There are few outdoor pleasures more classically Minnesotan than mounting an expedition to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and spending a few days on the lakes and under the stars. For all of its charms—outdoor beauty, campfire camaraderie, and the sweet, sweet “general lack of other people” key among them—it can be tough to … [ Read more]
How To Boundary Waters: Minnesota’s favorite outdoor playground is open to all—with a bit of planning
May 28, 2019 by
Cold Waves, Hot Ramen: Wherein the Boundary Waters sets its hook in the soul of a Minnesota chef
March 26, 2019 by
This is the debut of Off the Map, a column by chef J.D. Fratzke. It appears monthly at growlermag.com and occasionally in print. Wells was stripped to his skivvies and running in place, every inch of his skin the color of raspberry bubble gum. Though it couldn’t have been more than a 30-yard swim to … [ Read more]
Root beer maverick: How one little, old lady battled the harsh Minnesota wilderness & made root beer for thousands
April 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Until 1986, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was home to hundreds of wild species, including moose, beavers, bears, bobcats, bald eagles—and one little, old lady named Dorothy Molter. Molter was the last legal non-indigenous resident of the BWCAW. She operated a resort that became a legendary destination in one of the most remote parts … [ Read more]
How to cross ‘Dogsled the Boundary Waters’ off your winter bucket list
January 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota’s million-plus-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), obviously, is best known for wilderness canoeing—many would say the best in the world. But winter transforms this magnificent landscape into a forested cathedral of ice, snow and silence, offering a wilderness experience like no other. Bring a beautiful, hard-working team of Canadian Inuit dogs into the … [ Read more]
Canoe the Boundary Waters: Explore Minnesota’s Wilderness Wonderland
March 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
By Christopher Ferguson The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the pride and joy of Minnesota. We brag about it. We tell stories of how many miles in the BWCA we’ve canoed or the trip we took up there with a youth group. In these few paragraphs, I’d like to help you with your first trip. … [ Read more]
The Great Outdoors…With Beer
March 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Dave Hoops dishes on his favorite places in northern Minnesota. By Dave Hoops In this issue I am going to talk about some of my favorite places in northern Minnesota to hike, bike, camp, relax, swim, and of course enjoy a great beer. In 2006, the City of Duluth Comprehensive Plan showed a staggering 11,862 … [ Read more]
