Guided Tours & Rides 

Looking to experience the wild beauty of Cook County, but aren’t sure how or where to begin? We’ve got you covered!  Expert guides, wilderness outfitters, and north woods resorts offer guided activities and experiences throughout the year, from Boundary Waters canoe and kayak trips, to sleigh rides and winter dogsledding adventures.  Learn from the experts in a safe and welcoming environment! The options are many, so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite things to do and where you can best enjoy them.

Horseback Riding & Sleigh Rides

The riding season generally runs from May to October. There are a wide variety of horses that range from Quarter Horses to Arabians and everything in between. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, there is a horse for you at the stable. The talented wranglers are great at teaming you up with a horse that fits your needs. The many hours spent on the trails together creates a deep bond between wrangler and horse. Join them for a ride and bond with a horse of your own as you enjoy the marvels that await you around each corner of our beautiful trails.

• Gunflint Riding Stables

E-Bike Tours & Rentals

Cruise around on the Gitchi-Gami bike trail or on the backroads. Cook County has loads of trails to explore. 

• North Shore eBike
• Electric Trails
• Sawtooth Outfitters

Dog Sled Tours 

Travel back in time by dogsled.  Experience the quiet beauty of winter in the Northwoods on a guided dogsled tour.  

• Points Unknown Dogsledding and Mindful Paddling & Hiking Adventures
• Cast Outdoor Adventures

Flightseeing Tours

Take a “flightseeing tour” from the state-of-the-art Grand Marais/Cook County Airport & Seaplane Base. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife! Or go by seaplane to Isle Royale National Park for a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

• Sawtooth Aviation

Fishing Guides 

Whether you’re looking for an exciting day of fishing on the big lake (Lake Superior of course!), hoping to catch walleyes on a quiet inland lake, or determined to fly fish a north shore stream, independent local guides, outfitters, and resorts stand ready to help make your fishing dreams come true.  

• North Shore Outdoors - Capt. Kelly Shepherd
• Gunflint Wilderness Guide Service
• Border Lakes Tour Company
• Odyssey Guided Experiences
• Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters

Guided Hiking Tours 

The famed Superior Hiking Trail is known far and wide, with miles of trail passing through Cook County.  Thousands of hikers travel here each year to hike and camp the SHT’s ancient, varied, and challenging terrain.  You too can experience the amazing vistas and quiet paths of the SHT on a day hike with a local guide.  But there’s more!  The SHT isn’t the only hiking you can experience in Cook County, not by a long shot.  Guided hikes on the trails of the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway will take you through the Superior National Forest, along wild rivers and lakes, and up ridges and rocky bluffs to breathtaking and unforgettable overlooks.  

• Points Unknown Dogsledding and Mindful Paddling & Hiking Adventures
• Feng Shui North Shore
• Odyssey Guided Experiences
• Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters

Winter Adventure Tours 

Winter is a special time in Cook County, cherished by many.  You’ll find all manner of winter sports, including snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and a newer way to experience the backcountry, Wilderness Hok Skiing.  

Several groups of active and enthusiastic local skiers, along with the U.S. Forest Service, maintain over 400 km of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in Cook County. We do love our winter, and local outfitters and resorts are eager to help you enjoy it too.  You’ll marvel at the magic of snow-covered pines, with only the whoosh of your skis or crunch of snowshoes to break the sweet, profound silence of the winter woods.

• Points Unknown Dogsledding and Mindful Paddling & Hiking Adventures
• Cast Outdoor Adventures
• Odyssey Guided Experiences
• Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters

Zipline Tours 

Towering Pines Canopy Tours are offered by Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters on the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway. The tour features eight zip lines spanning the boreal forest canopy, lasting a little over two hours and gliding high amidst old-growth white pines and spectacular wilderness vistas.  

• Towering Pines Canopy Tour - Gunflint Lodge

RESORTS AND LODGES THAT OFFER GUIDED ACTIVITIES FOR GUESTS

Many resorts offer their own guided programs for guests, or provide the detailed information and equipment you need to feel confident to explore on your own.  Some also offer educational programs on the Nature of our Region and what you may spot on your own during your stay. Check out the programming at these fine resorts:

Guided Guest Activities & Programs:

• BLUEFIN BAY FAMILY OF RESORTS
• CARIBOU HIGHLANDS LODGE
• EAGLE RIDGE RESORT
• EAST BAY SUITES
• GUNFLINT LODGE
• LUTSEN RESORT
• NANIBOUJOU LODGE
• SKYPORT LODGE
• Many Gunflint Trail lodges and other cabin rentals include watercraft and fishing guides or information: GUNFLINT TRAIL LODGING

Special Offers

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