Experience all of the joys and none of the discomforts of winter's splendor on the edge of the Boundary Waters! Cross-country ski, snowshoe and dogsled where the snow lies deep and tall pines frame the horizon. Get a taste of winter outdoor activities by day, and enjoy the comfort of a beautiful lodge at night. Spend your evening talking with new friends by the fireplace. You'll wrap up this winter getaway with the traditional experience of a wood-burning Finnish sauna and a dip in the lake if you dare!
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: This trip starts in the late afternoon at Bearskin Lake in the BWCAW. From Bearskin Lake, you will travel about one mile across the lake to the lodge. Settle in, enjoy a hot dinner, and get to know each other around the fire.
DAY 2: Spend the morning learning how to harness and handle the dogs. Practice your skiing and snow shoeing skills on the lake. We'll show you how to build a snow shelter and dress for comfort in winter weather. After dinner our musher will be there to tell you more about the exciting sport of dogsledding.
DAY 3: There are many options for activities and day trips. Ski or snowshoe to Caribou Rock for a breathtaking view of Bearskin Lake, or dog sled through snow-covered pine forests to Duncan Lake. If the group is especially energetic, make the long trek to Rose Falls and the famous stairway portage. This night you may choose to join others in the bay for an optional overnight camp out. Fall asleep under the stars as the peaceful solitude of the BWCAW surrounds you. After the sun sets, wind down enjoying the ritual of a Finnish sauna. If you're up for it, take a thrilling dip in the lake through a hole in the ice!
DAY 4: Early risers can enjoy one last ski or snowshoe outing. Pack and transfer personal gear back across the lake to the van for the trip home. The trip officially ends in the late morning before lunch. If you use WI's van transportation you can expect to arrive back in Minneapolis in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: You will ski, snowshoe and sled over lakes and through the woods. The frozen lakes provide level and open terrain. Portage trails through the woods can be hilly. The Boundary Waters offer a wide range of route options from easy to very difficult.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will use cross-country skis, snowshoes, dogsleds, and pulk sleds. (Pulks are one-person sleds used for transportation. The sleds are pulled by either one person or one to two sled dogs.) An average day consists of 2-6 hours of activity, depending on weather conditions. Travel distances vary from 3-8 miles per day. To protect the environment, WI uses "minimum impact" camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the winter months range from -40 F to +40 F. With proper gear and clothing, you can stay very comfortable.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: Camp Menogyn is a modern facility, however, most people will be asked to use an outhouse. An indoor bathroom is available for those who are unable to venture outside easily. Bathing is done the "Finnish way" in the sauna on our last night, but you can use the indoor facilities to wash up if you choose.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 15 to 25 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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[ Dates & Fees ]
In 1964, the BWCA was designated as one of the first federally protected wilderness areas in the United States as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness lies on the boundary between northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. These waters are a chain interconnected of lakes, formed by glaciation. This country is part of the Canadian Shield, a geological formation that comprises portions of the earth's most ancient exposed rock, some of which is 3 billion years old!
Two forests, the Boreal and Laurentian forests, converge to create a unique ecosystem with diversified plant and animal life in the Boundary Waters. Animals that would not normally be seen together, such as the white-tailed deer and the moose, have made the BWCA their homes. Many birds, such as bald eagles, loons and over 20 species of wood warblers use the Boundary Waters as their nesting grounds.
Humans have left their mark on the area as well. Natives inhabited the Boundary Waters area for thousands of years, with some human relics dating back to 10,000 BC. The Ojibwe and Dakotas used the intricate waterways of the BWCA for hundreds of years. Many of the portages (paths between lakes) were first used by native peoples. Artifacts from that period still turn up on the portages. European fur traders and missionaries first came into the area in the early 1700s. A merger developed between the European Voyageurs and the Ojibwe, based on trade of European goods for native knowledge and furs. This partnership ended in the mid 19th century due to the near total extinction of the beaver population and declining interest in furs as fashion.
Fur trading and logging of the Boundary Waters began taking its toll on the fragile ecosystem. People decided to act, setting aside this pristine wilderness area and working to protect it from further harm. In 1909, this area was designated as the Superior National Forest, with 1,000 acres of roadless land set aside in 1926. The current borders of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area were established in 1964 when the Wilderness Act was passed, designating 1,075,000 acres of forest to be preserved in a natural state, where the mark of humans is impermanent.
This is just the beginning of your adventure to the Boundary Waters. We will continue to provide you with more history and details as you canoe through the lakes with our trip leaders. Hope to see you on the trail!
For more information, visit these links:
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
Check out the Explore Minnesota website for Wilderness Inquiry.
BWCA in Wikipedia
Wintergreen Clothing and Dogsled adventures
Wilderness Inquiry and other Boundary Water outfitters at CanoeCountry.com
Superior National Forest
Minnesota DNR Fishing Regulations
[ Dates & Fees ]
