Explore the Area

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Fun in the Crane Lake Area

If you desire to venture out into the north country by land vs. boat there are numerous things to do and see within an hour from our Crane Lake resort in Minnesota.

Click on the following links for detailed information:

Outdoor Activities in Crane Lake

From fishing to snowmobiling, Crane Lake, MN offers something for everyone.

https://www.visitcranelake.com/outdoor-activities/

Regional History & Points of Interest

Learn about Crane Lake, Minnesota

Since becoming a state in 1858 Minnesota has had a long history in the mining and timber industries. With the discovery of iron ore in 1866 the mining industry across the Mesabi Range in northern Minnesota was started. In the city of Virginia around1909 the Rainy Lake Company wood mill opened. It operated for over 20 years, becoming the largest white pine mill in the world.These industries brought numerous Scandinavian immigrants to work and homestead in the area.

The regional history of the mining industry is show cased at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, the Minnesota Discovery Center and the Minnesota Museum of Mining. Each point of interest is within a short drive from Scott’s Peaceful Valley.

Soudan Underground Mine State Park This Park is home to Minnesota’s oldest iron ore mine where you can learn about how mining shaped the history and culture of the Iron Range. Explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house, and take the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits. Take an underground mine tour and travel a half mile beneath the earth to the deepest area that was mined. Additionally, you can tour a new high energy physics lab that was built to study of subatomic particles.

Minnesota Discovery Center The Minnesota Discovery Center provides historic exhibits of mining methods, equipment, and the regions immigrant people and culture. By examining the displays outlying and showing mining artifacts, mining methods and regional geology will help illuminate the spirit of the immigrant people and their descendants.There is also a train tour that takes you around the largest iron ore mine in the world. The magnitude and beauty of this manmade wonder is a must see site.

Minnesota Museum of Mining The Minnesota Museum of Mining is the only museum of its kind in the country, dedicated to preserving the history of the Iron Mining Industry in Minnesota as well as telling the story of the men and women who made a life working on the Iron Range. The Minnesota Museum of Mining serves to educate visitors about the history of mining in Minnesota, and illustrates the life of ordinary people, mostly immigrant families, from the earliest years of European settlement and mining in Chisholm. The museum and surrounding grounds provide historic exhibits of mining methods, equipment, and the regions immigrant people and culture. Minnesota Museum of Mining

The main highways in our area are interlaced with gravel roadways that are part of the original rural township structure or related to the timber industry. Driving through the rural township you will observe the results of generations of families that homesteaded the area, carved out the wilderness. The timber industry was driven by the high demand for lumber as our country expanded and grew in population. With a steady demand for wood products, State forestry roads have been built to provide continued access to the vast forests that provide the timber for wood and paper. As you explore and travel these rural roadways to can see some of the original logging camps and narrow gauge railroad beds. We can assist and provide driving directions to some of these historic sites.

Back to Nature

Back To Nature – Minnesota Hiking Trails

Opportunities the entire family will enjoy!

How wild do you want to get? By foot, bike, boat or car a venture into the beautiful wilderness starts at Scott’s Peaceful Valley. Within minutes you are back to nature. We have listed some of the options available. However, there are many more that we assist you with in matching your nature travel desires with that which is available. Just think of the delight you can have enjoying the variety of animal and bird species in the Crane Lake area.

CRANE LAKE GORGE TRAIL: This popular Forrest Service hiking trail is for everyone. It is well maintained and affords one the opportunity to get into nature in a safe setting. Beginning next to our resort, this developed 11/2 mile trail goes through forests, wetlands and at times lakeside. There are interpretative signs about the history of the area, scenic overlooks, and benches for resting. Enjoy the birds, deer, and sounds of the forest. The end of the trail is at the scenic Crane Lake gorge with rapids flowing through granite walls. A must see destination. For individuals who do not desire to walk the trail there is a Forrest Service dock at the base pool of the gorge that is accessible by boat.

VERMILION FALLS: The Vermilion Falls gets you up close and personal to a most picturesque water falls. There is a well maintained wheelchair accessible boardwalk of approximately 60 yards from where you park your car to a wooden platform at the falls. The rushing water down the sluice is truly breath taking for the young and old. You get to the falls by car, traveling approximately 6 miles from the resort down a gravel forestry road to the Vermilion River. There is a parking area available with toilet facilities and picnic tables on site.

HARRIMAN TRAIL: This is truly a hikers trail. This Minnesota hiking trail has over 20 miles of interconnecting routes that traverse forest ridges and multiple remote lakes. Hikers often spend the day hiking the trail with their lunch and camera enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the wilderness. One option that some folks do is go by boat to Little Vermilion Lake and hike back to the road. This hike is around 5 miles. The trailhead for the Harriman trail is about a 3 mile drive from the resort.

Scott’s Peaceful Valley is your destination stop for experiencing a unique nature adventure within a National treasure. Voyageurs National Park is the only water based national park in the United States. The water access provides unlimited opportunity for exploring and adventure trips. There are miles of portage trails to land locked lakes, hundreds of uninhabited islands, and remote shorelines to explore and site see. There are more than 200 species of birds within the area. Eagles soaring overhead or nesting in the majestic white pines are a common sight. The Minnesota state bird is the Loon. There are numerous loons in the area. Their beauty and unique calls are the real sounds of silence. Watching the shore lines for deer, bear, and other wild game provide a unique array of wildlife that the area is known for.

Scenic Trails

Hiking/Biking Trails

By foot, boat, or car, one can get to the remote hiking trails of the area. You can start your hiking and biking from the resort. A short drive or boat trip can put you on an adventure trip within minutes.

Crane Lake Gorge Trail: Beginning near our resort, this trail is a 1 1/2 mile trail through forests, wetlands, and, at times, lakeside, with interpretative signs about the history of the area, scenic overlooks, and benches for resting or enjoying the birds, and sounds of the forest.

Harriman Trail: This trailhead begins about 3 miles from our resort by car and offers over 20 miles of interconnecting trails.

Vermilion Falls: By car, travel 5 miles down the Forestry Road to Vermilion River. Two parking areas are available, the second one being the best option. Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trails to the falls and the rushing waters down the sluice. There are toilet facilities and picnic tables available on site.

Bog Walk: While in Orr, take a walking/learning hike through the Bog Walk. The trailhead begins at the Tourist Information Center with parking available as well. Interpretative signs along the boardwalk route will educate you on the workings of a bog and the formation of peat moss, as well as bird viewing in this natural wetlands.

Bird Watching Walks: Given by locals if available.

Voyageur’s National Park Boat Trips: Given by locals if available.

Fun Trips Near Our Crane Lake Resort

Fun things to do in the Crane Lake area

If you need a break from boating or fishing or just want to check out some other fun things to do in the area, there are some out-of-the-way options just a short drive from Scott’s Peaceful Valley. Shifting gears (either by choice or weather) could provide a memorable moment to your family vacation.

Golf Outing: There are many golf courses in the area, with the closest one being Vermilion River Greens. It is a 9-hole golf course located on the Vermilion River in Buyck (pronounced bike) or as the local folks say: “I Luyck Buyck.” Two other local courses less than an hours drive and are located near Cook. One is Vermilion Fairways and the other is Wolfridge Golf Course. Both are 9-hole courses laid out in rural woods settings.

Golf Outing and a Game of Chance: If you want to make a day of it, you can combine golfing and gaming at the Fortune Bay Casino Hotel on the Tower side of Lake Vermilion. The 18-hole golf course makes the game a scenic adventure as well as a golf game. Enjoy meals and refreshments at the pro shop or dine at the casino for their tasty buffets and special dining offerings. At Fortune Bay Casino there is a Bois Forte Heritage Museum and gift shop

Hit the Trail, the ECHO TRAIL: Enjoy a rural drive along this 52-mile rustic trail along many lakes and forests with occasional sightings of bear, deer, moose, ruffed grouse, fox, and pine marten. There is a Managed Ruffed Grouse Habitat as well as Fire and Ice Sioux Overlook. Stop along the way to enjoy one of the numerous hiking trails. Some of the more popular ones include: Astrid Lakes Trail (2 trailheads), Norway Trail (2 trailheads) and Big Moose Trail Echo Trail. Ely has numerous points of interest including the North American Bear Center, the International Wolf Center, the Dorothy Molter Museum as well as a variety of shopping opportunities.

South of the Border: It may be summer, but visit the cold capital of the USA, International Falls. The city is on the Canadian border and only a 40-minute drive north of Orr. There are a variety of shops, restaurants and bars available to satisfy every palette. Voyageurs National Parks Rainy Lake Information Center can also be found there. Be sure to see Smoky Bear! This is a point of entry into Canada, so if you do cross the border, ensure to have passports for all car occupants so one can re-enter the USA.

Each rural town in our area has its own special character. The towns Orr, Cook, Tower, and Ely all have unique shopping opportunities as well as family-oriented restaurants and bars. The Comet Theater in Cook is not only a movie theater, but a unique gift shop and coffee house. Also, in Cook, go to the Homestead Mills, a working feed and seed mill for some of their specialty cereals and food items. In Orr stop by the Big Blue Gill for a picture and Patten’s Café for the big donut. In Ely, Tower, and Cook, there is a local grocery chain called Zup’s that specializes in fresh-cut meats and sausages. A couple of key specialty items to put in your cart include their homemade sauerkraut and native hand parched wild rice.

Fall & Winter Activities

Activities in Fall and Winter at Crane Lake

If you’re an ATV or UTV enthusiast, chances are you already know about the off-road trail system in and around Minnesota’s Crane Lake area. After all, it’s host to a rapidly expanding trail base that’s currently around 250 miles of ATV trail, as well as ground zero for the largest ATV club in the state of Minnesota.

The Voyageur Country ATV trail system uses a combination of forest roads, wooded trails, and county road rights-of-way to connect the communities of Cook, Crane Lake, Buyck, Camp 5 township, and Ely. The system also ties into the existing Prospectors Trail system, and it will tie into the Quad Cities trail system when it is built from Pfeiffer Lake to County Road 361. The Voyageur Country trail system passes through numerous land and forest types, with many overlooks and stops along the way including Vermilion Falls, Pelican River overlook, and the new Vermilion River trail bridge. This trail system is provided by St. Louis County and maintained by the Voyageur Country ATV Club.

Useful Links:

Winter ice fishing and snowmobiling

Winter hits this northern region sooner and leaves later than the rest of the state. It allows the lakes to have a thick frozen layer of ice for relatively long days. Ice fishing is a great winter adventure you wouldn’t want to miss. Sometimes, it might turn risky. Take safety measures when ice fishing. Get your fishing license, follow the norms, and don’t go alone. Stay in a safe site and enjoy the sport. Get ice fishing guidance and head towards the Northern state of Minnesota for a great ice fishing season. After spending the weekend ice fishing from one of the best ice-fishing lakes in Minnesota, let us know about your catch.

Visitors enjoy and look forward to what our area has to offer to snowmobilers and other winter enthusiasts. Our trails range from wide-open lake running to winding safety portages connecting the lakes, from abandoned railroad grades to twisting wilderness routes. There is also the opportunity to explore the frozen lake surface off the groomed trail. You can often experience powder riding unrivaled in the region this way.

Winter: Few individuals venture into Voyageurs in the winter, but those who do are rewarded with an unmatched experience of solitude and beauty. Visitors can enjoy miles of groomed snowshoes, snowmobiles, ski trails, and an ice road! If you want to increase your likelihood of catching the Northern Lights – consider a winter visit. Before venturing to Voyageurs, make sure you check ice and trail reports and make sure you’re properly prepared for winter conditions.

Weather and Ice:

Weather is an important factor in any outdoor trip, but especially when boating and paddling are involved. Strong winds can make travel across the large lakes difficult and dangerous. Make sure to check the weather before your visit and before you set out on the water. In the winter, frozen lake surfaces can be explored by snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or cross-country skiing. It is important to check the ice and trail conditions before recreating in the winter.

Ice Report, Lake Ice In/Out Report: Crane (69061600) | LakeFinder | Minnesota DNR

Snowmobiling

Crane Lake Snowmobiling | Visit Crane Lake MN
Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association: Crane Lake Voyageurs Club
Ride the Borders

Experience an International Dark Sky Park

Certified by the International Dark Sky Association, Voyageurs National Park is Minnesota’s only International Dark Sky Park. These spaces protect crucial nocturnal habitats, abundant wildlife, and our universal connection to the night sky. This significant certification requires the ongoing preservation of extremely dark skies and a commitment to host inspiring night sky programs.

Day Trips from Crane Lake:

Looking for some other alternatives in and around the Crane Lake area?

Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park
Looking for something different to do? Try 9 Holes of golfing.
Lake Vermillion Golfing
Orr/Pelican Lake https://www.orrpelicanlake.com/
Bear Sanctuary, Orr https://www.americanbear.org/
Elephant Lake – Melgeorges Vermilion River Golfing
Fortune Bay Casino https://fortunebay.com/

FISHING

CRANE LAKE

VNP

THINGS TO DO