where old Northwoods Lodge is at
and info about our resort on the Gunflint Trail

Old Northwoods Lodge is located on northeastern Minnesota's historic and legendary Gunflint Trail, which is now a designated Scenic Byway. It's an easy drive on Lake Superior's North Shore from Duluth or Thunder Bay. From Duluth just take U.S. Highway 61 to the harbor village of Grand Marais. Turn north (uphill, and away from the lake) on the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12), then drive 32 miles up the Trail to Old Northwoods Lodge. By the way, the Gunflint Trail and the Highway 61 are both designated Scenic Byways.

For detailed driving directions and maps showing how to get to Old Northwoods Lodge be sure to see our Driving Directions page.

your host

Your host, Gale  Quistad, welcomes you to Old Northwoods Lodge. Gale can usually be found in the main lodge, visiting, cooking, serving, pouring wine, taking reservations, or putting another log on the fire. Blackie, our Black Labrador, and Tiger, our cat, will be on hand to greet you, as well.

It's a warm and neighborly kind of feel around here, with a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Guests, friends, and neighbors sit among the tables near the dining room's massive native boulder fireplace, or in the comfy overstuffed furniture in front of the other fireplace. Those at tables near the windows will be treated to a variety of birds coming to visit the feeders. Hairy woodpeckers, blue jays, and chickadees are among the feathered neighbors who stop by often to have a bite.

Gale's grandfather raised barns and churches - massive buildings that have a lot in common with the new lodge. His ancestors were ship builders, and the trusswork in the lodge is similar to that of a ship (if you turned the ship upside down). His father ran restaurants and cooked, so he comes by his varied talents quite naturally.

For more information about Old Northwoods Lodge as it stands today be sure to read our History page, which explains in more detail the history of our property and how our present day lodge was built.