Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters

As a Minnesota wedding photographer, I’ve had the joy of capturing celebrations in some truly breathtaking locations, but there’s something extra special about Gunflint Lodge. Tucked away in the Northwoods on the edge of the Boundary Waters and bordering with Canada, this place feels like a northern love story waiting to be told. For couples looking to elope or have their destination wedding in Minnesota, Gunflint Lodge is the spot. The views are nothing short of stunning. Towering pines, serene lake views, and the kind of untouched wilderness that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a vintage postcard. The cozy cabins, complete with fireplaces and rustic charm, make for the perfect retreat before and after “I do.” And the staff? Incredibly kind, always going above and beyond to create an experience that feels effortless and intimate (I've worked a lot of places, and not too many are willing to haul you around to make sure you have the literal picture perfect day). Every time I photograph an elopement here, I’m reminded of why I love what I do and why I love this state that I call home. There’s a magic to this place—whether it’s the golden-hour glow filtering through the trees, the sound of the loons calling across the lake, or the way time just seems to slow down so couples can truly soak in their moment. If you’re dreaming of a wedding day that’s peaceful, personal, and perfectly Minnesotan, you can’t go wrong with Gunflint Lodge.

What a terrific area, activities and amenities! From skating, skiing, sleighride, snowshoeing...this place has it all! Staff were very nice and helpful. Cabins could be updated and cleaner though. Pretty dated and worn. The appliances did not work great and more kitchen cookware was needed. Dishwasher was not mounted in and tipped out when loaded. Dryer did not heat well to dry.

We booked our vacation months ago with the hopes of seeing Northern Lights in this beautiful location. We knew at the time that anything could happen with weather conditions, solar flares and 100 other variables. While the adverse conditions with total cloud cover, snow and no solar activity blew our hopes for seeing the light show. With that being said we had a wonderful vacation in spite of the disappointment of the lights. From the moment we walked in to the moment we checked out everything exceeded our expectations. Our cabin was well stocked with the everyday items that were needed, it was also spotless and very comfortable. The meals were fantastic and more than enough food to feed even the biggest appetites. Our servers over the few days were Amber and Sam, you couldn't ask for better service than what these folks provided. They were very personable and were there for anything we needed. We also went to a presentation given by Leif, the naturalist on site, and it was very informative and very well presented. We took our dog with us and she enjoyed the walks in the area with all the new smells and things to see. I think she felt at home with her ancestors in the area, she walks a little prouder now. We would highly recommend staying at the Gunflint Lodge with all of the history and beautiful location as well as the wonderful people that are employed here. We will be back!

This resort does it right! Everything was top notch from the accommodations to the service to the food to the activities and grounds! I called a few times leading up to our trip with questions and was always given patient and detailed responses. Our cabin was gorgeous (#28), clean, and comfortable. To top it all off, it’s pet friendly! It was so nice to bring the dogs rather than stressing about a sitter. Can’t wait to return!

Just spent 4 active days at the Gunflint Lodge, skiing, snowshoeing, and skating. The trails were beautifully groomed and accessible to all levels of skiers. We skated with our own nordic skates several times and loved it! The staff made us feel very welcome there. They run activities daily with a naturalist on staff who had arranged an interesting talk with a wildlife photographer while we were there. If you need a little getaway time in the woods, I highly recommend the Gunflint!

One of my friends and I went there on snowmobiles. We stayed in the newly built hotel. Very nice room but make sure you bring your own soap. We also had dinner and a couple drinks in the lodge. The food was great and the server was very friendly. I highly recommend checking it out if you have never been there before. I believe they also have skiing trails and ice skating trails out on the lake.

My husband and I stayed in cabin 23 for three nights to celebrate our one year anniversary. The only complaints we had were concerning the cabin. The coffee table was very rickety, the microwave had a dial to set the cook time, it's been several decades since I've seen a microwave that old, we were afraid to use it. The shower was the worst, there was mold/mildew all around the base and the control handles weren't working. The whole cabin needed some TLC. We noticed that you're building a large building to accommodate more visitors I wish you had spent some of that money on updating the cabins and made some much needed repairs. Now onto the good stuff! The food at your restaurant was wonderful, the walleye chowder was great and all of our meals were beyond reproach. The staff in the restaurant were great they were all very personable and attentive and made the dining experience even better. The front desk personnel were very helpful and professional, and explained everything very clearly. We love the area and we’ve driven up to eat at your restaurant several times when we’ve visited the Northshore but this is the first time we've stayed there and we will definitely visit the restaurant again!

This was an awesome stay. We had a wonderful week. Got married on Tuesday and had the most amazing views, great Cabins, and exceptional service from all of the staff. Special thanks to Robin, and all the staff for making our stay special. And a special thanks to Ron at the outfitter desk. He was a pleasure to chat with. May his guitar arrive unscathed. Great location, great views, my only regret is having to leave so soon...a week is never enough.

What an amazing location, we stayed in the lodge top floor looking over the lake and restaurant. The room was very clean. Bedding was so crisp, bed was comfortable also the pillows. It all seemed so new, lovely bathroom. Tv remote was confusing. There should have been info on wifi password in room and check out time. Also the coffee maker was not working very well, made a big mess on the wood shelf. It was valentines, we were told the wrong room # my husband walked into a couples room! OMG how embarrassing! We were seated right away, but it took forever to get a drink, she even went to table that was seated after us. I'm not a fan of prime rib I asked for it to be cooked medium, that didn't happen at all. The Cesar salad was wet and cherries in it???? Potato's were dry, no butter no salt or pepper. Asparagus was good. She tells me to pour the au jus over the meat to cook it, sill me did now my plate is flooded in cold au jus. I found out I like mussels, that was a lovely appetizer. Desert was mini cheesecakes 4, and I mean MINI like not even enough to fill a spoon. And we didn't even know what kind they were. The reason for the 4 is I loved the space we stayed in, room 107.

We made reservations for supper before our trip into the BWCA. Walleye sandwiches and walleye tacos were on their menu and we were all craving fish. The guys that had the fish sandwich said it was just "meh", very bland and not what they were expecting. Would not order again. The salad was very good. The appetizers were very good esp the duck wontons. I had the fish tacos and really had a hard time just eating one. I was not a fan of the breading. Now I also had the walleye chowder and it was amazing. The entrees were a miss but everything else we had as appetizers and sides were delicious so not a total flop. Not sure we would come back or maybe try something else. The lodge is beautiful and the wait staff were friendly.

Love this place. Great service. Amazing views. If you are on the gunflint -you must come here for a meal. Shore lunch sandwich was delicious! Keep up the good work.

I stayed at the lodge for a couple of winter days and enjoyed it! On the edge of Gunflint Lake, there are lots of options for lodging and my 1 bedroom with sauna was super quiet, nice fireplace, and kept stocked with firewood. The bed is comfortable. Furniture a bit older but part of the rustic charm. The lodge has access to lots of hiking/ski trails of various distances including the northern route. Also just a short drive to the trailhead for magnetic rock and the Trail End. I had breakfast and dinner at the restaurant and both were very good thanks to their onsite chef. Last - they are offering massage - Celene will be there till Oct 2021 and I highly recommend - it was excellent and one of the best I've had.

My group of six stayed two nights in Cabin 12 in early October 2023 and we were so disappointed. Only one of the cabin's door locked and the first key the front desk didn't work. The carpets were dirty and stained and two of the three showers were dirty. We borrowed DVDs from the Lodge but couldn't use them as the TV and DVD player didn't work. We were told that we'd have access to the internet, but we didn't. We also couldn't make phone calls (very dangerous as the cabin didn't have a land line in case of emergency). One of the front desk staff was very rude and unwelcoming. For example, as we were leaving the Lodge after dinner, an older couple was also leaving. They wanted to make a reservation for dinner for the next evening (reservations are required) but the staff member refused, telling them they'd have to return the next day to make a reservation. The man (who was blind) asked why and the staff member just ignored him. He asked her, "We're not asking for special treatment but only trying to make our stay a bit easier. Do you even care about us as customers?" The staff member continued to ignore them and so they left. Good Things: the food we had at the restaurant was very good and the waitstaff did an excellent job. Lots of towels in the cabin. Beautiful setting.

Just be Uber aware of their ridiculous $50.00 cancellation fee no matter how far out you cancel, that's all I have to say...

Driving to the end of the Gubflint Trail makes a girl hungry, you know? Good thing the Gunflint Lodge is toward the end of the trail and offers both lovely lodging and pretty good food. So the restaurant is a big grand dining room with lovely big windows and a scenic view. We started with the potato skins, which were delicious (OK, I love potato skins but these were very good). They were homemade for sure not frozen. My husband got a salad with walnuts, goat cheese and blueberries, which he declared to be one of the best salads he's ever had and that he vowed to recreate at home. I have no idea how they got such beautiful fresh blueberries in the dead of winter, but it looked like it had berries picked fresh from some blueberry plant. I got a bacon cheeseburger, which was also very good. The fries were just about perfect. Oh and he got some kind of soup that was also good. That's all I remember about that. Really solid meal, lovely views, good service.

I have been coming to the Gunflint Lodge for 40 years - not often, about every 10 years! I have stayed in the cabins, bunkhouse, and eaten several meals. I have always felt very welcomed here. Stopped here for dinner last week before heading into the Quetico. Unquestionably the best food on the Gunflint Trail. What surprised me is how much of a family place this has become - there were numerous children playing on the outdoor play area. We had a great meal. I had the blue cheese burger - it was perfectly cooked and flavorful. Everyone thought their food was the best they had without driving to Grand Marais. Considering the location, the prices were reasonable. The new owner came out to ask about our meal. He seemed like a great guy, and we had a friendly conversation. I can recommend the Gunflint Lodge without hesitation.

We had a girls trip - 5 nights- to the Boundary Waters November 2023. We stayed in a beautiful 4 bedroom cabin that fit the 8 of us perfectly. The area is beautiful and well kept with a little quaint lodge that over looks the water. On the 2nd to last night we had issues with the septic not draining. The toilets were burping and wouldn't drain, the sewage back flowed up into the showers. We attempted to call the lodge but that closes at 9pm and there is no way to get ahold of anyone after hours. We went the night without use of flushing toilets and sewage in the showers. At 9 am they finally sent someone in to look at them. During the 4 hours they were working on this, the sauna also started leaking water and there was flooding underneath. The management did not offer to relocate us to a different cabin or offer any type discount for the inconvenience we had. The solution they offered was to send a house keeper to clean the bathrooms. She cleaned all 4 full sized bathrooms in under 10 minutes. I maybe a germaphobe but there is no way that was properly disinfected and the sauna was not even touched.

We have winter vacationed at Gunflint 4xs in the last 7 years. It fails to disappoint. We have a different adventure every time we go. First of all, dog friendly! A big plus. We have staying the large lake Homes each trip , the carpet and furniture need a little tlc in these units but they are very comfortable. The food and drinks in the lodge are outstanding, and thanks to Molly for the excellent service. Service across the board here is fantastic. They take good care of you. Your experience is up to you!! Lots to do, or do nothing. You are literally unplugged!! Internet access in the lodge only!! No cell signal, no tv! We always recommend gunflint and love it in the winter!!! Thanks to the crew at Gunflint for another fantastic trip!! See you again soon.....!! We enjoy a day in the lodge watching a blizzard across the lake! Each time it's something new.

My step-dad and I came here for a Father's Day trip. The outfitting gave us everything we needed for a week-long portaging trip. Upon arrival back to the lodge, we stayed in the cabins (super fun!) and ate great food. My step dad has been coming here for over 3 decades and we will be definitely coming back!!

This is one of those places you are lucky to visit in your life. I have never been in the summer time as the other reviewers experienced, but I have been there in February when the place is covered in snow and you can ski, snow mobile, snow shoe, ice fish and my favorite.. sleep, relax, hot tub and enjoy hot cocoa in the lodge while watching the frozen lake and the many deer... My sister and her husband always rent CABIN 1, which has a loft upstairs with 2 beds and a small living room area that over looks the downstairs and has a window looking out at the lake.. Downstairs, it has 2 large bedrooms - one is a master with 2 queens and a private bathroom and the other is a large guest room with an adjacent bath that is also accessible to the loft occupants... there is a private (for your cabin only) Sauna as well as a hot tub outside in the snow.. YES! in the snow.. it is enclosed by stone walls and viewable only from the loft window...very private.. so awesome to sit in a hot jacuzzi with the steam rising into the cold air and look at the snow fall... amazing! You have to drive a long way on a snowy road practically to Canada, but if you are looking for a ONCE IN A LIFE TIME, COMPLETELY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.. AND YOU LOVE SNOW... THIS IS FOR YOU! The great lakes with all the ice looked like a sea of huge sparkling diamonds as far as the eye could see... it was hard to stop snapping photos! OH! Did I mention the DOG-SLEDDING? that was so much fun. I am a city girl, more at home in a shop or coffee house, but I LOVED the Dog Sledding! The dogs actually bite the snow as they go along to get a drink.. so cute! and fast! You have a professional musher who takes you out too.. i will load some video on my blog for you to see http://www.coreytess.com OH! and the deer.. they eat out of your hand.. they are wild, but they are used to people and the lodge gives you deer food, as much as you can carry... to put outside your cabin windows, so you can watch the deer come and eat.. they are so lovely.. I did some cross country "nordic" skiing, snow mobiling up the trails and frozen lake - WOW! Winter Wonderland! Breath Taking! Sledding was fun too! Maybe I will put that video up of me sledding down the little hill.. LOL They have a restaurant that serves amazing food.. there is long rice in everything, but they say it is native to the area.. it was yummy.. the lodge is comfy and has a bar as well, where people stop in sometimes who are not guests, but want a bite to eat or a beverage.. Don't expect to use your cell phone or the net... this was hard for me to get used to, but I actually rested and read books.. it was AWESOME! I cannot recommend it enough as one of those hidden gems that 99% of people will never get to see... if you have a choice... I say.. DO IT!

We were staying on Devil Track lake but made the drive up to hike to magnetic rock, and then did Gunflint Lodge for a late lunch. This review will be for lunch and front desk help only. When we arrived (1:30) we asked if lunch was still a possibility, the person at the front desk said yes, and walked us to the host stand and said someone would be by in a bit, but that they were real busy, and it might be a while, and then basically did an 80's comic eye roll and hair flip and walked away. We waited at the host stand for 10+ minutes (within sight of the three staff working the front desk who were very busy chatting to one another). When we were served it was by a server who clearly was at the end of his rope who sat us and then said, rather grumpily, as he was walking away, "I'm all by myself so you'll going to have to be patient with me". We did. Getting drinks and ordering food took a long time, but I will say that with each interaction the server became slightly friendlier, and by the end he was just shy of pleasant. I had a french dip (which they have a themed name for) which was very good. The fries were fantastic. Kids liked their food (chicken strips and mac and cheese). Overall it was an odd experience, but the lodge the setting is beautiful. I tried to buy a pint glass as a souvenir on my way out but they were sold out in the gift shop. I asked if I could buy one of the ones that were used and behind the bar (a common thing in bars and taprooms) but was told abruptly that they "barely have enough glasses as it is, we can't sell any." Which, truth be told, made me not really want to have a souvenir from there anymore anyway.

Three of us arrived at a mostly empty dining room last Thursday for lunch at 12:30 and were told that they were not seating non lodge guests. The website mentions making reservations for dinner that starts at 5:00 pm but nothing about lunch that starts at 11:30. While I understand needing to conserve resources for lodge guests, this new policy needs to be communicated on the Gunflint Lodge website. We have been coming here for decades and were sorely disappointed.

The Gunflint Lodge has been my go-to spot for food and comfort this winter and for many summers! I live on the Gunflint Trail so I've never stayed in the cabins but I've spent plenty of time in the lodge. You won't beat the view or the feeling of "coming home" you get when you walk in the door. I would highly recommend the Shore Lunch sandwich and a good local beer!

This is my favorite place in the world. It's set on a gorgeous plot of earth alongside a masterpiece of a lake. It's so close to the Canadian border you can even see the WiFi for the Canadian Border Patrol. The food was great. All the staff were amazing and friendly. I love that they leave bags of corn out so you can feed the ducks. The guides activities are great to help you get your bearings. I loved our cabin. Leaving was so hard.

We're a young couple who had the BEST time at Gunflint Lodge. We found out about Gunflint from a former Minnesotan just before we moved to Rochester and decided it would be a great place to spend a few days before starting our new jobs. It exceeded our wildest expectations. We caught a lot of walleye with the outstanding fishing guide, Jon, learned how to make dreamcatchers, took the hike up to the high cliffs, and got to ride two great horses, Wonita and Archer. Every morning we took a paddle on Gunflint Lake. The staff were great, and the food at the Red Paddle was amazing. Make sure you get the Don Hash and the Cinnamon French Toast for breakfast. Our cabin was lovely and well appointed. We are already planning on making the beautiful drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior from Rochester for XC ski season as we cannot wait to come here again.

First time here, and we will be back!!! Fantastic staff, outstanding food (and portions) and wonderful hospitality. My boyfriend and I stayed here for 6 days and 5 nights with our 2 dogs in cabin 20. It was a good size for us. Had a cozy living area, tiny kitchen, King size bed and an awesome 5 spray shower that I could have lived in!! Unfortunately, the first day we got here I ended up in the hospital...but OP who works at the front desk was super helpful getting help (and gave me a great hug when I got back), Frank and Ben were awesome volunteers who helped my situation and get me on the ambulance. I'm very thankful for all 3 of them!! After that, it was all about relaxing and that's just what we did!! Our pups ran on the beach front in the mornings and evenings, chasing the ducks and playing with other dogs. We ordered breakfast to the room every morning- it was always hot and fresh. Extremely tasty as well!! We rented out the pontoon boats and went into Canada, we got to go kayaking and canoeing and had a blast, also did the dessert cruise. Very informative!! Overall, we're glad we took the 10.5 hour drive up here and will definitely be coming back to this hidden gem. There were a few things I wasn't overall happy with, but it wouldn't change this faculty being 5 stars. CONS: -was there for 6 days and our garbage only got picked up once. It says in there book that's they are supposed to come daily...needless to say, I had to say something. -we went to the lodge for dinner to come back to find out that our dogs found a mouse trap in the room that they tore apart. That could have turned into a bad situation. I think they should take those out of lodges if they know dogs are going to stay there and they are ok with dogs not being caged in rooms. -our last dinner there we were seated, waited 15 minutes for someone to come by us. Tony, the waiter, didn't bother introducing himself just asked what we wanted, didn't ask us for water refills, brought our entrees out before our appetizer, and took 20 minutes to bring out a milkshake.

We love this place. They welcome dogs. They take really good care of their trails (ski, snowshoe, hiking, dog sled). And John the naturalist is amazing, with encyclopedic knowledge of so many topics, from the aurora borealis to the underground railroad. A great way to connect with nature. Saw my first northern flying squirrel and pine grosbeaks there too.

Chef Rick knows his way around a kitchen. We had an amazing meal tonight. Smoked prime rib was amazing. It was perfectly seasoned and smoked just right, tender and juicy through every bite. The prime rib paired well with garlic mashed potatoes making for one amazing meal. Finished it off with the flourless chocolate torte! A must try. If you are in the area, please stop in. Chef Rick is amazing

Saddens me deeply to write this review as the dining at Gunflint Lodge has been a long time favorite.   And I hope this is just an aberration and that we will try again another trip. Overall the experience was no better than a "2" but since this is about the food...I bumped it to a "3"...we expected another "5" though based on experience in years past! The dining room was about 40% full...busy for a Wednesday night I suppose but not swamped.  We were seated...and our waitress connected with us in a few minutes.   She took our drink orders and had them to us in ten minutes...then took our dinner orders and it was down hill from there.  50 minutes later  our sandwiches arrived. .. not a single touch-base from her during the entire time. Now...the food.  Very good!  We both had prime rib sandwiches on a wild rice bun. Hubby had a non-descript side-salad.  I had a walleye chowder that was very tasty. We would eat this meal again but it wasn't hugely innovative and we had expected to be wow'd! Speaking of not being wow'd it seems that the menu isn't what it used to be.  As I said this has been a destination meal for us.  We had planned to go back for a birthday bash dinner the next night.  In years past we've stayed in Grand Marais and driven an hour to get to Gunflint.  This year we are staying near Gunflint and we will be driving an hour back to Grand Marais to dine at the Crooked Spoon again as we want a fine dining experience. We hope this was just a bump in the road for this fine establishment. They need to up their game though in the dining room.

Location, cabins, and staff are 4 to 5 star. Food in dining room 2 stars. Beautiful lake setting even though Canadian side of lake will take a few more years to recover from 2007 fire. Staff were all great. They really went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. Stayed in cabin 17. Large and comfortable. Really appreciated the full kitchen.

Love, love, love the Gunflint Lodge! Just returned from a fabulous weekend up there and have felt restored and renewed all week since then. The quiet beauty of the woods and lake, the fabulous and friendly staff, the foresight and genius of the management and new owners, Mindy and John Fredrikson--these all contributed to the most relaxing and lovely weekend I've spent in years! For those who like to do a lot of outdoors activities, there are hikes, and horseback trail rides, and a canopy zipline, canoeing, fishing, swimming and so many other things. For those who need to be still and just contemplate the wonder of Nature, though, this is also THE place to be, I find. And the history of this place, started as a little fishing camp in 1927 by an amazing woman, makes it extra enticing to those who care about the history of Minnesota and the BWCA.

This is an awesome vacation destination! The Gunflint Lodge makes sure you have lots to do while there. They are constantly having multiple activities during the day and some specifically for kids. My son went on a 3 hour fishing trip! He didn't come back with any fish, but he did come back with "Grandma's big red toe". The staff here are super friendly and very informative. One night I went down to the bar in the lodge and I think I was the only non-staffer around it! That made for an awesome opportunity to get to know them and how they are dedicated to the customer and providing them with a great experience. My only disappointment was that the zip lines weren't open during our stay. While hiking I checked them out and watched them test them. I want that job! If you can, do some horseback riding and hiking. Magnetic rock is always good to see.

The past two years my wife and I have made Gunflint Lodge a stop for lunch during our North Shore motorcycle vatations. When you realize this is 2 hours on the highway from St. Paul to Duluth, 3 more hours from Duluth to Grand Marais on highway 61 on the North Shore, another 45 minutes on lower grade paved road which is highway 12, or the Gunflint Trail, then finally a few miles on gravel road to get there this begins to tell how amazing of a place Gunflint Lodge is. This is a high-end resort / lodge at literally the end of the road in one of the more remote areas in the country. If you have what it takes to make this trip, be sure to spend at least a couple of hours there for lunch and be sure to order the walleye chowder.

Awsome place to stay. Canoe across the bay to Magnetic bay and you are in canada. Great fishing, great cross county skiing. nice staff grea food. They really do up the local northwoods theme in a designer 4 star way. The owners the Kerfoot family have been there forever. They were the base station during the big hamlake fire. The staff cant do more to make sure you have a great stay. Free tea and cookies are there all open hours to give you that special feeling. The cooking staff is superb and the staff from around the world is A+ they have a grea outfitter and all the great gear you would ever need for a northwoods adventure. Camper cabins for the rustic feel or hot tub sweet cabins for the high end getaway. They also have a full gourmet bar in the lodge.

This place is amazing! We definitely WILL return! The cabin was spotless, and VERY roomy. Perks included a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. That made packing very easy, because we could pack much less clothing, and wash it. And having a full kitchen meant we could save money by cooking for ourselves. The staff is beyond friendly - I felt as though we made new friends! They are very helpful, as well - anything you might need, they will do their best to get it for you. Food in the Red Paddle Bistro is delicious, and portions are huge! Prepare to take some with you! (We did not try Justine's, though I suspect the food there is as good or better!) The beds are ridiculously comfortable. We slept beautifully every night (all the hiking we did helped, of course!). The furniture was very comfortable, as well, and offered a beautiful view of the lake, right from our living room window. The wildlife is amazing too. We had many birds visit that we can't see at home! Never saw a wolf, but that's not guaranteed, and we can't hold it against the lodge! (Wolves ARE there - we saw tracks and scat) I take a star off for one thing, however: they advertise charcoal grills for some cabins (others have gas grills). What they don't tell you is that these grills are the open-sided type you'd find in a park. They are VERY hard to cook on, because the heat is difficult to control. Next time, we will carry along our own small grill.

It is just like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie! Spent four days and enjoyed every second. Fabulous food! Amazingly friendly and kind staff who are happy to help or guide. Loved the outdoor adventures we had that were super safe and fun thanks to expert staff. Dog sledding was SO cool!!! Owners welcoming and introduced themselves, and they really didn't have to. Staff, (front desk, bar, and wait staff and both shops) make you feel right at home. Meals were expertly prepared. We ate every meal in the restaurant and did not have a single bad plate! Fantastic flavors and presentation. Super clean everywhere. (I'm really picky about that!) Beautifully trimmed trails for hiking. Fat tire bike rental and snowmobile guided experience exceeded expectations. Cabin was spacious, rustic and clean. Each room had own bath, which was very nice for our family of four which includes 2 teens. We stayed Jan 2-5. Been meaning to post a review. It was a true winter epic adventure, but with every creature comfort. Beautiful surroundings. Great personal touches like ice skating and free ice skates to borrow as well as complementary bird seed for guests so we strategically placed near big windows, and met our "neighbors," which included chipmunk squirrels, a fox, and many pretty birds. Limitless warm beverages available at the lodge, cocoa and marshmallows included!

Just returned from our first BWCA experience which was outfitted through Gunflint Lodge and Outfitters. They were awesome! Everything was prepared for us, they helped us plan the trip and went through how to use all the gear. The meals they packed us were magnificent! Definitely no shortage of food on the trip. Mandy provided us with a first rate experience. We will definitely be back!

I have eaten here for dinner twice this year with two different groups of people - the dinner menu is served only until 7:30pm and the bar menu after... so plan ahead. I have been here - but not for several years... The first group I dined with was 3 adults who know the place well. After a short drive from Loon Lake, we arrived at 8 pm on a week night - bar food menu. I had the walleye chowder both times - a house specialty which was good - not a lot of fish - but a lighter cream based chowder with fresh ingredients - corn and potatoes - no real spices except salt and pepper... good but not great. They were out of the walleye for a sandwich and had a burger - good but nothing exceptional. The second group that I dined with was a young family - two adults and two children - who all are used to the culinary delights of Madison, WI. We had corbel old fashions - which seemed kind of watered down to me - I love a stiff cocktail. To keep the kids happy we had a cheese and wild rice quesadilla with sour cream and salsa - very good and it came right away which of course makes any parent with young children happy. I had had enough red meat for the week and ordered a cranberry chicken salad with a honey mustard dressing. Good salad - nice product - portion - nothing special... The kids had walleye fingers and shared the adult foods... Then walleye entre and risotto with mushrooms, and another of the salads from the menu... Service was enthusiastic - and just fine. I will return - but this is not my first choice for dining on the Gunflint Trail...

Since we're campy people we chose The Gunflint Lodge as our honeymoon destination almost 10 years ago (yes I WAS 8 when we got married, thanks). The honeymoon cabins are really great! With the honeymoon package we got 3 full meals a day (so good. Has anybody mentioned how awesome the restaurant is? Wow. Really) and appetizers delivered to our cabin with wine every day. Escargot, walleye cheeks, and other little delicious bites - it was quite the juxtaposition of rustic and classy. Oh, I should say that we have gone back a few times since then, and their attention to a quality experience hasn't diminished in the slightest. I'd suggest taking advantage of some of the great year-round packages they offer. We were able to go on an anniversary weekend (offered to anybody having purchased a honeymoon package) and a pre-season weekend (at about $27/day super-price).

Before I start my review, I just wanted to say that I have not stay here. After reading the many great reviews, I decide to book a stay but unfortunately that did not happen. The reason I decide not continue on with my reservation was because: Whomever was in charge of talking to their customer regarding their promotion with Groupon is awfully rude and lack customer services. She must of not had her coffee yet because right of the bat and throughout our conversation she was very discourteous. After I felt like this wasn't a friendly place to bring my family, I told her nicely, cancel my RSVP, instead of apologize, she just hung up on me. I wish I would of caught her name, but whomever was working 6/1/2016 @10:20a.m. I will pray for you tonight but please have someone with more training and friendlier to speak to your customers. I refunded what I brought from Groupon.

On our way to Seagull Outfitters to go canoeing we stopped for dinner the Red Paddle Bistro and Justine's Fine Dining inside the Gunflint Lodge. The food was very good and the view of Gunflint lake was exceptional. Everything on the menu was very expensive but the good home style food and the view was worth it.

We visited the Gunflint Lodge on a Groupon-type voucher in June and booked a mid week stay in August. Our voucher did allow weekend bookings, but none were available until October Setting: The setting is lovely, as is the drive from Minneapolis...especially mid week....very little traffic. The Lodge has a true north woods feel with a beautiful view of Gunflint Lake across the lake to Canada. There are several hiking options around the Lodge and within driving distance between the Lodge and Grand Marais. Several activities are available if you have kids and adult activities include horseback riding, boat rental etc. Kayaks and canoes are free, as are most of the kid activities. Staff: Overall, helpful and accommodating, save for one very prickly waiter our first morning for breakfast and a longer-than-average wait to take a drink order at the bar. We had no maid service, except for a change of towels....for the cost, I would have expected our beds to be made. Food: Drinks and food reasonably priced. We had free breakfast as part of our package and while the choices were limited, the food was filling and good. Bring your own coffee. The restaurant coffee was very weak and flavorless. We ate in the Bistro, and food was good for "bar food" with pretty typical sandwich choices. Heavy emphasis on fish, which is no surprise considering the location of the destination. We didn't eat in the more upscale restaurant, so I've no opinion there. Cabin: Very cabin-esque; with newly decorated bedroom with king-size bed and large shower. Minimal kitchen, which forces you to plan ahead and be prepared to grill (grills outside most cabins, but not ours like they said) or eat at the Lodge. Our cabin was a bit run down compared to others. in back of our cabin a loud pump ran day and night, which forced us to keep our bedroom windows closed at night. Overall: For $300 it was an okay deal. I would NEVER pay full-price for our cabin if indeed we paid half price to begin with. There were much nicer cabins on the "Edina" side of the resort of various sizes. If I were the owner and I wanted return customers, I would put the voucher customers in a nicer cabin to really showcase the resort. I don't think for the price I'd return. As I read the other reviews, I'm guessing some folks stayed on the "other side" of the resort where the cabins were new with gas grills, lovely plantings and an overall nicer environment. Two very different experiences I would guess!

This used to be a stunning inclusive yet rustic family resort. The lodge food and service was impeccable, and there was always something interesting to do. Now, less so. Very modern accommodation with aderondac chairs by the lake and gas fireplaces. The food and service in the lodge is down to inadequate suburban diner quality and consistency, and wait staff are obviously untrained in even the basics like bringing bread and water. Dining prices are in the good urban range for plates that are worth 1/3 of that. Staff is very friendly, and hiking trails are pretty, if spottily maintained. Fishing is great. Other amenities like laundry in cabin are over shadowed by the tree zipline users screaming in an otherwise placid environment.

Despite the great reviews, my experience wasn't that great. I ordered the fish tacos. The tortillas were not soft or warm, the sauce seemed to have a lot of mayonnaise, the slaw filling was very light. We waited a very long time. On the bright side, my husband enjoyed his plate of sliders a lot. Beautiful view to the lake. My son enjoyed his chili dish. So, mixed I guess.

We drive about 31/2 hours to get to our "all time favorite spot"! When you get to be our age , you have seen a lot, but this is the best! This is our third spring to come up for clean up and we also come for the fall one. Absolutely love it!! We are now bringing friends...it took awhile for us to share it but decided we need to share with friends and family and they love it as much as we do. We are due up in a couple of weeks and can't wait. Bruce and Sue and the staff are awesome. See you soon Jerry and Vickie Wilder Birchwood Wisconsin

The good: Very helpful staff, beautiful setting, free kayak/canoe "rental," decent food at cafe, nice fireplace in cabin with provided firewood and fire starters, free hot chocolate and tea. The bad: I made a reservation for a 2-bedroom cabin, and when my friend and I arrived, they only had a one bedroom (cabin #23). They gave us a reduced rate, which was nice, but my friend had to sleep on a very uncomfortable sofa. I got to sleep on a king bed, but the mattress was sitting on top of a piece of plywood!! Every time I moved, it cracked and creaked and woke up me and my friend. For the posted rate (not my reduced rate) of $299/night, the bed should have a real box spring. Also, the cabin had a very odd floor plan: the bedroom and bathroom were combined without a wall separating them. The toilet was in a closet (quite literally), and the sink was about 10 feet away in the opposite corner. The room had a Jacuzzi shower, which sadly sounds better than it feels. The water barely made it to the top/overhead showerhead, and the lever was stuck so water came through the four lower (2 torso and 2 foot) showerheads. There was no ledge or anything built into the shower area, so you had to walk out of the shower to a little ledge about 2 feet away to get your soap, shampoo, etc.

For years, my husband and I had dreamed of going to the Gunflint Lodge. It had the reputation of being a special place in a beautiful area of our state. We purchased an online voucher for a 2-day deluxe getaway with friends and were eager to spend a fall weekend there. No where on the voucher did it indicate this did not include weekends. When i called to make reservations, I was surprised and then frankly, shocked at how rudely I was treated by the owner, whose name is Bruce. Even though I called the day I bought the voucher, he told me that there were no rooms available for any weekends for the entire duration of the offer. He said I could have a lesser valued room (than I paid for the voucher) but would not be able to participate in any of the full-service activities. So basically, he offered me something valued at $250 after we had paid $500. He was incredibly rude and pompous in his treatment of me. He offered no apology whatsoever, and implied that I should get a job with more flexible vacation time. When I asked how it was that they had absolutely none of the deluxe packages available for the next six months, he said that they do, but were not going to give them to people who bought the vouchers. So basically, it was a fraudulent offer. How this place stays in business with an owner who has no idea what customer service means, is a mystery. End of story, we were able to get refunded from the voucher company and will never give our business to Gunflint Lodge.

Great honest simple food! The menu has mostly sandwiches and burgers, at this casual bistro. They asked us how we wanted our burgers prepared, always a good sign, and the fries were home-made, and cooked just right. On another visit we had a delicious walleye chowder and their chili, both were very tasty. Their small side salad was prepared with care, not just poured out of a bag. We like the oatmeal stout and bloody marys . A great place to eat in the middle of nowhere!

On Thursday, September 22, 2016 after 5 fabulous days at Heston's serving as our adventure basecamp (great rustic/chic cabins that are back to the 40s, give Cedar Point a try, great owner/hosts, and oh yeah, the 442s recorded an album there!), we decided to leave a clean cabin and let Gunflint Lodge prepare dinner for us before checkout on Friday. We've done this before and the window view at the lodge restaurant looking across Gunflint Lake, the narrow passage to Magnetic Lake,and the two wooded points of the US and Canada nearly merging is always a fabulous view. We've paddled through that narrow channel and I recommended it. Anyway, the dining room and the view is great! I don't recall the name of our server, but he was fairly new and had done most of his hiking in Shenandoah National Park. We recommended he try the Border Route Trail to High Cliffs to get a birds-eye view of where he worked. A very attentive and nice fellow! My wife decided on a salmon and penne entrée while I chose the pork tenderloin with wild rice. It's not the server's fault, but what arrived at the table was quite disappointing. The penne was way past al dente and the salmon was nearly lost in a heavy cream-based sauce. I was surprised when my pork tenderloin arrived. Three huge slabs of well done pork dolloped with coarse mustard piled on top of some fairly routine mix of wild rice, and mushrooms and such. The biggest problem was that the pork tenderloin I ordered wasn't pork tenderloin when it arrived at the table. It was big slabs of pork loin. I certainly didn't mind the extra protein, but that's kind of a culinary "bait and switch" when you have one thing on the menu and deliver something else. The Lodge has a tradition of decorating the rims of plates brought to the table. This time it was micro greens and an orchid. Although visually pleasant, I recommend that the kitchen concentrate on the entrée in the middle of the plate. I'm sure we'll have dinner at the Lodge again when we stay at Heston's next year. Looking forward to it.

My boyfriend and I went with another couple and stayed in the very spacious cabin 18 in the beginning of February. We stayed for three nights and it was remarkable! The cabin was fully furnished (and stocked) and anything we thought we needed the Lodge brought directly to our room free of charge (including a bag of ice for our drinks). The cabin had a cedar sauna which was awesome to go in after a day of snowshoeing. EVERYTHING was included in the price of the cabin, the showshoes and skis were free (if we were there in the summer the canoes and paddles would be too!) and we were able to wake up and eat breakfast in the Lodge (also included in the price of the cabin). The trails were fantastic, and I really loved showshoeing up to the top of an overlook and seeing into Canda! The view was breathtaking! In the Lodge you can get corn and bird seed and sprinkle it right outside your window. I have never been so close to deer before in my life! They were literally right outside our living room window! It was amazing to sit and cuddle by the fire while watching the deer. In fact the first night we were there a couple wolves decimated a deer outside our window! It was so cool! The circle of life, and we got to see it all happen! The Lodge also offered activities for you to do free of charge after a long day of snowshoeing. My boyfriend and I did the soap making with John (the naturalist) and it was awesome! I made a balsam scented, green dyed, oatmeal bar of soap! I wish that they had a sandalwood scent, but there were a lot of dyes to choose from! It probably would have gone a lot faster if they only had one shape and all of the goats milk was precut, but it was still a great activity! In the Lodge they have a bar and a gift shop. They also have the trading post where you can rent supplies. My boyfriend and I went night sledding and loved every second of it! They have a huge hill and you really pick up a lot of speed! Our group decided we would be back this summer to go canoeing and to the zip line they have. Also I can guarantee we'll be back next winter to try out the dog sledding, possibly with a larger group. Everything about this stay we amazing and I would jump at the chance to go back!

Spent 4 nights at Gunflint with my whole family for my parent's 50th. 7 adults and 4 kiddos from 8-12yrs/old. We all had a simply wonderful time. The staff was very warm and welcoming, and attentive to our requests and needs. We ate breakfast and dinners in the lodge. Food quality was very good, service was a bit on the slow side, but I think that had more to do with everything being made to order and all of us coming at one time, that is hard on any kitchen. We used the boats, went for a horseback ride (a highlight for sure), and kids swam in the lake almost everyday. There were lots of other activities everyday but we didn't get a chance to do them. Everyone in the group agreed we would return for sure to Gunflint Lodge, just a magical place to get away from it all literally. I would say that is the one benefit/draw back - you are truly away from it all - no TV/cable news blaring, no papers, and only the lodge has internet access. We all saw this as a strong positive, we literally didn't know what was happening in the world and just focused on our experiences in the moment. Wish there was more of this out there today.

My husband, myself, and our 4year old were just at Gunflint Lodge and after 5days.... we were protesting going home! we stayed in the canoer cabins with the Gunflint Northwoods outfitters which is still affiliated with the lodge. It was a very nice cabin, rustic but still had a good size fridge, micro, ceiling fan, heat (which did not need). Bathroom and water was close by. It was a new experience since we usually stay in a lake side cabin which again are outstanding. The staff at the outfitters was more than accommodating to everything from our early morning arrival to needing wood for the bonfire. They are always very informed and willing to give you info on where to hike what to try and there is a smile and excitement. At the main lodge our dinners were included in our package and the food was outstanding. The staff is right there ready to help with anything needed. They even went above and beyond by takin a last minute request from me and making it happen! My son turned 5 while we were there and they were able to make a couple little cakes for him to share with his newly made friends from the cabins we were in. So wonderful up there all the staff the food the cabins ... you cannot go wrong. Do not expect TV in cabins or in the lodge, no cell service, this is where you go to completely disconnect, if you can't handle waking to the loons as your alarm clock, relaxing on the patio at sunset, listening to the wolves and the water as it hits the shore... then, this would not be your place... Just be informed and know that there is sooooo very very much to do here that you will never miss the technology you left at home. I PROMISE!