Canned vacations are like canned food — uninspiring. You deserve an authentic experience. Ski trips are common as clover, but there’s only one dogsled vacation package — at Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge. Refresh, relax, rejuvenate in the sparkling snowscape of our Northwoods winter. Enjoy our fun-loving guides, sumptuous meals, lovely lodging and our furry 4-legged friends who love to pull. We’ll keep you warm, cozy & smiling! Our guests rank Wintergreen as their “BEST VACATION EVER.”

Let’s start with a proper introduction. We’re the Ott family – Gene, Jane, Nick (son) and Danielle, (daughter in law) and we acquired the property in 2000. Originally from Northeast Iowa, we had been scout leaders and Boundary Waters Minnesota camping enthusiasts for several years when the opportunity arose to make a lifestyle change that simply delighted us. Since that time, we have built an outfitting service that, we believe, is one of the best in the area. In addition to outfitting services, we have authentic log cabins, right on Fall Lake for non-campers to experience great fishing and conveniently explore the Ely area. Our cabins and lodge (with bunkhouse) have an amazing history. The cabins were originally built and located up on Pipestone Bay on Basswood Lake. When Congress declared “The Wilderness Act of 1964, all buildings needed to be either moved or burnt to the ground, restoring the natural wilderness. Shortly after, each log was labeled, deconstructed, floated up through Newton Lake to Fall Lake and put back together, like a complex jigsaw puzzle. Can you imagine the planning and the work to accomplish this? We’re honored by every guest that chooses Packsack and promise to make every effort to build a wilderness experience that best matches your wishes.

On any of a number of Ely area lakes, we pursue a variety of species, both winter and summer. Lake trout, trophy pike, bass, walleyes and panfish are all on the menu. We fish out in the open in winter, as weather allows, but also fish out of heated portable hub shelters for client comfort, and in cold weather those shelters are set up in advance, so there’s no lingering outside in harsh temperatures. Lake trout, particularly in winter, are the most aggressive fish we’ve ever pursued through the ice. They will fly up and down the whole water column in pursuit of lures, and are strong and relentless fighters. There are crappies over 14″, pike over 40″ (with the largest so far 46.5″), and walleyes to 10 lbs. Summer rates are $350/full day and $250/half day for up to two anglers, with $50 for each additional angler. Winter rates are the same, except, because the days are short, only full day trips are offered. In all seasons, I provide all gear, so all clients need to bring is licenses and whatever they want to eat, drink and wear. Take advantage of 40 years of fishing experience and 25 years of teaching experience. Come on up and have the trip of a lifetime on some of the most beautiful lakes in the boreal forest. categories

We put Remote Within Reach for you! You will encounter an active outdoor experience on the edge of the wilderness. We provide this experience from our exceptional location on Snowbank Lake located on the edge of the world famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) near Ely, Minnesota. We provide northern Minnesota quality fishing, ice fishing, outfitting, dog sledding, hunting, hiking and other outdoor activities make your time on the edge of the wilderness remarkably unforgettable. We put remote within reach by providing an accessible and affordable destination on the brink of America’s true wilderness. Our promise to you is simple: we will not leave a mint on your pillow, make swans from bath towels, nor provide a hot yoga room. We will, however, provide clean cabins, a responsive staff, quality equipment, and an abundance of spectacular Northern Minnesota outdoor adventures putting remote within reach for you.

Women’s Wilderness Discovery provides year-round, fully-outfitted and guided Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) canoe camping, hike camping, day canoe & kayak treks, day hikes, and “warm tent” winter camping and/or quinzhee (build a snow hut) camping by snowshoe or ski trek, and day snowshoe hikes or cross-country ski treks especially for women. We provide a safe, positive model for women and girls to enrich their lives through the wilderness experience and outdoor adventure. A fully outfitted/guided wilderness experience emphasizing teamwork can build confidence, strengthen courage, and cultivate leadership qualities in women and girls. Teaching respect for the land and the gear used in wilderness travel is inherent to the wilderness ethic “Leave No Trace.”

Piragis Northwoods Company has, over it’s four decades in business, become a sort of home away from home for lots of people on the way to their Boundary Waters Canoe trips. The Piragis Northwoods Company strives to be the paddlers’ best friends up north with our award-winning outfitter operations. In addition to outfitting our retail store ensures we have the “right stuff” in stock and our online catalog covers everything we can’t keep on the shelves https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/.