Are there any bunkhouses around the Tofte area? Sawbill and Sawtooth don't offer them and those are the main two outfitters in that area that I know. Am I pretty much limited to Ely or up the Gunflint trail?

Crooked Lake Resort has cabin rentals. They are primitive style cabins with no running water. And you bring your own bedding. Probably the closest thing you will find that isn't an AirBnb along 61. The upside is that you can walk to Trestle Inn for a burger and beer. It's not any closer to Sawbill entry than some of the other locations further up the shore but if you're going in at Kawishiwi or Hog Creek, it's pretty close. No idea on how far out they book though. It's a popular place.

Finding a place up 61 is typically a challenge most of the year and often requires a 2-night stay at a minimum. Not sure of your trip plans but there are campgrounds at Sawbill and few other nearby entry points. Might be telling you what you already know but Sawbill campground has toilets, showers, and a small general store as part of the outfitter building if those are amenities you're looking for.

I couldn't find anything earlier this year either. We camped at the Kawishiwi EP. I was surprised that about 1/2 the sites were open in Mid August as this is a first come first served campground.

Had some friends that stayed at the Knotted Pine in Isabella. They had a Sawbill entry. Seemed like a long drive to me ?! For my Sawbill area entries, I've given up looking and I just stay at the Americinn in Tofte.

cowdoc: "Had some friends that stayed at the Knotted Pine in Isabella. They had a Sawbill entry. Seemed like a long drive to me ?! For my Sawbill area entries, I've given up looking and I just stay at the Americinn in Tofte."

I've stayed at the Americinn in Tofte several times, but not for more than 3-4 years. Checked for reservations the last few years (especially since the virus in 2020), and they required a 2-night stay every year. The closest hotel we've found on the north shore that has a 1-night stay is/was the Americinn in Silver Bay.

Also, the Americinn in Silver Bay is no longer an Americinn from what I have recently heard, but you can still get a 1-night stay.

Just a thought - I think that a lot of the north shore hotels are short of help since the virus and went with requiring a 2-night minimum in order to save on labor costs.

Kind of a bummer that there are no motels/hotels in Grand Marais that I have found that offer 1-night stays. The Hippy Hostel (spelling?) might have something.

One overlooked place is Trail Center. They have around 3 rooms across from the restaurant. Stayed there a couple of times. It was around $110 a night. Warm, comfortable, no TV or internet, with shower and toilet. Pretty nice and quiet.

As a side note, in the early 2000's, my teenage son and I found the closest motel to Tofte at the Bloomer Inn & Suites in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Wonderful place, if you like bedbugs, comatose dogs with fleas wandering the hallways, and a large brawl at a gas station across the way. Lots of great diesel truck noise from Hwy 53 too! It had it all . . .

Tom

We have normally been able to find a cabin at Solbakken near Tofte. For whatever reason we have lucked out every time we checked there over the years...

quark2222: ",,,As a side note, in the early 2000's, my teenage son and I found the closest motel to Tofte at the Bloomer Inn & Suites in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Wonderful place, if you like bedbugs, comatose dogs with fleas wandering the hallways, and a large brawl at a gas station across the way. Lots of great diesel truck noise from Hwy 53 too! It had it all . . .

Tom"

Try Country Villa Motel about 9 miles south of Bloomer near Tilden. Low budget, but nice.

portagerunner: "Finding a place up 61 is typically a challenge most of the year and often requires a 2-night stay at a minimum. "

As that is a common problem for many, we really ought to start a thread, or section, whatever you want to call it for lodging pairings.

So lets say I'm going in on Saturday July 7th, and someone wants to go in on Sunday July 8th, and we're both looking for a place to stay in GM. I book two nights, and the other party reimburses me for night 2. Of course, it creates issues with changing the sheets, but I wouldn't care if I was staying the 2nd night, after anyone on this board. If someone cared, they could always throw a sleeping bag on the bed.

So in the example, I would start a new post, saying I want an overnight in Grand Marais, for July 7th, looking for a pairing for the 6th, or the 8th.