided to grab it before it was gone. Thankfully 11 other people have committed to staying there with me. So it's full. A lot of bed sharing to make it work. Right next door is the Thomsonite Inn on Lake Superior. https://www.thomsonite.com/ It is very nice and has good reviews. Thomsonite has 8 units with a maximum capacity of 2 to 6 people. Each room is different. 3 have kitchens and 5 have microwaves and refrigerators. The house I rented is the next property to the north of Thomsonite on Lake Superior. You should move fast if you find a room that suits your needs.

An alternate accommodation I recommend is Cascade Lodge located on Highway 61, 4.1 miles south from the Thomsonite Inn. https://cascadelodgemn.com/ A highly rated classic North Shore lodge with a large number and variety of accomodations ranging from economy rooms to main lodge rooms to cabins to homes. Comparatively good prices for lodging not right on but views of the Lake Superior shore yet just down the road from the VRBO I rented. There's a public restaurant on site that I may set up a group dinner at for one evening.

And if you aren't overwhelmed yet, 6 miles north of my VRBO home is Grand Marais with a variety of accomodations. And there are also a few other VRBO homes in the area. As I said above, it's better if we aren't spread up and down the 30 miles of shoreline for ease of getting to each day's venues.

I'm doing my best to let the season evolve before making detailed plans, but our likely itinerary to be fleshed out in the future is:
Mon. 2/17: Drive to Grand Marais accomodations and stop to ski/explore along the way.
Tue. 2/18: Ski half a day and explore (hike/snowshoe) half a day.
Wed. 2/19: Ski half a day and explore half a day.
Thur. 2/20: Ski half a day and explore half a day.
Fri. 2/21: Drive home and stop to ski/explore along the way.

RSVP, get a place to lay your head (before you can't or the price goes up) and stay tuned.

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Winter Trip to The North Shore of Minnesota

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Winter Trip to The North Shore of Minnesota

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