Join us on July 30-August 6 for our Long S’more in the Superior National Forest, at the border of the US and Canada. Come for a week long of riding, hiking, canoeing, backcountry camping. You don't have a week? No problem: join us for just part of it.
This CAMP S’more is one of a kind, as it offers you the chance to 1) ride through gorgeous roads in the remote Northern Woods; 2) explore two of the most remote National Parks of America in one trip (Voyageurs National Park and Isle Royale National Park); and 3) explore the breathtaking Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness area. Beyond these three main attractions, the sheer number of recreation opportunities within the Superior National Forest is huge: 77 lake accesses, 13 fishing piers, 10 swimming beaches and 22 picnic areas. The forest is also home to three scenic byways.
The event is capped at 20 participants, first come first serve. The cost for the whole week is either $120 or $200 per person in total, depending on the type of camping you choose.
All participants will be sent a Riders’ book with info and GPX files to planned rides and more details on things to do and how to make further arrangements depending on the activities you want to do.
The plan is as follows:
Part 1: July 30-August 3
Saturday, July 30: we will arrive at our campsite, the Birch Lake Campground, near Ely, MN. Ely is one of the main gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Area (BWCAW). 9 hours from Chicago, 8 hours from Milwaukee and Des Moines, 4 hours from Minneapolis.
Saturday, July 30 - Wednesday, August 3: we will stay in the same campground for four nights - you will be able to choose between tent and log cabin accommodations. Once there, you will be spoiled with options for things to do: you can spend your day riding through the Superior forests, all the way to Voyageurs National Park; you can hike or swim; you can canoe or kayak the BWCAW, either just for a day, or multiple days, camping by the water. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?
Part 2: August 3-6
You will have two options:
Isle Royale National Park Option: we will ride through gorgeous roads all the way to a campground near Grand Portage, MN, where we will spend one night (August 3). Early in the morning of August 4, we will ride to Grand Portage, park our motorcycles, and take a ferry to Isle Royale National Park, where we will spend two nights. With the exception of the National Parks in Alaska, Isle Royale National Park is the most remote and the wildest National Park in the United States: it is only reachable by boat, and vehicles are not allowed on the island. You will have the possibility to hike or paddle through the island and change camp every night, or stay in the same campground and relax: up to you. On August 6 we will take the ferry back to mainland, and you will go home (or wherever you want!)
Great Northern Option: If you do NOT want to visit Isle Royale, and would rather explore more of the Great North, we have booked a stunning campground for 3 nights (August 3-6) by a beautiful, secluded campsite in Minnesota. This is the perfect base from which to launch your visit to Voyageurs National Park and the surrounding forests. Voyageurs National Park is also extremely remote, and its main attraction can only be accessed via water (canoe, kayak, commercial).
WHERE
Part 1 - July 30-August 3: our Basecamp for four nights will be the Birch Lake Campground, near Ely, MN. There are 16 spots available as tent camping (4 people per campsite) and 4 spots in a single log cabin (bunk beds, no bathroom and no kitchen - you need to bring your own bedding, i.e. a sleeping bag). All campsites and cabins are near the water, and separated by lush forests. Canoeing, swimming, fishing are all popular at the campsite.
Part 2 - August 3-6: Your location will vary depending on the option you choose: you will either be backcountry camping Island Royale NP or camping by Echo Lake in MN, and riding/exploring the Superior Forest or the BWCAW.
HOW MUCH
Two levels of prices are available for you to choose from: $120 or $200 per person per the entire trip.
Tent camping only: $120 per person in total. This includes:
7 nights of tent camping, July 30-August 6
Two dinners cooked at camp on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31
Extra “vehicle fee” levied by Birch Lake Campground.
Routes and GPX files
If you only want to come to the first part (July 30-August 3) or the second part of the trip (August 3-August 6), drop us an email and we will send you a link with a 25% discount code - i.e. you would pay $90 per person in total.
Log Cabin and Tent camping combo: $200 per person. This includes:
Four nights of lodging in a LOG CABIN, on July 30-August 3 only. 4 spots per cabin, bunk bed. Cabin has no bathroom / no kitchen - you need to bring your own bedding i.e. sleeping bag.
3 nights of tent camping, August 3-6
Two dinners cooked at camp on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31
Extra vehicle fee levied by Campgrounds
Routes and GPX files
If you only want to come to the first part (July 30-August 3) or the second part of the trip (August 3-August 6), drop us an email and we will send you a link with a 25% discount code, i.e. i.e. you would pay $150 per person in total.
Please note that
All costs are PER CAMPer, not per tent.
The price of your camping spot is the same whether you tent-camp or hammock-camp (we re not responsible for you finding suitable trees).
The campgrounds do not have electricity, but showers and drinking waters are available.
The costs are the same whether you choose the Isle Royale Option or the Great Northern Option. If you choose the Isle Royale option you will be responsible for booking your ferry ride ($162 for a return ticket) and for paying passes required to access the National Park. Info below. If you are choosing the Great Northern option you don’t have to do anything else.
Please note: CAMP S’mores are open to members only. If you are not a member, please add your membership to your cart together with your S’more ticket. Your reservation will not be complete unless you are a member, and your spot will not be secured.
Cancellation: as long as you cancel 30 days ahead of the trip we will issue a refund, minus a 10% processing fee. If you cancel within 30 days of the trip you will not be eligible for a refund, but you are welcome to “sell” your ticket to another CAMPer.
Isle Royale National Park Ferry
Isle Royale National Park can only be accessed by boat. You need to book your own transportation to and from Isle Royale NP if you are planning to come. The sooner you do this, the better - we are not responsible for how fast the boat tickets will sell. Once they are gone, they are gone.
There are two boats leaving from Grand Portage, MN, arriving to Windigo, the main port on Isle Royale NP: the Voyager II and the Sea Hunter III. Only the Sea Hunter III operates on the dates we are going to be traveling (August 4-6). You can book your ticket on this website. The ticket will cost $162 in total ($81 each way). Follow these steps:
Click on “Camping and Hiking Trips” (we will be spending two nights on the island, so this is the option you must choose)
Click on ADD Outbound departure Sea Hunter III
Put the number of tickets you are buying
Select the date August 4 - click on the black box saying 8,30am departure
Select the extra equipment you are planning to carry, if any (you are allowed only 40 pounds of luggage with your standard ticket. This is plenty, but if you want to travel heavy, your choice).
Put the first and last name of the travelers you are buying the ticket for and add to cart.
Now select your Inbound Return Sea Hunter III - Repeat the same procedure above, putting the date of August 6th for your return ticket, and add it to your cart.
Press Check out - please read the cancellation notice carefully. Pay. You are booked.
Please note that Isle Royale charges a usage fee per day of $7. If you have an annual National Park pass, you do not have to pay this fee. Up to 4 people can access Isle Royale on a single Annual Pass. If our group camping on the island is bigger than 6 people, we will have to pay a camping fee of $25.You are welcome to stay as long as you want on Isle Royale, of course, beyond August 6. You will have to pay whatever fee associated to that longer stay.
