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Clearwater Historic Lodge and Canoe Outfitters is the original outfitter and lodge resort on the Gunflint Trail, on the edge of the beautifully pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Northeastern Minnesota. On the National Register of Historic Places, the only lodge on Clearwater Lake was built in 1926 by pioneer Charlie Boostrom and has been preserved and maintained over the years to retain the look and feel of a time gone by. The resort’s 11 lakeside cabins and lodge offer something for everyone, whether its a rustic log cabin, modern lake home or cozy bed and breakfast room or suite. The 5 bunkhouse accommodations for those entering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area provide a great option for the night before a canoe trip. Motorboat, canoe, kayak, paddle board and BWCAW gear rentals available.
We had a wonderful stay at Clearwater Lodge. Chris and Ann took care of us like we were family. We enjoyed home baked scones and cookies each day and warmed up each morning with a hot cup of coffee over looking Clearwater Lake. The evenings we enjoyed a group campfire sharing stories of our adventures with new friends. During the day there is plenty to do. We hiked on nearby trails and took in all of the fall colors. We can't wait to return next season for a summer visit.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my second stay at Clearwater Historic Lodge. They're not kidding about the historic part -- much of the lodge was hand built a hundred years ago. They've managed to update everything as time has passed, while retaining the sense of history. We stayed in Suite B. The bed was comfortable, the decor was perfect for the Northwoods setting, and breakfast was outstanding. Staff members were cheerful and helpful. My only complaint is that I can't get up there as often as I'd like!
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Make a reservation as soon as you decide you're going. This isn't a mega-hotel. Free coffee/tea...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our group had a fantastic stay at Clearwater Lodge. The leaves were changing color and the nice cool weather kept all the bugs away. Cabin 11 was perfect. It is a very large modern cabin that sleeps a lot of people. Clearwater has Wifi with a very strong signal. We brought up our own TV so we could watch some football games. Chris and Anne are great hosts and all their staff are very friendly! We ate breakfast every morning in the lodge. The food was very good. I would definitely recommend staying at Clearwater Historic Lodge.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have been to Cearwater Lodge and Outfitters twice before on a canoe trip with my budies.We used tne Outfitter service both times and stayed in tbe bunk house once and the Lodge the second time. We canoed andcamped in the Boundary Waters. It was about time i shared this experien e with my best friend so while she .iikes canoeing she is not wild about sleeping on the ground so we rented a cabin. Simply put staying and exploring at Clearwater Historic Lodge is a life experience.Staff and management are friendly and make you feel welcome. The breakfast at the Lodge is great and when you walk in the aroma hits you smack in the ole snozzel. Equipment whether Canoe, KAyak or motor boats are tip top. If you love the outdoors and want to get away from the craziness of day to day life , this is home run.Unwind relax smell tne outdoors. …
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Date of stay: September 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a fantastic place to stay on the edge of the BWCA. Views across Clearwater Lake are second to none. Great hikes and day paddling trips close by. Resort has all the information you need - and gear. What sets this place apart is the staff and owners. They are friendly, welcoming, and highly responsive to any issue (which were minor and few). The lodge is a special place to just hang out - and make sure you order a fresh baked pie. Our cabin was spotless on arrival and well stocked with everything we needed to cook all week. We stayed here with 3 couples from Colorado who had never been to the North Shore before. They were blown away by Clearwater Lodge. We will be back!
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Date of stay: August 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We really enjoyed our week here. We stayed in a cabin and it had everything we needed. We cooked most nights on the grill but the kitchen was complete. The hospitality was matched by the service, both exceptional. Great people, plenty to do and the food, it was delicious.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our second visit, but first time staying overnight at Clearwater Lodge. What a dream of a place. Everything about it is perfect. The staff are friendly, welcoming and make you feel more like a visiting family member. The lodge itself is stunning, preserves the history nicely and feels warm, calming. The cabin we stayed in was perfect. We rented boats, canoes, kayaks. We enjoyed breakfast every day on the main lodge porch. We did a day trip to the boundary waters, but were still able to return to the comfort of the cabin at night. So many hiking trails we explored as well. I wish I could live there all summer. Amazing place and we’ll definitely be back!
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Date of stay: August 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My family has been coming to Clearwater Lodge for 41 years. First visit in Cabin 3, 1982. Last visit in July, 2023. Subsequent visits landed in Cabin Four. We've come back to Cabin Four eleven times! And we're booked for 2024. Of course, the Lodge has changed hands a few times over forty years, but each new owner has maintained the property to our liking. Hey, it's a cabin in the woods, but clean and well maintained. Service always excellent. Staff friendly and very helpful. Hard to express why we love Clearwater. You have to pay a visit to understand.
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Date of stay: July 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is our third time spending a week at the Clearwater Historic Lodge. We have enjoyed having a nice cabin on the water. We could swim from our dock in the clear water. Some days we rented canoes to explore the beautiful lakes in the area.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in one of the Lodge Rooms, up on the second floor of the lodge, and loved it. We were initially concerned with the lack of an on-site restaurant, but discovered there are several great restaurant options within 10-15 minutes of the lodge. The breakfast at the lodge were all great, and different each morning. Staying in the lodge caused us to take advantage of the porch and lodge common areas, with have a wonderfully authentic log cabin feel. We rented canoes a couple of days and got out on the lake. The Boundary Waters start just past the lodge, so it takes not time to get out into the wilderness. There are some short portages nearby, so you can really get away from development.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.