Guides, shops and venues
Guide services, gear shops and venues in the Midwest and Great Lakes, A to Z. Listed from their public websites; they don't pay to be here and are never mixed into the communities.
All of the Midwest and Great Lakes · just Duluth and the North Shore · all regions · change
- American Birkebeiner Ski Foundationvenue · Skiing & snowboarding · Hayward, WI
Foundation that runs the Birkie Trail near Hayward, with ski events, fat bike rides and the Ski de She women's ski day.
- Cable Natural History Museumvenue · Walking groups · Hayward, WI
Natural history museum in Cable, north of Hayward, with naturalist walks, nature programs and family events.
- Chestnut Mountain Resortvenue · Skiing & snowboarding · Galena, IL
Ski area on the Mississippi bluffs near Galena with summer outdoor activities.
- Chicago Park Districtvenue · Walking groups · Chicago, IL
City park district with nature walks, paddling, outdoor programs and events across Chicago parks.
- City of Duluth Parks and Recreationvenue · Day hikes · Duluth, MN
City parks department running guided hikes, snowshoe outings, ski excursions and the Women Hike Duluth series.
- City of Marquette Community Servicesvenue · Walking groups · Marquette, MI
City parks and recreation department for Marquette's parks, trails and recreation programs.
- City of Winona Parks & Recreationvenue · Kayaking · Winona, MN
City department running Lake Lodge, with canoe, kayak, paddleboard, snowshoe and bike rentals and programs.
- Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Centervenue · Foraging & plants · Lanesboro, MN
Nonprofit learning center near Lanesboro with public foraging classes, guided astronomy hikes and climbing sessions.
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Parkvenue · Day hikes · Lanesboro, MN
State park southwest of Lanesboro with trout streams, hiking trails and guided Mystery Cave tours.
- Hartley Nature Centervenue · Walking groups · Duluth, MN
Nature center in Hartley Park offering naturalist walks, recreational programs, forest bathing and family events.
- Hawk Ridge Bird Observatoryvenue · Birding · Duluth, MN
Bird observatory on the Duluth hillside with public hawk-watch programs, bird walks and naturalist events.
- International Wolf Centervenue · Conservation volunteering · Ely, MN
Wolf education center in Ely with public programs and guided learning adventures in the northwoods.
- Loppet Foundationvenue · Skiing & snowboarding · Minneapolis, MNYouth
Minneapolis nonprofit at Theodore Wirth Park running ski, bike and trail running programs, lessons and community events.
- Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR)venue · Walking groups · Madison, WI
Madison public recreation department with seasonal outdoor programs, adapted recreation and youth activities.
- Marquette Mountain Resortvenue · Skiing & snowboarding · Marquette, MI
Ski area by Marquette that also runs guided summer kayak tours with ACA-certified guides.
- Matthiessen State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Utica, IL
Canyon and waterfall state park just south of Starved Rock near Utica, with hiking trails.
- Minneapolis Park & Recreation Boardvenue · Walking groups · Minneapolis, MN
City park board running nature programs, outdoor recreation and events across Minneapolis parks.
- Mount Bohemiavenue · Skiing & snowboarding · Copper Harbor, MI
Advanced-terrain ski area near Lac La Belle, south of Copper Harbor.
- Namekagon River (St. Croix National Scenic Riverway)venue · Canoeing · Hayward, WI
Site for the Namekagon River near Hayward, a paddling river in a national park unit with junior ranger and visitor programs.
- Root River State Trailvenue · Family & casual rides · Lanesboro, MN
Paved state rail-trail through Lanesboro along the Root River, popular for easy rides.
- Seed Savers Exchange (Heritage Farm)venue · Walking groups · Decorah, IA
Heritage farm near Decorah with public trails and garden and nature events.
- Starved Rock Lodge Guided Hikesvenue · Day hikes · Utica, IL
Historic lodge inside Starved Rock State Park that runs public guided hikes at Starved Rock and Matthiessen.
- Starved Rock State Parkvenue · Waterfalls · Utica, IL
State park of sandstone canyons and seasonal waterfalls near Utica, with park events and interpretive programs.
- Three Rivers Park Districtvenue · Walking groups · Minneapolis, MN
Suburban Hennepin County park district with nature centers, guided hikes, paddling, ski lessons and outdoor skills programs.
- UMD Recreational Sports Outdoor Programvenue · Kayaking · Duluth, MN
University of Minnesota Duluth outdoor program offering paddling, sea kayaking and climbing trips and courses open to the community.
- Winneshiek County Conservation Boardvenue · Walking groups · Decorah, IA
County conservation board running night hikes, fishing clinics, nature programs and parks around Decorah.