Road-trip to Northeast: Voyageurs, Isle Royale National Parks, moder. hikes

Location: Voyageurs National Park

Address: Voyageurs National Park, Kabetogama Township, MN 56669

Date: 15 Aug

Let's explore our Upper Midwest, with Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks and North Shore Scenic Drive (MN 61) on Lake Superior. Voyageurs is a mixture of upland and aquatic ecosystems, southern boreal and northern hardwoods forest types, and rocks. We also plan to spend a day at Isle Royale getting there by boat.

Both parks are more of wilderness type of experience and having anticipation of solitude and wondering what the next lake might look like, much like the voyageurs and fur trappers did in the past... There is high chance of seeing moose, timber wolves, black bear, and deer in these areas.

And we will conclude the trip by a scenic drive that follows the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, passing lighthouses and cascading streams and going though the only part of the continental US where the northern boreal landscape thrives and where walks, overlooks and stairways revel Lake Superior's immensity.

We will hike in one of the few state parks along the shoreline where we can see a river dropping off a cliff and even rain forests setting with water splitting over mossy ledges. Superior Lake can appear to be calm and serene but may quickly release its legendary fury thrashing icy waves against the shore. We also plan to stop in a resort town with a picturesque natural harbor, fine restaurants and shops.

Summer weather in this area is mild with day average temperatures 70 degree F and possible light wind. See updates of weather forecasts at: https://bit.ly/2IJStpB

Trip's summary:

• 5days/4nights trip for a small group of 6 explorers.
• The starting and ending point is Duluth International Airport, MN (possible to leave from International Falls, MN.)
• Hotel accommodations in in Grand Marais, MN and International Falls, MN. All locations in this event follow safety requirements by the state.
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking shoes,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat,
• for personal protection: mask, carry-on sanitizer, gloves (by your choice.)

Cost $690 (no later than 1 month before the start this cost can be updated.) What is included:

• 5days/4nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two beds in room),
• Breakfasts at some hotels,
• Transportation by minivan (like Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand or similar) covering approx. 550 mi of road-tripping total,
• Park entrance fees,
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting to Duluth International Airport, MN,
• renting canoe, $12-25/day, in Voyageurs National Park - OPTIONAL,
• getting boat shuttle ticket to Isle Royale National Park, $87 out and back trip - needed to get to the park: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/ferry-transportation-services.htm, https://www.isleroyalebooking.info/res(L10!pid=ii!ptc=b)?
• Meals, snacks, water.

ATN: Previous canoe experience is highly recommended for this trip, IF you choose to take a canoe at Voyageurs. There are options to explore both parks by ground only, though the essence of Voyageurs is best appreciated by canoeing.

Sunrise: 6:50am. Sunset: 5:50pm. Every day we want to start off from the hotel at 7 am or 7:30am, or 8am as the latest. If you are a night owl, please try to adjust yourself for an earlier getup during the trip - the purpose of it is to use more of daylight time for activities.

Eating Options (not included in the cost):

• This trip is focused on activities and exploring places, and the meals are planned the way to not interfere with making most of activities and exploring. So, participants are asked to have packed food and water for lunches that will be eaten either at picnic areas or on the go (if no picnic areas are available or we need to hike.) This will allow saving more daylight time for activities. Driving for grocery shopping can be provided every evening. Open in evenings are usually chain stores like Safeway and Walmart, Whole Foods in some location.
• If the majority of group wants to arrange a restaurant dinner in a nearby location during the trip, it can be done and time can be allotted, driving provided.
• Breakfasts are included by some hotels, and mostly they are basic or on-the-go/packed breakfasts. Typically, hotel rooms have fridge, microwave and coffeemaker, and that is to be specified in the itinerary for each hotel.

Please sign up and feel free to contact the organizer with any questions!

If you see that the event is full/no tickets available, do not hesitate to contact the organizer about your interest as spots can become available.

Also, please check on the photo-album from our past trips (in About section) and our future trips to U.S. National Parks and National Parks in Europe and Asia for 2024-2025. Thanks!

ATTN. There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to connect by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the chat.) Regular messaging will not work out for this trip, sorry.

ATTN. The $10 payment through Eventbrite is for reserving a spot in this small group event (it counts in toward the whole payment for the trip.) After you reserved your spot, you will be contacted by the organizer about a Zoom meeting with the group and joining a WhatsApp group chat. Meeting your future groupmates in a Zoom and being able to communicate by WhatsApp are mandatory steps to become a part of this trip and make the full payment. If any of these cannot be done/mind changed, the $10 reservation payment will be refunded in full though the initial means of payment, minus fees paid to Eventbrite/third parties. The outline of the trip will be communicated during a Zoom meeting and in WhatsApp group chat. The detailed, hour-by-hour, itinerary will be provided to the confirmed participants of the trip.