Guest Info & FAQs.
What to bring, how to clear customs, license info, and answers to the questions every first-time guest asks.
Before you head north.
A quick orientation to crossing the border, what to pack, and how the days run. Most of this comes straight from our customs & travel page, we've been answering these questions for thirty years.
Getting Here
This drive-in lodge is located approximately 240 miles north of International Falls, Minnesota. The final 30 miles of the journey follow a maintained logging road from Ear Falls, Ontario. Take in the stunning scenery as you make your way to the lodge, and watch for opportunities to spot caribou, moose, bears, and a variety of other wildlife along the route.
Lodging & Meals
American Plan guests are taken care of from the moment they sit down. Breakfast is cooked to order in the morning, shore lunch is prepared on the water midday, and family-style dinners come out of the kitchen each evening, rotating between steak, pork chops, turkey, roast beef, and baked ham. Housekeeping guests handle their own meals, so plan to grocery shop in Dryden on the drive up. Ear Falls has limited options.
What to Bring
Pack rain gear every day no matter what the forecast says. Northwestern Ontario weather turns fast. Add high-SPF sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a warm jacket for cool mornings. Bring the rods and reels you fish with at home; the camp store carries lures, tackle, and the small things you forgot.
Customs & Canadian entry.
Passport: Required for everyone crossing the border. No exceptions.
Alcohol: One case of beer or one 1.14 L bottle of hard alcohol per legal-age adult, duty-free.
Cigarettes: One carton (200) per adult, duty-free.
Firearms: Non-resident hunters must register firearms before entering Canada. Fill out the RCMP firearm-users form in triplicate, but don't sign until the inspection officer asks. $25 fee. Handguns prohibited. 200 rounds of ammunition for hunting allowed duty-free.
Pets: Cats and dogs need a written rabies certificate dated within the last 6 months. Pet fee at the lodge is $100 per pet.
Driving: Canada uses metric. Speed limits are KPH, fuel is by the liter, temperatures in Celsius. Cell phones / texting while driving in Ontario is illegal. Confirm your auto insurance is valid in Canada.
Re-entering the U.S.: If your stay exceeded 48 hours, you can bring back $400 in purchases tax-free. Fish must be packaged flat (2 fillets per package) with a patch of skin on each fillet. All big game requires a Canadian Export Permit.
Customs and immigration rules change. We recommend checking the official Canadian and U.S. customs sites before your trip.
Buy your license before you arrive.
U.S. guests need a non-resident Ontario fishing or hunting license. Licenses are not sold at the lodge. Visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources non-resident license site before you travel.
Bear hunters: mandatory proof of hunting experience is required to be issued an Ontario hunting license. Bring a hunting license from any state and any year as proof. Residents and non-residents must be 16 years or older.
Fall bear hunters not in a tree stand must wear hunter orange, minimum 400 square inches above the waist, visible from all sides, plus an orange head cover. Camo or open-mesh orange does not satisfy.
FAQs.
How do I reserve my dates?
Fishing trips: $250 per person, non-refundable, but applicable to another date in the same year. Black bear hunting: $500 per hunter, non-refundable. Moose hunting: $1,000 per hunter, non-refundable. We accept cash, check, money order, or PayPal.
What's included in the rates and what's extra?
All rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and are subject to HST. Tackle, bait, store items, and Ontario fishing or hunting licenses are not included. Children under 15 are half-price on either plan when accompanied by 2 adults in the same cabin and boat.
Do you have WiFi?
Yes, at the main lodge. Stay connected when you want to, ignore it when you don't.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Pet fee is $100 per pet. Cats and dogs need a written rabies certificate dated within the last 6 months to clear the border.
Can I add a portage lake trip?
We have ten portage lakes, short portages, boats and motors on site, you bring your gear. Portage trips are included for American Plan guests at no extra charge. Housekeeping guests can use the portage lakes for $50 per trip. A guide is required for all portage lakes.
What about non-fishing guests?
Absolutely welcome. Plenty of room at the lodge to relax, game room, outside deck, beautiful grounds. Pricing varies by plan.
How does the shore lunch work?
On Full American Plan, your guide cleans your day's catch next to the lake, fries it on a real fire, and serves it with fixings. Unguided shore lunch is available for $50.
What if I arrive the night before my trip?
First-night lodging only is $50, with dinner $80. Dinner alone is $30, breakfast on departure morning is $15. Per person, U.S. dollars.
Is the fishing really catch-and-release on the big ones?
Yes, and it's why the big ones are still there. All Walleye over 18″ released. All Northern Pike over 27″ released on the main system. Several portage lakes are catch-and-release only, including R&R Lake (known for 35″–44″ pike), Spot Lake (trophy smallmouth), and Mystery Lake (high-quality walleye and pike).
Are there ATVs / side-by-sides for moose or bear?
Bear sites are accessed by boat and vehicle. Tree stands are not provided for liability reasons, if you want one, bring it and we'll help you set it up.