Top Minnesota Winter Cabin Getaways

Appeldoorn’s Sunset Bay Resort possesses a plethora of cozy cabins and a veritable cornucopia of fun winter activities for you and your party to engage in.

While snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating are all extremely popular, Appeldoorn’s is perhaps best known for its abundance of snowmobile trails. Numerous riding trails are tantalizingly close, from the Minnesota Soo Line Trail to Solana State Forest. If you don’t possess your own snowmobile, the friendly staff will be more than happy to direct you to somewhere you can. As for lodging, you’ll have your choice of 29 different cabins, each possessing its own unique charms and personality. What they do share with one another is spacious living areas, fireplaces, comfortable furniture, and full kitchens. Appeldoorn’s is waiting- motor on over this winter!

Address

45401 Mille Lacs Pkwy, Isle, MN 56342

Related activities

Only 23.4 miles from Grand Casino Mille Lacs!

Fun facts

Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.

“Lake of the Woods” may seem like an oxymoron, and it very well might be. How can you have a lake of woods? While their guests ponder this important question, Angle Outpost Resort provides immaculate service, accommodations, and activities each and every winter.

While they’re technically cabins, Angle prefers to call them outposts, as they believe their accommodations more accurately fit the definition of “a remote settlement on the frontier of civilization”. The cabins are rustically decorated, full of modern amenities, and intrinsically peaceful. In winter, lounge by a toasty fire or get outside for some snowshoeing or ice fishing. The surrounding habitat boasts a huge variety of critters for you to observe, or you can just take the walk as some quality “you time”. Let your hassles and stresses of everyday life melt away until it’s just you, mother nature, and Angle Outpost Resort.

Address

8206 Dawson Rd NW, Angle Inlet, MN 56711

Highlights

Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people, more than any other state.

Fun facts

Polaris Industries of Roseau invented the snowmobile.

Cascade Lodge's rustic atmosphere and close proximity to majestic Lake Superior does a spectacular job of connecting its guests with nature!

Step outside your door and gaze at the splendor of the largest freshwater lake in the country. Lake Superior abounds with aquatic activities like fishing, boating, and a wealth of water sports, but if you'd prefer to stay dry, you can go explore nearby Cascade River State Park and Superior Hiking Trail. When snow comes, the Lusten Mountains ski area is just 10 minutes away and provides oodles of entertainment for all ages. And even if none of that interests you, relaxing in your cabin undoubtedly will! With wood-burning fireplaces, whirlpools, and plenty of scenic views, you'll never want to leave!

Address

3719 Minnesota 61, Lutsen, Minnesota 55612

Fun facts

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, meaning you'll find plenty of space for water-fueled fun!

Related Onsite Offerings

The onsite restaurant serves up wide variety of breakfast options, soups, salads, sandwiches, and several steak, poultry, fish and pasta dinner selections.

With nine very new cabins (all built from 2001-2009) that can accommodate anywhere from two to 40 guests, anyone looking for a family winter getaway to a resort with modern flair need not look further.

Cedar Valley Resort, located in quaint Lanesboro (named one of America's Prettiest Towns by Forbes Traveler, one of the 50 Best Sports Towns in the Nation by Sports Afield Magazine, and the Bed & Breakfast Capitol of Minnesota), is for families big and small. Bring your immediate family and settle into a small cabin, going for snowshoe walks around the gorgeous bluffs and forests. Bring the extended family and tell stories around a roaring fire or try tubing down a nearby hill. Whichever cabin you choose and whoever you bring, you’ll have an amazing time at Cedar Valley.

Address

905 Bench St, Lanesboro, MN 55949

Total area

MN is 86,943 sq.miles.

Fun facts

MN is the 12th biggest state by area.

Grand View Lodge offers, well, a grand view of beautiful Nisswa, Minnesota. The area’s natural beauty is only enhanced by winter, as forests, lakes, and hills are covered in a snowy blanket. Treat your eyes, then go out and experience the whole new world of opportunities and activities available to you!

Grand View's historic cabins, while always beautiful, are especially glorious in winter. Imagine stepping inside after a bitterly cold day of outdoor fun to a roaring fire and toasty warm blankets just waiting to be snuggled with. That doesn’t have to be fantasy- it happens every winter at Grand View. When you want to get outside and see what the wintery world has to offer, Grand View has plenty to offer. Their Winter Recreation Center offers snowshoes and cross country ski rentals, or if you’re feeling adventurous hop on for a dog sled or sleigh ride. You can even work on your golf game at their indoor simulator, or spend a relaxing (Warm) day in the spa!

Address

23521 Nokomis Ave, Nisswa, MN 56468

Related activities

Downtown Brainerd is 14.9 miles away.

Fun facts

Call now!- (866) 801-2951

Are you an aspiring angler? Does it really grind your gears that summer and fall have come and gone, and there’s no more fishing to be done? Oh, how wrong you are! This winter, head over to Ballard’s resort for the best ice fishing weekend of your life!

First things first: you’ll spend you nights in extreme comfort, as each cabin features daily maid service, stovetop, refrigerator, towels and bedding, cooking utensils, coffee maker, and a TV. Now that that’s out of the way, on to the good stuff: fishing! The dedicated staff with drive you out to the angling house in a Bombardier, where you’ll get right to it. Each house is outfitted with two holes per person, with jig sticks, bait, tackle, and fish processing being provided. You’ll be attempting to catch the always-crafty walleye and sauger, with your guides providing helpful information and direction throughout. If you’ve got a passion for fishing, why would you go anywhere else?

Address

3314, Bur Oak Rd NW, Baudette, MN 56623

Related activities

Only 12 miles from downtown Baudette!

Fun facts

The first Intercollegiate Basketball game was played in Minnesota on February 9,1895.

Golden Eagle Lodge's cabins are spacious, luxurious, and rustic- but most of all, they're warm. Nothing says winter like family bonding in a toasty log cabin!

Whatever time of year you visit, this family-oriented resort will impress, delight, and treat you to an unforgettable experience. Winter brings its own host of charms and activities for you and your family to participate in. Golden Eagle's adjacency to Flour Lake gifts it a wealth of fun activities for its guests to participate in, including ice fishing, while being inside Superior National Forest affords guests a spectacular snowshoeing and cross country skiing venue. As Golden Eagle are the only residents on the lake, guests can expect solitude and tranquility, especially amidst the gently falling snow. Afterwards, return to your fully equipped, modern cabin for some hot coco and a crackling fire. Believe us, you'll never want to leave!

Address

468 Clearwater Rd, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Highlights

If you require handicap-accessible cabins, Golden Eagle offers two barrier free cabins, as well as other options for camping and boating.

Related Onsite Offerings

The lodge is located a mere two miles from the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness!

Set on on Middle Cullen Lake, a 450-acre superbly secluded body of water in central Minnesota, Wilderness Resort Villas offers both fun outdoors and comfort indoors during a frigid northern winter!

Whether you're interested in renting a cabin or a luxury villa, a stay at Wilderness Resort begins and ends with comfort. The newly constructed villas are nestled in a wooded site with mature trees, all against the majestic (if probably frozen-over) body of Middle Cullen Lake. While your rental is the perfect place to get cozy, you'll certainly want to spend some of your stay out and about in the spectacular environment surrounding the lodge. Try some hiking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or just have an old-fashioned snowball fight- whatever you choose, you'll have a fantastic time at Wilderness Resort!

Related activities

With eight courses located within 15 minutes of the resort and eight more within 30 minutes, there is golf nearby for every level of player.

Getting there

From Hwy 371 North, turn right on County Rd. 107 (after approximately � mile 107 veers to the left); do not follow 107 but continue straight on Wilderness Road for approx. 3 miles. Paved roadway will end; continue on to the resort.

Related Onsite Offerings

In the summer, boating, swimming docks, and paddle boats provide a wild and wet time!

As a four-season resort, Good Ol' Days welcomes guests year-round. Winter just happens to be one of those four seasons, and is perhaps the best time to visit!

While there are dozens of ways to spend a frigid afternoon at Good Ol' Days, perhaps the greatest is hitting the trail on 200 pounds of raw speed! Climb onto a snowmobile and explore the dozens of nearby trails. From the lake's shores you'll be treated to spectacular views of wildlife and the tranquil winter landscape. Zoom through field and stream and take in peaceful vistas that the tranquil winter environment provides. Of course that's not the only ways to spend your time here- if you prefer a lightly slower pace, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and ice skating are also available onsite. However you spend your time, it'll be time well-spent at Good Ol' Days!

Address

26050 Oak Ln, Nisswa, MN 56468

Related activities

The resort lies less than a mile from downtown Nisswa.

Related Onsite Offerings

Other amenities include volleyball and basketball courts, a fire pit, grills and a fish cleaning station.

Even though the temperature is below freezing and the snow reigns supreme, you'll have no shortage of activities to keep you busy with Timber Trails Resort!

Set on 18 acres of Chippewa National Forest land and flanked by a Big Boy Lake harbor, Timber Trails Resort seems like something out of a dream. It doesn't have to be- make it a reality! This year-round destination is perfect for those who love the outdoors. Snowshoe, sled, or spend a day ice fishing on Big Boy Lake! And with comfortable cabins fit to hold both small and large families, rest assured you'll be comfortable.

Address

3014 S Boy Lake Drive NE Remer, MN 56672

Highlights

There's no need to stop in town for a fishing license, bait, or gas- Timber Trails has you covered.

Related Onsite Offerings

Feel like staying in? Timber Tails Resort has a game room featuring a pool table, puzzles, DVDs, books, board games and much more.

Located on a quiet country road in Minnesota’s Otter Tail Lakes Country, East Silent Lake Resort is the dream winter getaway.

Choose among luxury lake homes, guest rooms, and cabins sprinkled throughout the quiet, wooded, 50-acre property. All offer close proximity to East Silent Lake, you won't have to go very far to find some excellent ice fishing waters. The wooded grounds also lend themselves nicely to exploration via cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. And with a number of nearby restaurants, antique shops, and state parks, you'll have everything you need to make your winter escape a success.

Address

30424 410th St, Dent, MN 56528

Highlights

East Silent Lake Resort can accommodate groups of all sizes. Whether you are planning a reunion, business event, or wedding, they'll have space for you.

Related Onsite Offerings

Enjoy your experience? East Silent Lake Resort is now offering the best of both worlds – affordable lake homeownership with all of the lifestyle advantages of resort accommodations.

Secluded on the shores of Lake Superior, Stonegate on Superior offers a private and relaxing stay among towering pines and spruces.

Venture to this hidden gem in the heart of winter where you can experience a quiet respite in a cozy cabin. Journey back to a simpler time with the basic amenities where they intentionally do not have televisions so you can experience a more visceral connection with your loved ones through conversation or games. The beautiful surroundings provide a calming presence as you can venture through the woods reconnect with the natural world in a unique setting. Enjoy this serene winter getaway today!

Address

412 Scenic Dr, Two Harbors, MN 55616

Number of resorts

Stonegate on Superior has 8 cabins and one vacation rental that sleeps up to eight people.

Getting there

Stonegate is located north of Knife River on Scenic 61. As you drive north out of Duluth, you will have a choice of the expressway to Two Harbors or Scenic 61. If you take the expressway you will turn right at the Knife River exit, go to the stop sign and turn left 1.6 miles north to the resort. If you take Scenic 61 you will go 15 miles from the end of London Road. Stonegate is 1.6 miles north of the Knife River.

Are none of the entries on the list so far scratching your winter cabin itch? Well, perhaps the number 7 entry will. Gunflint Lodge offers incredible cabins and superior hospitality at a more-than reasonable price.

While they also offer lake homes and romantic cottages, Gunflint’s cabins are truly where they shine. All cabins have a stone fireplace and many have a private sauna, hot tub, and full kitchen. If the bitter cold is too much for you, simply stay inside and toasty. If the weather proves hospitable, however, Gunflint’s dedicated staff will help you have a memorable winter day. An on-site naturalist offers different fun activities five days a week. These include (but are not limited to) cross country ski trips, snowshoeing, wolf howling, and candle/dreamcatcher making. Needless to say, you won’t run out of things to do during your stay!

Address

143 S Gunflint Lake, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Highlights

Bloomington and Minneapolis are the two farthest north latitude cities to ever host a World Series game.

Fun facts

Gunflint has been owned by the same family since 1927.

Rounding out our list is another resort known for its quality ice fishing. However, Zippel Bay Resort has plenty of charms and delights that are entirely its own.

High up in northern Minnesota and practically on the Canadian border is a world-class fishing resort. Lake of the Woods has nearly 65,000 miles of shoreline and 14,000 islands; it’s pretty big! Despite its intimidating size, world-class anglers have been returning to the area for decades, in part due to the incredible fishing and in part due to the beautiful resorts (Zippel Bay chief among them). In the winter, Zippel Bay offers fabulous ice fishing, with plenty of walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and perch for everyone. If that doesn’t interest you, a walk around the pristine LotW environment certainly will!

Address

6080 39th St NW, Williams, MN 56686

Related activities

Only 36.3 miles from Beltrami Island State Forest!

Fun facts

The state got its name from the Dakota Sioux Indian word mnisota for "sky-tinted water," referring to the Minnesota River.

Known statewide for their stupendous fishing, Cyrus Resort’s claim to fame is just as potent in the winter as it is in the summer.

Located on the picturesque Bostic Bay of Lake of the Woods, Cyrus has boasted incredible fishing for decades. The knowledgeable staff truly believe that ice fishing in the winter is some of the best fishing the lake has to offer. Walleye, sauger, and northern pike are plentiful, offering veterans and newbies alike a great chance of landing the big one. The warm and spacious fish house serves as a comfortable place to spend a day fishing, talking with friends, and meeting new people. Of course, when you aren’t dropping a line down a hole in the ice you’ll be staying in the resort’s lovely cabins.

Population

MN's population as 2013 was 5,420,380.

Fun facts

MN is the 21st most populous state.