The Outpost Motel
2935 East Highway 61
Grand Marais, MN
Built in 1952 and still running. Rooms with Lake Superior picture windows, 18 wooded acres, and the Superior Hiking Trail accessible from the back door.
About The Outpost Motel
The Outpost Motel was built in 1952 on a stretch of Highway 61 eight miles east of Grand Marais, where Lake Superior narrows to fill the windshield and the North Shore gets quiet. The current owners acquired the property in 1990 and remodeled extensively while keeping the bones intact: knotty pine walls, hardwood floors, and picture windows facing the water. What they added was year-round operation, strong WiFi in an area with poor cell service, and four decades of owner-present hospitality that puts the hosts by name in review after review. The property covers 18 wooded acres with a creek running through the grounds and Lake Superior beach directly across Highway 61. The Superior Hiking Trail is accessible from the back of the property.
What The Outpost Motel Is Known For
The Outpost has held the top guest reviews ranking for lodging in Grand Marais for years, in a market that includes newer boutique competitors. The knotty pine walls and hardwood floors are original to 1952. The WiFi is stronger than the cell signal. The Superior Hiking Trail is out the back door. At this price point, in this location, the Outpost has been delivering on exactly what it promises since 1952, under owners who have made it their life's work since 1990.
Amenities
- WiFi
- 18-acre wooded grounds
- Superior Hiking Trail access from property
- Lake Superior beach access across Highway 61
- Kadunce River Wayside Park nearby
- Adirondack chairs with lake views
- Fire pit and picnic areas
- Playground
What Guests Love
- Classic 1952 exterior-access layout with no interior corridors: parking lot to room door, Lake Superior in the window.
- The Superior Hiking Trail is accessible directly from the back of the property, connecting guests to more than 120 miles of North Shore ridge trail.
- Lake Superior beach access directly across Highway 61.
- Kadunce River Wayside Park, with its waterfall-carved gorge and river loop, is a quarter mile east.
- Strong WiFi in an area with notoriously poor cell service.
- Original 1952 knotty pine walls and hardwood floors throughout.
Worth Knowing
- The Outpost does not allow pets, and the policy applies to vehicles on the property as well.
- Kitchenette suites and the loft apartment require a two-night minimum stay. Standard rooms book with a one-night minimum.
- The property is eight miles east of downtown Grand Marais on Highway 61. Cell service in this stretch of the North Shore is limited; the Outpost's WiFi is the primary connection.
- The beach is directly across Highway 61, which is an active two-lane highway. Traffic is generally light, but cross with care.
- The Outpost operates year-round. Winter draws dog-sled outfitter guests and cross-country skiers alongside hikers and paddlers.
The Room
Fourteen motel rooms in four configurations: queen room, two singles, two queens, and kitchenette suites with one or two bedrooms and full kitchens. The loft apartment is in a separate building with a full kitchen, living and dining area, one bedroom with two queens, and dual lake-and-forest views. All rooms have private baths, satellite TV, and coffee makers. Knotty pine walls and hardwood floors are original to the 1952 build. Standard rooms book with a one-night minimum; kitchenette suites and the loft require a two-night minimum. The Outpost is entirely non-smoking. No pets.
The Grounds
The Outpost sits on 18 wooded acres eight miles east of Grand Marais on Highway 61, with a creek running through the property and Adirondack chairs positioned toward Lake Superior. The beach is directly across the highway. Kadunce River Wayside Park, with its waterfall-carved gorge and river loop hike, is a quarter mile east. The Superior Hiking Trail is accessible from the back of the property, connecting guests to more than 120 miles of North Shore ridge and lake trail. Picnic areas, a playground, and a campfire area are on the grounds. Parking is free and on-site.
The Experience
The Outpost's owners are mentioned by name in review after review for a reason: eight miles east of Grand Marais on a highway with real cell reception gaps, the host relationship is the thing that makes the difference when a trail closes or a kayak trip needs rescheduling. The rooms are clean and honest, the lake is across the road, and the Superior Hiking Trail starts from the back of the property. In summer that means kayak launches, waterfall hikes, and BWCAW entry. In winter, dog sledding and cross-country skiing on groomed trails. The Outpost has been running this way, year-round, for more than thirty years.
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 The Outpost Motel have EV charging?
No, The Outpost Motel does not have EV charging.
Does The Outpost Motel have WiFi?
Yes, The Outpost Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Outpost Motel?
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 58 miles, about a 115 minute drive. Cascade River State Park: 20 miles, about a 40 minute drive. Tettegouche State Park: 70 miles, about a 140 minute drive.
How far is The Outpost Motel from Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
58 miles, about a 115 minute drive.
How far is The Outpost Motel from Cascade River State Park?
20 miles, about a 40 minute drive.
How far is The Outpost Motel from Tettegouche State Park?
70 miles, about a 140 minute drive.
Are pets allowed at the Outpost Motel?
The Outpost Motel is a pet-free property. Pets are not permitted in rooms or vehicles on the property.
How far is the Outpost Motel from downtown Grand Marais?
The Outpost is 8 miles east of downtown Grand Marais on Highway 61, about a 10-minute drive.
Is there a minimum stay at the Outpost Motel?
Standard rooms have a one-night minimum. Kitchenette suites and the loft apartment require a two-night minimum stay.
How close is the Superior Hiking Trail?
The Superior Hiking Trail is accessible directly from the back of the property, connecting guests to more than 120 miles of North Shore ridge and lake trail.
Can I access the Lake Superior beach from the Outpost?
Yes. The beach is directly across Highway 61, about 50 feet from the motel. The highway is an active two-lane road, so cross with care.
Is breakfast included at the Outpost Motel?
No, breakfast is not included. Grand Marais, eight miles west, has several breakfast and cafe options.
Does The Outpost Motel have a pool?
The Outpost Motel does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at The Outpost Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at The Outpost Motel.
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Things to Do Near the North Shore
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
58 miles, about a 115 minute drive.
The Gunflint Trail heads north from Grand Marais for 57 miles into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the largest roadless areas in the eastern United States. Grand Marais outfitters handle entry permits, canoe rentals, and multi-day outfitting packages.
Cascade River State Park
20 miles, about a 40 minute drive.
Cascade River State Park, about 20 miles west on Highway 61, offers the most accessible waterfall sequence on the North Shore, with the Cascade River falling nearly 900 feet through a series of gorges before reaching Lake Superior.
Tettegouche State Park
70 miles, about a 140 minute drive.
Tettegouche State Park, about 70 miles southwest on Highway 61, anchors the central North Shore with the High Falls of the Baptism River, the tallest waterfall fully within Minnesota, and Palisade Head, a 350-foot rhyolite cliff face above open Lake Superior.