Seagull Outfitters
Seagull Outfitters – Grand Marais, Minnesota
11
JUNE, 2021
For this article, I’ve categorized Seagull Outfitters as ‘lodging.’ They definitely provide lodging, but their services go far beyond a bed for the night. If, like me, your Bucket List includes doing a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Seagull Outfitters is your one-stop-shop for all your paddling needs. Canoe rentals, gear, provisions, permits, ‘tow’ to your desired starting location, cabin rental, bed in the bunkhouse, shower after the trip, or simply information and Boundary Waters ‘wisdom.’ They provide it all. Seagull Outfitters is located at the very end of the beautiful 57-mile Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway. You can learn more about Seagull Outfitters on their website here.
Background on Seagull Outfitters
Seagull Outfitters is owned and operated by Debbie Mark and her wonderful staff. Debbie grew up on the Gunflint Trail and spent a good part of her childhood finding all the best fishing holes. Her jobs focused on her family’s outfitting business – gear cleaning and repair, cabin fixing and cleaning, making beds. Deb knows the outfitting business well, from the inside out. After graduating from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, she returned to the outfitting business. Debbie purchased Seagull Outfitters 33 years ago. Her passion for the business is contagious and shared by her outstanding, knowledgeable staff. Deb and her staff have paddled many routes in the Boundary Waters and graciously share valuable first-hand knowledge with guests.
“Top notch outfitter! All of the employees are friendly. Facilities are clean. We took advantage of the tow service, it was well worth it! We also stayed in the Paddlers’ Lodge the night before so we could get an early start. It was nice to be able to clean up and take a hot shower before heading home.” – Guest Review
My Experience at Seagull Outfitters
I had my first and only experience with Seagull Outfitters in June 2021 when we used it as a base for our 2021 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness trip. Complete ‘newb’ doesn’t adequately describe my lack of canoeing experience when I pulled into Seagull’s parking lot after the long drive from Indiana. But the staff at the outfitter helped me overcome my initial trepidation. They offered advice, encouragement, wisdom, and more than a little ‘therapy.’ We were even given free access to a canoe to ‘practice’ in the sheltered bay off of Seagull Lake, where Seagull Outfitters is located. When our Boundary Waters trip started the following day, I can’t say I was sufficiently trained or completely comfortable with my expertise. Still, everything the outfitter staff had done to prepare me was valuable and much appreciated. They go above and beyond the typical ‘call of duty’ for their guests.
Bunkhouse Lodge and Seagull / Saganaga Lake Cabins
We stayed in the Bunkhouse Lodge the night before we started paddling. A stay in the ‘paddlers lodge,’ as the Bunkhouse is also called, is not a luxurious experience. But it was cheap ($35 per person) and perfect for our needs. The Bunkhouse has eight private rooms. Each room has four bunkbeds, a total of eight beds per room. There is a large common area in the hallway outside the rooms. The common area has two large picnic tables that can be used for eating, resting or gear preparation. A stay in the bunkhouse includes showers in the separate Shower Building located next to the Bunkhouse. In addition to the Bunkhouse, Seagull Outfitters rents out four cabins on Seagull Lake and two cabins on Saganaga Lake. More information on the lake cabins can be found here.
YouTube Video – Seagull Outfitters
Breakfast, shuttle, and tow service
I have a few last notes on the various additional services we used. For $15 extra, we purchased the ‘Quick Start Breakfast’ Seagull Outfitters offers. There were no other options if you wanted breakfast! It was a banana, a small box of Raisin Bran, a carton of milk, juice, and a small yogurt container. Hmm… certainly not a full-on Waffle House bacon and egg breakfast, but it worked. We also took advantage of Seagull Outfitters Headstart Launch service (a.k.a. shuttle and tow) service to get us out to our starting spot at American Point on Saganaga Lake. It cost $60 per person (one way) but was well worth it since it saved us half a day of paddling on the VERY rough, ‘big water’ of Saganaga. Check their website for other services.
YouTube Video – Seagull Outfitters Morning Routine and Tow
Conclusion – Seagull Outfitters
A canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is something everyone should experience if you’re at all interested in backcountry adventures. The Boundary Waters are to canoeing what Glacier National Park is to backpacking. There is nothing else like it. And if you’re heading to the Boundary Waters and your trip takes you to Seagull Lake, I recommend you consider basing your trip out of Seagull Outfitters. They offer everything you’ll need and will do all within their power to ensure your trip is safe, enjoyable, and a bucket-list-worthy experience.
