Most of Cook County–and the North Shore–remains open and welcoming visitors. 

While some areas are temporarily closed due to wildfire activity, most places (lodges, restaurants, etc.) are operating as usual. Because conditions change day-to-day, it’s always good to check current conditions day of or day before, and check out the social media pages for any of the places you are planning to visit for the latest updates.

Most of the trails and recreation are open. The BWCA has temporary closures to support firefighter efforts, but there are plenty of opportunities around Gunflint Lake and along the Trail open to enjoy.

Air quality can vary from day to day, and even town to town, as weather patterns and wind directions change. Since the fires started in July we’ve seen differences in smoke levels from day-to-day and even morning-to-afternoon. We recommend checking the AirNow forecast (airnow.gov) before heading outside and plan according to your personal comfort levels. The COVID-era KN95 and N95 masks* also help if conditions get particularly smoky. 

The US Forest Service anticipates the wildfires to last through the remainder of the summer and potentially into the fall. We don’t have a crystal ball to see where these fires may pop up move to, and if new fires will pop up. But the Forest Service is monitoring conditions closely, and are proactive with their handling of the situation.

Yes. As of July 18, our lodge is in the first-level, “ready”, evacuation zone which means that we should be alert as conditions evolve.

The BWCA surrounding us is at a third-level, “go”, evacuation zone, and that is for the safety of campers and paddlers deep in the woods.

We are keeping a close eye on conditions and will be able to update guests if designations change. 

We understand if the situation gives you pause. Borderland Lodge is a small, family-owned business and every cancellation impacts us.

We have a 30-day cancellation policy without exceptions to weather events, like wildfires, as they are out of our control. Reservations cancelled within 30-days of arrival do not receive a deposit refund, and reservations cancelled made within 72-hrs of arrival also get an additional 1-night lodging charge.

If you are considering canceling within that 30-day window and are concerned about the deposit, we would recommend looking into travel insurance.

Often you can purchase even up to the day before (although rates are best the further out you purchase it.

You can do a quick online search for travel or trip insurance, and and Allianz and Faye are a couple of quick options you can look into.