Modern off-grid with sled dogs! SHT Day Trippers - one FREE SHT Shuttle to trailheads off of the Arrowhead Trail, with a 3 night stay. Sled Dog Cuddles included! Lake Superior, Superior Hiking Trail, BWCAW, Waterfalls, Grand Marais, MN. We are entirely (modern) off grid and located in the remote north woods of MN's Arrowhead Region. It is a peaceful lifestyle living and working with sled dogs. Immerse yourself in our lifestyle or passively enjoy it year 'round as a base for outdoor adventures. NOTE: This is a private Guest Suite with its own small living & eating spaces along with its own kitchen and dedicated bathroom. You will not be sharing this Guest Suite with anyone. I live in the homestead in which the Guest Suite is located. Not only one of the most unique lodging options you will find along Lake Superior's North Shore or near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior Hiking Trail, but an absolutely one-of-a-kind experience! Our Guest Suite has rustic hickory floors and kitchen cabinetry, knotty pine ceilings, half log interior side walls and Lake Superior stone back splash. It doesn't get any more rustic north woods/north shore than this! This is a bright space filled with natural light from a large patio door window and three skylights. The Points Unknown Guest Suite allows you to participate fully in our lifestyle with traditional sled dogs in our modern and comfy off-grid haven in the north woods of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. Join us for a dog sledding experience or Mindful Paddle or Hike by day. Gaze at our ever-changing sky by night, right out your window. You might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights dancing overhead! Then, let the tranquil howls of the sled dogs enchant and sing you to sleep. When you're ready for adventure, you'll find our accommodations a warm and welcoming place to start your day. Since our Guest Suite is located in our private home, couples may not find it the most suitable place, at times, for a romantic get-a-way. We are early to rise and early to bed, as our off-grid lifestyle with the sled dogs is a fulfilling, yet demanding one. Please take this into consideration when making plans for the day that include returning from a day away and your chosen shower time. WINTER Do I have to come for a dog sledding experience to stay at the Points Unknown Guest Suite in the winter? Not at all, but we sure hope you take advantage of the opportunity! Our beautiful Sled Pets are waiting to welcome you too! Ask about our Bed & Sled packages! SPRING, SUMMER, FALL During the “off season”, the Points Unknown Guest Suite becomes a comfortable overnight stop as we welcome into our home, adventurers making their way on the Superior Hiking Trail or paddlers exploring the BWCAW (Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness). Families and small groups are always welcome to stay with us as a home base for their nearby sights exploration. We offer Mindful Paddling & Hiking Guide Services to our guests. What does "off-grid" look like at Points Unknown? The Points Unknown Guest Suite is located within our off-grid homestead, in Minnesota’s remote north woods, 35 minutes northeast of Grand Marais. We are located 7 miles from the conventional grid. Our energy comes from 16 solar panels mounted on the roof of our homestead. We have 24 batteries in which this solar energy is stored. On cloudy days, we have a propane generator that produces the energy used and stored. Propane, having a by-product of water, lessens our carbon footprint. We ask that our guests help us conserve our energy wherever possible. There are no phone lines in our area, however we do receive a boosted cell phone signal from Canada. If AT&T is your carrier, you will enjoy the ability to make phone calls freely as we do, with no International charges, however an extra fee is charged for International data through AT&T, if it can be received at our location. Our phone is available for emergencies only. We require limited satellite internet service to run our businesses and it is not available to guests. Unplug, relax and enjoy your time in the wilderness! Our delicious drinking water comes from our own well. Our heat is in floor and is fed by an outdoor wood boiler. We have indoor plumbing! We ask that our guests help to conserve our precious resources by limiting the length and number of showers whenever possible. Points Unknown Homestead Amenities of the Points Unknown Guest Suite include: • 1 queen size bed • 2 twin XL beds • 1 double futon bed • Full kitchenette with a small stove/oven, small refrigerator, sink and microwave (use of microwave dependent upon sun) • Beds with privacy pull curtains (except for futon bed) and bedside lights • Pillows, bedding, towels and washcloths • Entire suite rental • Private 3/4 Bathroom • 1 short Shower/per person for a two night stay • Laundry use for additional fee Other things you need to know Check in time: 4PM -8PM, however we understand that folks can travel from a great distance to our place so we can be flexible. Check out time: 10AM Kitchen is fully stocked with eating utensils, plates and cookware. A French press for coffee brewing is available. Please limit microwave usage to sunny days. We LOVE pets and animals in general, but because we have 23 Sled Pets that include 3 full-time house dogs, you will need to leave your pets at home. In addition to the rented suite, guests are welcome to use the front porch overlooking the fenced dog play areas and the woods. It has a wood stove for ambiance and warmth on cold winter days and to take the chill off on spring and fall evenings. Think about booking a dog sledding or wheeled rig adventure during your fall or winter stay! Also consider a Mindful Paddle into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or a guided hike on one of the many trails in the area. As part of your nightly fee, which includes tax, you will be invited out to meet the sled dogs at a time set during your check in and be invited to receive a tour of our beeswax candle crafting workshop. Children •Our guest suite may not be suitable for some children under the age of 12 due to the multiple safety requirements associated with a kennel of sled dogs and the desire for general peace and quiet in our home. •Children must be attended by an adult at all times and not left to wander the common areas or property alone. You will pass through unfinished areas of our home to get to your perfectly finished and cozy accommodations with vast views of the woods out the patio door window and the big sky out of one of the three roof windows. Having unfinished space in your home is typical for our area so you'll be able to experience the local norm. The Guest Suite and private 3/4 bathroom are kept clean and tidy for our guests at all times. It is extremely unlikely, however, that the main part of our home which includes the porch, entry way, our private living quarters and the beeswax candle workshop will be free of dog hair, dirt and dust and some seasons are better than others. We really do "live" here along with our 23 sled pets, after all. You will get to see true life with Points Unknown and heck, we may surprise you and there won't be any dog hair, dust and dirt. But then again, I would wonder if you were in the right place. The Guest Suite is in our private home. We are early to rise and early to bed, as our off-grid lifestyle with the sled dogs is a fulfilling, yet demanding one. Please take this into consideration when making plans for the day that include returning from a day away and your chosen shower time. If you are a "late-night-on-the-town" type of person, this may not be the place for you. The sled dogs are typically quiet, however late and loud arrivals can be met with a kennel of dogs sharing their concern for your late and loud arrival and it can take them some time to quiet down which takes away from everyone's peaceful night. The Points Unknown Guest Suite allows you to participate fully in our lifestyle with traditional sled dogs in our modern and comfy off-grid haven in the north woods of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. At the same time, we live here and do so because we love the peace and quiet of the north woods and do need ample time alone to recharge. Upon arrival, if you wish, let’s schedule some times that you can participate in our lifestyle that could include sled dog feeding and chores and, a beeswax candle workshop tour, among other things. We’d also like to chat with you about other activities and sights that might be available to you at the time of year you are visiting. Since we have a busy schedule with the sled dogs that includes long hours outside and because we also work from the homestead, crafting pure beeswax candles, we are almost always at home but not always immediately available for casual conversation. If there is a need, we can be tracked down on the property and we're happy to help in anyway we can. We are located WAY back in the middle of the woods off a minimal maintenance forest road. Your two wheel drive vehicle will be able to get here most of the time. Do contact us, especially during the winter and spring break up months, to check on road conditions before making your way up. Points Unknown is located on 40 acres of wilderness surrounded by State and Federal Land. We can point you in the direction of trails that begin right outside the front door. I'm on the very edge of an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. There are only 13 in the world. "Mine" is 12 miles up the road - the BWCA. Not only is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness the first Minnesota site and first federally designated wilderness site to be named an International Dark Sky Sanctuary; at 1,098,000 acres, it is also the largest. When you arrive, we'll direct you to the best place to park after unloading your bags, depending upon the time of year. If interested in catching a meal out rather than using the kitchenette in the Guest Suite to cook for yourselves, Grand Marais and Grand Portage are within roughly 35-40 minutes away. You will find Grand Marais to be a quaint harbor town filled with character, sights, hikes and small town shopping. Superior Hiking Trail day trippers! We are now including one FREE SHT shuttle to any of the trailheads off of the Arrowhead Trail with a THREE night stay in our Tiny Cabins or Guest Suite. Additional shuttle service during your stay is available. When do you want to go? We'll take you there! Please be sure to check with us about road conditions before you begin the journey up the Arrowhead Trail to Points Unknown so you know what to expect. Please be aware that there is no cell coverage at our location unless you have AT&T service. For emergencies, you are welcome to use our cell phone that receives a boosted signal from Canada. Since we live remotely, help could be over an hour away. Please consider this and take the necessary precautions.