Bearskin Lodge Boundary Waters Reunion Trip Northern Minnesota

7 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
5/5 Excellent
13 reviews  
100%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Group Tour
Nestled in the pristine woods of northeastern Minnesota between Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Canoe area, we will stay at Bearskin Lodge for 5 days of good company, peace and beauty. Far from the rest of the world, we will enjoy our days out in nature and late afternoons/evenings relaxing in front of the fire, or enjoying the sauna or hot tub. We will...
From$2,150
See departure dates

Member Savings

Save up to $700!

Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Unlock Savings

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Relax in cozy cabins at the edge of the Boundary Waters
    • Enjoy vistas along Lake Superior - the world's largest freshwater lake
    • View specialty birds including possible Spruce Grouse, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers,
    • Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, and Crossbills.
    • Marvel at raptors migrating over Hawk Ridge
    • Explore the Boundary Waters on canoe excursions with picnic lunches
    • View some of the fabulous waterfalls and cascades that feed Lake Superior
    • Visit the artsy harbor town of Grand Marais
    • Learn about Ojibwa culture and Voyager history at Grand Portage National Monument

What's this trip about?

    Nestled in the pristine woods of northeastern Minnesota between Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Canoe area, we will stay at Bearskin Lodge for 5 days of good company, peace and beauty. Far from the rest of the world, we will enjoy our days out in nature and late afternoons/evenings relaxing in front of the fire, or enjoying the sauna or hot tub. We will see some fabulous boreal birds, canoe in the Boundary Waters, and explore the shores of Lake Superior and its history. The pace and schedule of this reunion trip is flexible - everyone should feel free to adjust the day to suit their wants. Staying back at the Lodge to enjoy relaxing by the fire or a quiet walk or canoe is allowed! We will make a stop at a grocery store at the beginning and in the middle of the tour for you to pick up breakfast food. All the cabins have kitchens and you will be on your own for breakfasts, making for the most leisurely choice for starting the day as no restaurant is close at hand for breakfast.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityDuluth
End CityDuluth

Travel Themes

  • Birding
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Relaxing Retreats

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States

Attractions

  • Casablanca

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Canoeing
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • Accommodations for 6 nights
    • Most meals as specified in the itinerary (all but breakfasts at Bearskin Lodge, where we will stop for groceries, and you can fix in your cabins)
    • Airport welcome and transfers
    • Land transportation during the tour, professional
    • Guide services
    • Park and other entrance fees
    • Canoe fees
    • Miscellaneous program expenses.
    • Single supplement is waived for this special reunion tour!

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrive Duluth / Overnight in Duluth

Meals: Dinner

Please plan to be at the airport in the afternoon, not later than 2PM, and we will coordinate pick-ups after we receive flight information from everyone. We plan to do some birding in the afternoon and then will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30 pm ...

Day 2: Hawk Ridge / Drive to Bearskin Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning after breakfast we will do some local birding around Duluth. Depending on the weather and how migration is going we may explore Park Point and/or Hawk Ridge. Park Point is a thin strip of land that juts into Lake Sup...

Day 3: Canoe / Kayak Tour of Boundary Waters

Today we will head out in Canoes or Kayaks with a guide to explore the area from a different vantage point. The Boundary Waters Wilderness is a unique area of over 1 million acres located in northeastern Minnesota. Retreating glaciers left behind rugged cliffs and cra...

Day 4: Oberg Mountain / Cascade Falls / Grand Marais

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

The Oberg Mountain Loop is one of Northern Minnesota's most scenic hikes. Oberg Mountain rises 1,000 feet above Lake Superior; with 9 scenic overlooks, it is especially beautiful in fall. The 2.3 mile hike takes about 1 1/2- 2 hours, and is...

Day 5: Grand Portage National Monument / Lake Superior Shore / Canoe

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will take time to enjoy our surroundings at the lodge. We can sleep in, bird the grounds, canoe on the lake, enjoy a sauna, and visit with tour participants.

In the afternoon we will head up the shore of Lake Superior...

Day 6: Hike / Bird Bearskin Lodge area and Gunflint Trail

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

On our last day we will stay close to home and do some birding along the gunflint trail. We will look for some of the local specialties not yet seen; there are numerous places to stop as we explore this historic trail.

At the very en...

Day 7: Depart Bearskin Lodge for flights from Duluth (or Minneapolis next day)

Today we leave the lodge and head back to Duluth along the scenic shores of Lake Superior. We have two vehicles so we can accommodate various departures, but we cannot realistically get to the airport before 10AM. Please plan accordingly, afternoon departures are strongly advised. If you prefer to depart from Minneapolis, plan to overnight there at an airport hotel, and go out the following day.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $2,150
Price per day$307
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Naturalist Journeys.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Naturalist Journeys Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
Excellent
13
Great
0
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
Write a Review

Other Naturalist Journeys Reviews

J

Joel

Aug 2016

Loved It

I love how they were able to combine both the great history of the surrounding areas with the wide variety of birds. The guides were great at identifying them and gi...

S

Simon

Jul 2016

Had a Great Time

I went to Naturalist Journeys last summer and had a great time....

D

David

Jun 2016

Guides were very knowledgeable about their surroundings

The guide was able to answer all of my questions perfectly. I fel...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Naturalist Journeys

none
View Profile

Welcome to Naturalist Journeys! We are a top nature and birding tour company that also offers exciting walking and hiking tours worldwide. Join expert guides for small group tours that focus on nature, birding, wildlife and geology. We welcome new travelers. Click “Choose a Tour” for our full schedule of upcoming nature and birding tours to top-rated destinations like Arizona, Alaska, Montana, Costa Rica, Panama, Africa, the Galapagos and more. Ask about our active nature adventure tours that showcase impressive national parks of the USA.

Naturalist Journeys is a top birding and nature tour company that puts people, places and remarkable experiences together. Our journeys focus on nature – specifically birding, natural history, geology and geography. Beyond that focus both our birding and nature tours, walking and hiking tours have a life of their own: creative, dynamic, and enduring. They have meant a great deal to many travelers and this is our inspiration.

Naturalist Journeys is owned and managed by Peg Abbott, who guides many of the birding and nature tours, as well as several of the company’s line of walking and hiking tours. Abbott created Naturalist Journeys to continue the work that she has enjoyed for over 30 years; 15 years with the National Audubon Society, and later with a variety of conservation organizations and small travel companies.

Naturalist Journeys’ expert guides, Peg Abbott’s co-leaders, are trusted friends and gifted naturalists. They help design itineraries for this top birding and nature tour company with the benefit of local communities and the conservation of natural ecosystems in mind. Wherever possible, Naturalist Journeys employs local people, uses environmentally sound lodgings, and visits places not on the standard tour path. Groups are small, typically 6-12, and many are repeat travelers. People comment on the flexible and caring style of Naturalist Journeys. This characteristic comes easily because so many of the clients traveling with us are also flexible and fascinated by travel and learning.

Peg Abbott says, “I started in the birding and nature tour realm as a bit of a vagabond, working in remote places: from seabird islands to wildlife refuges and western ranches. Through travel I developed the eye of an old-time naturalist. Later, I pursued a bachelor's degree in biology and then a master's degree in forestry and wildlife to give structure to field-gained knowledge. I've worked in wild places from Alaska to Argentina, and every mile I've tread has offered its lessons. I value the years of experience as I take groups into new and exciting places.”

The keystone of this company is to offer highly organized birding and nature tours and walking and hiking tours as ecotourism experiences that preserve the element of the spontaneous so rare in group travel today. At every level of the company, it is adventure travel itself that is mentor, teacher, a way of life and a profession. The respect of responsible and sustainable travel is well expressed in the pace and style of a Naturalist Journeys tours.

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

What's excluded

    • Round-trip airfare to and from Duluth (or Minneapolis if you arrive early)
    • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar
    • Gratuities for luggage handling or personal services.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

1 Breakfast, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
18 years and up
Additional Information

The airport for this tour is Duluth, Minnesota, and we will arrive in time for airport pickups after 2PM on Monday, Sept. 7th. We plan to rent vans in Minneapolis and drive up the morning of the 7th to meet the group in Duluth. Therefore, if you wish to arrive a day early, you are welcome to drive up with us. We drop people at the Duluth airport by 11AM on Sunday, Sept. 13, then proceed to Minneapolis, so if you use this airport, plan on being dropped at an airport hotel that final late afternoon or take an evening flight. We will have a get-together the early arrival evening for dinner at a private home. The final night those present can arrange something together and we suggest lodging near the airport for that night, if elected.

Trip ID
natura2-BeaLodNat

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!