Ok, I know many of you are against cell phones in the BWCA so we don't need to rehash that idea. That being said, I am thinking of changing cell companies and want the best possible Arrow Head Region cell coverage. What do you use and where can you get a signal? Ely? Grand Marais? Grand Portage? Lake One? Thomas/Fraser? the border? Crane Lake?

I've used Verizon for many years because they had the best coverage in the Arrowhead area. Others may have caught up by now though.

I've gotten a little signal at the Kawishiwi Lake campground, and the Sawbill campground. I believe Sawbill has a hot spot outside the entrance to their store where you can get reliable coverage.

Reception at the Holiday and Americinn in Tofte is not that great, but it works. Driving up the Gunflint, you lose reception just a couple of miles up the trail. Reception in downtown Grand Marais is quite good. I have never taken a cell phone into the BWCA, so I can't help you there.

Tomster

With AT&T I can get coverage at EP 25 Moose lake. It makes for a call back home handy. It dropped off soon after you leave the area.

I currently use Verizon. Zero coverage with Verizon on Gunflint Trail once you are over the hill from Grand Marais. As a matter of fact, service is spotty on Hwy 61 on North Shore when north of Two Harbors unless you are within the boundaries of a larger town. I lose coverage once I am a mile outside of Grand Marais. I'd be curious if any service is good on the Gunflint.

Unfortunately good coverage with T Mobile on Bald Eagle to the Gabbros and up to Lake One. Text messages will get through from Quadaga. Since I experienced this, I leave phone in car. It's att antennas which work well with T Mobile.

Employees at Grand Portage Casino say AT&T is the only reliable provider at that location. Whitewolf and JimmyJustice did have spotty coverage with Verizon at certain lucky times but only right in the casino/hotel.

quote BeaV: "Employees at Grand Portage Casino say AT&T is the only reliable provider at that location. Whitewolf and JimmyJustice did have spotty coverage with Verizon at certain lucky times but only right in the casino/hotel. "

Aah, just the answer for which I was looking!! With Verison, I get good reception in Ely, all over the Number Lakes, at the narrows between Thomas and Fraser and on the border heading east at Birch lake. I am interested in getting better reception neat Grand Rapids and Grand Portage. Other opinions???

Wife has Verizon, and I have AT&T. Can't recall a single time I've had service when she didn't. Nothing seems to work up the Gunflint.

I have AT&T. Normally I get service between Ely and about halfway to Snowbank Rd. Closer to Snowbank, and it's gone.
Maybe different since they've put in the tower, haven't tried yet since then.

No T Mobile coverage (at least with my phone) up the North Shore beginning about Beaver Bay. Zero in Tofte, Sawbill area, Grand Marais, Gunflint. Could use it as a hockey puck in those areas. Has always worked well in the Ely area.

quote HowardSprague: "I have AT&T. Normally I get service between Ely and about halfway to Snowbank Rd. Closer to Snowbank, and it's gone.
Maybe different since they've put in the tower, haven't tried yet since then."

I agree but changed dramatically with new tower.

I called the Grand Portage National Monument. The park staff said that AT&T is the only service provider in the G.P. area with cell service. - I think I have found my answer.

Remember when there weren't cell phones, but you could make a call from the payphone at the Moose Lake landing?
That was already a mixed blessing; a buddy called his wife from there, and we could tell she wanted him home...

I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried.

quote VaderStrom: "I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried."

Grand Marais has Verizon cell phone reception, yes.

quote SaganagaJoe: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried."

Grand Marais has Verizon cell phone reception, yes. "

Just curious, Joe, how far up the trail? I can get ATT up to about the Pincushion Mtn overlook, then it's gone with mine.

I remember all those years making that traditional "Collect call home" from the old pay phone on the north side of the Gunflint Trail between Trail Center and Rockwood. I remember one time when I couldn't make contact with wife and called my great grandmother for the "Collect" call and when she got the bill, it was abbreviated; we both got a laugh because it said the call was from "Grandma" (LOL)!

quote VaderStrom: "I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried."

Years ago, maybe my second or third trip, had my analog Nokia. Great service on Ranger Bay - like 4 bars. Weird.

quote billconner: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried."

Years ago, maybe my second or third trip, had my analog Nokia. Great service on Ranger Bay - like 4 bars. Weird."

You are right - years ago my analog worked really well - better than the cellular!

I have T-Mobile service but I get service on any network when T-Mobile doesn't have towers. I don't quite understand the problem. Chicago Red had Net10 and got great reception.

Version works good around Isabella, I have called home from the islands on Isabella Lake.

Depending on your plan - you might bet some hefty "roaming" charges as your phone "looks" for a tower.

Well I can tell you which provider definitely doesn't work... Sprint!

We have both Verizon and ATT coverage in our family. Most of the time both myself (Verizon) and hubby (ATT) have our reception lost/gained near George Washington Pines on the Gunflint Trail. No reception for either one of us along most of the Trail. I found that Verizon returned sooner this past summer as my phone started exploding with email sounds on our way back before we hit the pines.

We have spotty coverage with both carriers along the shore on Hwy 61 but have good service with both in Grand Marais. Between Grand Marais and Canadian border I haven't paid much attention.

We headed up to Canada this fall and I was surprised to have Verizon coverage on the other side of the border - I forgot to turn off my data plan and got a message that I was going to be charged international roaming if I used it. I quickly turned it off. We weren't far from the border when that happened... just on a hiking trail near the border.

quote ozarkpaddler: "

quote SaganagaJoe: "

quote VaderStrom: "I'll plug Verizon in the Ely area and all the way up the north shore with few spots without service. It's worked for me almost everywhere along the superior hiking trail south of grand marais. I've had service off at entry point close to Ely, but for the most part once you're up the gunflint or in the BWCA you're going to be very lucky to get any service. Curious if anyone has caught reception crossing to Canada anywhere? I've never tried."

Grand Marais has Verizon cell phone reception, yes. "

Just curious, Joe, how far up the trail? I can get ATT up to about the Pincushion Mtn overlook, then it's gone with mine.


I remember all those years making that traditional "Collect call home" from the old pay phone on the north side of the Gunflint Trail between Trail Center and Rockwood. I remember one time when I couldn't make contact with wife and called my great grandmother for the "Collect" call and when she got the bill, it was abbreviated; we both got a laugh because it said the call was from "Grandma" (LOL)!"

That I'm not sure of because I always put the phone on airplane mode in GM before heading up the trail.

AT&T

I know this is on the Ely side...but my brother needed to use his phone last weekend and had reception the entire time on the Kiwishiwi Triangle with Verizon.

quote BeaV: "Employees at Grand Portage Casino say AT&T is the only reliable provider at that location. Whitewolf and JimmyJustice did have spotty coverage with Verizon at certain lucky times but only right in the casino/hotel. "

And only if I was standing on one foot outside the bar. Verizon generally has the better coverage but not up there. I did find a spot next to the Grand Hall but it lasted only long enough for a few texts to come through. For me, essentially there was no coverage from Grand Marais east/north.