Mangy Moose Motel
202 1st Ave E
Grand Marais, MN
One block from Lake Superior on Highway 61. The rooms have names. Every one of them earned.
About Mangy Moose Motel
The Mangy Moose Motel sits at the corner of Highway 61 and 1st Avenue East in Grand Marais, Minnesota, one block from Lake Superior, within walking distance of everything in downtown Grand Marais. New owners took over in August 2024. What they took over was nearly a decade of being the most consistently praised lodging in Grand Marais, built on ten individually named rooms, no two alike, each named for something specific to this stretch of Minnesota. Giche Gumee is the Ojibwe name for Lake Superior. The Voyager is named for the voyageurs who paddled these waters. Grand Marais is an hour from the Boundary Waters, and the Superior Hiking Trail passes through. Adults only throughout.
What Mangy Moose Motel Is Known For
The Mangy Moose has been the most consistently praised lodging in Grand Marais for nearly a decade. It earned that not through amenity count but through accumulated care: ten individually named rooms with specific North Shore character, a campfire area where guests actually gather, and a location one block from Lake Superior that requires only the right property behind it to become the best place to stay in a town worth going to. The room names are the clearest evidence of the intention behind the property: Giche Gumee, The Voyager, The Birder, The Loons Nest are not marketing decisions. They are North Shore decisions. The new owners in August 2024 have maintained the standard the Moose built over a decade and added a coffee bar serving locally roasted Fika espresso.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Coffee bar serving Fika espresso
- Campfire area with Adirondack chairs
- Gift shop with snacks, treats, and logo gear
- Individually named rooms (no two alike)
- Moose Hus apartment (private entry, garden patio, gas grill, full kitchen)
- Dry bar with microwave and coffee maker in standard rooms
- Ice machine and filtered water station
What Guests Love
- One block from Lake Superior and walking distance to all of downtown Grand Marais
- Rooms named for specific North Shore references: Giche Gumee, The Voyager, The Birder, The Loons Nest
- Coffee bar serving Fika, a locally roasted Minnesota espresso brand
- Adults-only throughout: a quieter, more specific North Shore experience
- The Voyager and Giche Gumee offer king beds, private patios, and partial lake views
Worth Knowing
- Adults only throughout: all rooms require guests 18 and older
- Two-night minimum on most bookings; three nights required during some periods. Contact the property for one-night exception requests. Do not book two nights intending to cancel one: the property charges for both.
- Most rooms have no air conditioning; windows open. A small number of rooms and the Moose Hus apartment have AC. If this matters, specify when booking.
- Checkout is in the morning, earlier than most properties
- No pets permitted in any unit, including therapy and emotional support animals. True ADA service animals are welcome.
- Cancellation policy is strict: 30% non-refundable deposit upon booking; one-night penalty for cancellations within 10 days of arrival.
The Room
Rooms and one standalone apartment, each named and no two alike. Standard rooms and suites include TVs, dry bars with microwave, coffee maker, and ice bucket, with private bathrooms in either shower or bathtub/shower configurations. The Voyager and Giche Gumee are the premier rooms: king beds, walk-in showers, goose down comforters, private patios, and partial lake views. Wolf's Lair and The Birder accommodate up to four guests with two beds each. The Loons Nest has a king memory foam mattress, goose down comforter, and a separate sitting area. The Moose Hus is the standalone option: a 1,000-square-foot basement apartment with private entry, a garden patio with gas grill, full kitchen, a living area, and a king bed. Most rooms have no air conditioning; windows open. Adults only in all units.
The Grounds
The Mangy Moose sits directly on Highway 61 with a row of evergreens between the road and the property. Parking is directly outside each room. The campfire area with Adirondack chairs is the evening gathering point. The coffee bar, serving Fika espresso and drinks, anchors one end of the building. A gift shop carries snacks, treats, and logo gear. An ice machine and filtered water station are on site. Lake Superior is one block north, a two-minute walk to the harbor and Artist's Point. Downtown Grand Marais, with its galleries, independent restaurants, and outfitters, is within the same easy reach. Check-in is via text-delivered door code; contact the property for check-in and check-out times.
The Experience
The North Shore imposes its own rhythm, and the Mangy Moose is built to support it. Morning on Lake Superior. Afternoon on the Superior Hiking Trail or the Gunflint. The hawk ridge in fall. A birder's October on the shore. Back to the campfire with whatever the day delivered. Grand Marais is not a large town and the Mangy Moose is not a large motel, which means the campfire area draws guests together in the spontaneous way that only happens at properties with fewer than rooms and a well-placed chair. The coffee bar serving Fika espresso handles the mornings. The room names carry the North Shore into the interior. Nine years of being the most consistently praised lodging in Grand Marais is the outcome of getting these specific details right, every season, in a town worth getting right for.
Details
Grand Marais, MN 55604
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mangy Moose Motel have EV charging?
No, Mangy Moose Motel does not have EV charging.
Does Mangy Moose Motel have WiFi?
Yes, Mangy Moose Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near Mangy Moose Motel?
Lake Superior: 0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Superior Hiking Trail: 0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 30 miles, about a 60 minute drive.
How far is Mangy Moose Motel from Lake Superior?
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Mangy Moose Motel from Superior Hiking Trail?
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Mangy Moose Motel from Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
30 miles, about a 60 minute drive.
Is the Mangy Moose Motel adults only?
Yes. All rooms at the Mangy Moose Motel are adults only. Children and infants of any age are not accommodated.
Is the Mangy Moose Motel pet-friendly?
No. The Mangy Moose Motel cannot accept pets, including therapy and emotional support animals. True service animals as defined by the ADA are welcome. The Mangy Moose Trailside Lodge, the sister property, accepts dogs.
What is the minimum stay?
A two-night minimum applies to most bookings. During certain peak periods a three-night minimum may be required. One-night stays may be available by contacting the property directly, but do not book two nights intending to cancel one: the property charges for both.
How far is the Mangy Moose from Lake Superior?
Lake Superior is one block north, about a two-minute walk. The harbor, Artist's Point, and the shoreline walk are all within easy reach. The Ojibwe name for Lake Superior, Giche Gumee, is also the name of Room 2.
Do the rooms have air conditioning?
Most rooms do not have air conditioning; windows open. A small number of rooms and the Moose Hus apartment have AC. If air conditioning matters to your stay, confirm which room you are booking.
Does the Mangy Moose include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included. The coffee bar on property serves Fika espresso, a locally roasted Minnesota brand, and handles the morning. Downtown Grand Marais has several good breakfast spots within walking distance.
What is Grand Marais like as a destination?
Grand Marais is a small harbor town on the north shore of Lake Superior, two hours northeast of Duluth, with a disproportionately strong arts scene, independent restaurants, and direct access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The town has been quietly drawing painters, photographers, and writers for a century. The Gunflint Trail, a 63-mile road into the boreal forest north of town, leads to fishing, canoeing, and moose territory.
Does Mangy Moose Motel have a pool?
Mangy Moose Motel does not have a pool. Lake Superior is one block north.
Is parking available at Mangy Moose Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Mangy Moose Motel.
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Things to Do Near The Minnesota North Shore
Lake Superior
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
One block north of the motel, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. The Ojibwe called it Giche Gumee: big sea water. Grand Marais harbor, Artist's Point, and the shoreline walk are all within easy walking distance. The lake is cold, clear, and audible from the campfire on a still night.
Superior Hiking Trail
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
The 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail runs the length of the Minnesota North Shore. Grand Marais trailheads are within easy reach of the motel. The trail follows the ridgeline above Lake Superior through boreal forest, with lake views and backcountry campsites accessible the full length.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
30 miles, about a 60 minute drive.
The Gunflint Trail runs 57 miles inland from Grand Marais into one million acres of interconnected lakes along the Canadian border. Entry point outfitters operate in Grand Marais. The drive up the Gunflint is worth doing on its own.