Off the Map: Voyageurs National Park & Canoe Country

Program Registration & Orientation: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. Douglas Wood will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Douglas is also our primary instructor and will lead field trips with our Assistant Group Leader. Unless noted otherwise, transportation for program-related activities will be via 15-passenger vans. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At Tobie's Restaurant

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At Osprey Wilds

We will check out of the hotel, then drive our cars over to Osprey Wilds where they will remain for the duration of the program. We will have breakfast at Osprey Wilds and then depart in the Osprey Wilds vans, and set out for Lake Superior’s North Shore to explore beautiful Gooseberry Falls State Park and its trails. From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: “Gooseberry Falls is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife.”

Along the shore, we will have sack lunches.

Back in the vans, we’ll continue exploring exploring the North shore with a pull-off and scenic overlook of Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior's most famous lighthouse. It is an iconic view that has inspired countless artists and photographers. It was built because of a storm in November 1905 that wrecked nearly 30 ships. When construction was completed five years later, it became an iconic focal point, thanks not only to its life-saving light but also because of its location with breathtaking views. Next, we’ll ride to Tettegouche State Park for a spirited hike out to remarkable Shovel Point . The park — formed by ancient lava flows — comprises rugged, semi-mountainous terrain; stretches of Lake Superior shoreline; lakes, rivers, waterfalls; and pristine forest. At Shovel Point, we’ll have stunning views of the shoreline, sea caves, a sea stack, the mouth of the Baptism River, and Palisade Head. After our field trips, we’ll ride to the AmericInn Lodge and check in.

local restaurant in Silver Bay

After dinner, time and energy permitting, we may visit Black Beach Bay, a hidden gem, for an intimate connection with Lake Superior for our evening reading and music from Doug.

At the lodge.

We will check out, board the vans, and ride to Ely. We’ll continue learning about the geology and natural history of the area with commentary by Douglas Wood as we go. Arriving in Ely, we will visit Sigurd Olson’s house and writing shack. Olson (1899-1982) became a conservationist in the 1920s and many years later helped to write the Wilderness Act that became law in 1964. Living in Ely for most of his life, he was a prolific writer, dedicated to the conviction that provided vital spiritual experiences. His house on Listening Point and “The Shack” — a small cabin on Burntside Lake where he wrote — are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the Sigurd Olson House.

Next, we will take a short ride out to Olson’s cabin and personal retreat on beautiful Burntside Lake, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We will explore the legendary Listening Point and rustic cabin and listen to essays from Olson's books. We will soak up the history and ambience of the old cabin, walk to Olson's beloved wilderness beach, become acquainted with the plants, trees, and geology of the point--including fascinating glacial erratics and striations. We'll then make our way to beautiful Shagawa Lake to put canoes in the water and paddle on the very doorstep of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, exploring islands and shorelines, and--perhaps--be serenaded by the wailing of a loon.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At a local restaurant.

We will ride to the trailhead for Kawishiwi Falls and hike the trail--extraordinary for its little-known but iconic examples of Northwoods trees and forestation. “Kawishiwi” is an Ojibwe name that means “river full of beaver or muskrat houses.” The trail around it has been used by Native Americans, explorers, and voyageurs for many generations. We’ll then ride to the International Wolf Center that advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wild lands, and the human role in their future. We’ll have an educational session with members of the staff. After our field trips, we’ll ride to nearby Ely City Park.

At the city park, we’ll have sack lunches.

We’ll ride to the North American Bear Center, a wildlife educational facility that helps people learn about bear behavior, ecology, and relations with humans. We will meet and hear from Center staff and have time to view and explore the exhibits independently. Then we will make the short drive to the Dorothy Molter Museum. Known as the “Root Beer Lady,” Dorothy (1907-1986) was the last non-indigenous resident of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The museum that honors her preserves and interprets the Northwoods wilderness heritage she lived.

At a local restaurant

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check out of the hotel and ride to the Lake Kabetogama Visitor Center, gateway to Voyageurs National Park. We will then board the park boat and set off on a 40-mile round trip with stunning wilderness vistas, scores of pine-masted islands, some containing Bald Eagle nests, and vast swaths of wild country, giving passengers a real feel for the North Woods wilderness and real meaning of a water-based park in Canoe Country. We will reach the historic Kettle Falls Hotel, accessible only by boat or plane and a fixture on the landscape for more than a century. A National Park ranger will provide expert commentary.

At the historic Kettle Falls Hotel.

Back aboard the park boat, we will begin our return voyage back to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. We’ll have a different look at the lake and learn more about this incredible part of the planet. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At a local restaurant

Time and energy permitting after our big day, Douglas Wood may share a song and/or read from his book Fawn island.

At a local restaurant.

We will get in the vans and ride to Lake Kabetogama with commentary by our Group Leader as we go. Arriving at beautiful Lake Kabetogama, we will proceed to historic, pine-covered Woodenfrog Point, named for the Ojibwe Chief. This glaciated, forested point is an iconic example of Canadian Shield topography of the North Country, and will be our base camp for the day. Weather and wind permitting, we will board canoes and paddle out to explore the Grassy Islands, with their snow-white granite outcrops and towering pines. We may see bald eagles, deer, loons, and other wildlife. Guide Douglas Wood, who has known these islands since childhood, will guide you among them, pointing out the history of their formation, the role the glaciers played, the trees that crown them, and the forces that shape them yet today. We will also practice and refine paddling strokes and canoeing skills.

Lunch will be at Woodenfrog Point, where there are also lovely trails to explore and picturesque scenes to enjoy

In late afternoon we will take the vans back to International Falls, perhaps with a stop at the Pine Ridge Gift & Coffee Shop and the famous Great Kabetogama Walleye.

At a local restaurant

Free

At the hotel.

We will check out of the hotel, get into the vans, and drive to Ash River Trail between Kabetogama and Namakan Lakes. We'll pick one or two trails to walk, one easy and one more challenging, with typical up and down canoe country topography, rocky outcrops and boulders, and many of the flora and fauna friends we have met and identified during the week. The other trail will lead to a beautiful overlook, a chance to get an eagle's eye view of some of the land-and-waterscape we have explored.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch at the historic Ash River Visitor Center, a beautiful log building that was once a private lodge and vacation retreat.

We will get into the vans and begin our ride back to Hinckley and check in to the hotel before dinner.

At Tobie's Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

We will gather for a wrap-up session and closing remarks.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!