LOON LAKE LODGE

At Loon Lake Lodge you are surrounded by the unspoiled wilderness of the Minnesota north woods. The Gunflint Trail area, where we are located, has changed little over the years. It is much the same as it was over a hundred years ago. The calls of loons, the hoot of owls, the eerie howl of a wolf on a moonlit night and the breeze whispering through the trees will take you back to a much simpler and less hurried time.



Sunday, January 30, 2011

Beargrease Race is On!

The dogs have left Duluth on their way to the Gunflint Trail.  The John Beargrease sled dog race is the longest in the lower 48 states.  The teams left Duluth starting at 1:00 pm today and they will reach us sometime very early Tuesday.  Terry and I will be working a road crossing making sure the mushers can cross the Gunflint Trail safely. 

The trail is in very good condition with some fresh snow and the temps shouldn't be a problem.  We are expecting lows in the teens below 0 and highs in the teens above 0.  It may sound cold for you but the dogs like cooler weather.
Monday, January 17, 2011

January Happenings

Winter on the Gunflint Trail offers several unique experiences.  Most of you know about the skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling but there are other activities namely  ice fishing and the John Beargrease sled dog race. 


The lake trout season opened this last weekend and that means more action on lakes like Loon Lake.  The most popular spot to fish Loon in the winter is accessed from the public landing at the far west end of the lake. There is a shelf that runs along the north side of the lake just down from the landing.  It extends about 20 to 30 yards out from the shore and then drops off to depths of 90 feet plus.  So people fish the shelf where the fish come up out of the deep water to feed. 


For almost twenty years, between 1879 and 1899, John Beargrease and his brothers delivered the mail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais.  During winter months deliveries were made using sled dogs and today the John Beargrease Sled dog race is a celebration of those years.  The race is the longest in the lower 48 states running between Duluth and the Gunflint Trail and back again.  Terry and I have volunteer the past few years and have developed a tremendous respect for the dogs and mushers. 

The past two years the race course comes down the length of Loon Lake.  The teams come off the lake at the Lodge and then up our drive to cross the Gunflint Trail and then run the state snowmobile trail back towards Duluth.  We have a front row seat from the house.
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Jerry and a nice Loon Lake trout

Dog team heading towards the Lodge