Author: Steve Fernlund

— A Brief History of the Boundary Waters 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 consecutive terms as President, Teddy set aside approximately 230 million acres of public lands between 1901 and…

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 lodge and reflect on those eight years, we have much to be thankful for on this week’s day of Thanksgiving. Most significantly,…

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 and quiet as they move down the trail. All you hear is the soft padding of 32 paws and the hiss…

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 BWCAW the afternoon of the Fourth of July in 1999.  In the early hours of that day, a…

“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 top-quality equipment,” he added. Derek has been married to April Holman for 26 years. Only after meeting each…

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 wraps up its 8th season under the current ownership. The resort industry along US Highway 61 on Lake Superior’s shore is…

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 posted on Facebook. She jumped at the opportunity and came to Rockwood for the first time with her husband, Brian Goecke,…

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 Gunflint trail produce even more waste and recycling.  So, where does it all go? Wilderness visitors generally have a…

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 women of the Boundary Waters, Justine Kerfoot, still inspires women to venture out into the wilderness. Justine, born Justine Spunner in…

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.

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 welcome in the BWCAW if you follow a simple set of rules by the USFS. Specifically, you need to assume the following…

— 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 BWCAW. Moose populations have declined significantly in northeast Minnesota, from a peak estimate of more than 8,000 animals in…

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 of color along the shore as poplars and birch turn golden. When you start up the…

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 Nature Center. This fun community event is an important fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Historical Society, of which Rockwood is a…

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 with the Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to help stop the spread of AIS, adding a high-temperature pressure washer that…

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 are hundreds, if not thousands, of different kinds of insects to bug you on your adventure in the Boundary…

— 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 the horizon you will always remember the night skies you’ve seen on your canoe or hiking trip. In 2020, the…