Isle Royale Forums

riverwatkins wrote: Kevinl read in your trip report about staying at Ryden's and not the casino just wondered if I could get little more insight on that. We are plaining to stay few nights in the Grand Portage area either before or after trip.

Here's my take on the options:
(1) Lodge & Casino: Expensive. Traditional hotel rooms, nothing special, nothing wrong. Restaurant didn't open early enough in the a.m. for breakfast before the boat, so we ate at Ryden's. Don't know if that's changed (been a few years).
(2) Ryden's: Cheap, money and otherwise. A clean place to sleep. Couple of double wides parked in the lot and split up into rooms. Big, so easy to spread out gear for final packing. Paper thin walls, so you may not need an alarm clock . Our neighbors were catching the boat too, so wasn't an issue, but it may be if you were staying a couple days. My choice from here on out, since all I want is a (cheap) bed.
(3) Magney St Park. About 20 miles away. You're camping, so not much to say, but it is a nice campground in the woods. Didn't hike, but there are trails.
(4) There has been camping at the marina near the Lodge & Casino, but don't know what that situation is.
(5) Grand Marais has more hotels/motels, but it's farther away than I care to be for an 8am boat. Is a nice place to stay for few days, though, and would be my choice for exploring the area.

Ingo, Ryden's (what was the cost approximately?).

Magney St. Park has some really nice trails and great views of the river that goes through the park. Superior Hiking Trail uses some of the trails on it's way up and down the coast.

The Marina near the lodge and casino was cheap a few years ago for camping ($10) and included showers and restrooms.

In the $40s range. Phone is 218-475-2330

Bob

Have stayed at Casino Marina. I believe it now costs $15 and includes the shower/restroom as INGO mentioned, but also
includes the Casino Lodge Sauna/Swimming Pool admittance.

Have stayed at Casino. If you depart on Voyager on Saturday morning, the Casino offers a under 50 age Friday night promotion
at a rate of $50 or so (you would have to check Casino promotion page for actual offer)

And as mentioned, Grand Marais area offers a selection of rooms and you get to spend the evening at local pubs/restaurants.
Link
http://www.midwestweekends.com/plan_a_t ... shore.html

We stayed at the Outpost Motel north of Grand Marais last year. It was nice.

J

If you're coming in late and just need a place to catch a few Z's, Minnesota DOT just opened a brand new rest area just at the US border this fall, tied with Grand Portage State Park, with a quick hike to Pigeon Falls. I think you're technically allowed 6 hours to stay. The only gripe I had when we pulled in this fall was that they put in that new LED lighting, and it seemed harsh and bright. (I suppose that's good for safety, but we wanted rest!)
Awesome place, though!

Although not an official place to camp, the lady at the Grand Portage Visitor Center, who was an Indian**, suggested the Josephine trail which is right down the road from the ferry dock.

The Josephine trail is part of the reservation and hikes up to the top of the ridge with a beautiful outlook on the bay. We setup our ENO hammocks and tarps in the tree line along the trail. If I had to do it again, I would have hiked a bit further up the trail, the lower part of the trail is very damp and everything has that moist slimy feel.



**(we found out from the Grand Portage heritage center that Indians do not call themselves Native Americans but either Indians or First People, which makes a lot more sense. Anyone born in America is a Native American. In fact, even that is incorrect since all humans are African animals and an invasive specie everywhere else)

I'm sure the woman that gave you that info meant well, however, she was most likely a band member and the rules are very different for members of the Grand Portage Band (it's their land). The official policy on camping on the reservation is "camping on reservation land is allowed only at the campground/RV park adjacent to Grand Portage marina". This is directly from the conservation officer that enforces the policy and this is nothing new and there have been no changes to the policy. Please, don't camp anywhere but the campground if you plan to camp in Grand Portage.

The under 50 Casino Promotion is active again for 2011. (If you are over fifty, you are tough
enough to spend an extra night in a tent!!!!!!!!)

From Casino Website Promotion page........

Under 50 Fridays
10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Everyone under the age of 50 will receive:
•$5 in casino play on your Portage Player’s Club Card.
•A 2 for 1 drink coupon for domestic beer or rail drinks. Based on regular prices.
(Present coupon to server.)
•A room rate of $59 + tax (Subject to change. Present coupon at check-in.)

Last year, I stayed at Rydens. As stated by a previous poster, the place is inexpensive (I think I spent around $40-$45 for one night). Nothing fancy. Thin walls. There is plenty of room to spread out and pack your stuff. A mom and Pop "truck stop-like" diner is located on the premises. I think there were only 4 rooms at this entire motel. The Canadian border, and the Pigeon Falls, are fairly close. I would stay here again. I was just looking for a place to pack my stuff for the hike and get a few hours of sleep before catching my boat to the Island.

I'm a big fan of the Outpost Motel in Hovland, Just north of Grand Marais. It's small, clean and inexpensive. Also, if you want to camp out, Judge Magney State park is a couple minutes from the Outpost Motel. Both are about a half hour drive to the boat in the morning.