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.
Boulders Climbing Gymshop · Indoor climbing · Madison, WI
Madison climbing gym hosting events and community meetups such as Queer Climb Madison.
Broken Paddle Guiding Companyguide service · Kayaking · Winona, MN
Winona guide service leading daily guided kayak paddles on the Mississippi backwaters.
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.
Continental Ski and Bikeshop · Skiing & snowboarding · Duluth, MN
Duluth ski and bike shop serving the local nordic and cycling community.
Decorah Bicyclesshop · Mountain biking · Decorah, IA
Decorah bike shop with local ride info and an events page.
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Centervenue · Foraging & plants · Lanesboro, MN
Nonprofit learning center near Lanesboro with public foraging classes, guided astronomy hikes and climbing sessions.
Ely Outfitting Companyguide service · Canoeing · Ely, MN
Boundary Waters and Quetico canoe outfitter and guide service that also teaches backcountry travel skills.
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.
Keweenaw Adventure Companyguide service · Kayaking · Copper Harbor, MI
Copper Harbor guide and outfitter running guided Lake Superior sea kayak tours and mountain bike rentals and shuttles.
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.
Movin' Shoes Running Clubshop · Road running · Madison, WI
Madison running store hosting free weekly group runs, a women's group run and a Queer Run.
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.
New Moon Ski & Bikeshop · Skiing & snowboarding · Hayward, WI
Hayward ski and bike shop next to the Birkie and CAMBA trails that rents gear and sponsors local rides and events.
Nuts Outdoorsguide service · Kayaking · Galena, IL
Galena outfitter renting kayaks, paddleboards and e-bikes with guided Mississippi backwater paddles.
OFF The Driftlessguide service · Kayaking · Decorah, IA
Decorah-based kayak and canoe outfitter on the Upper Iowa River offering rentals, shuttles and adventure outings.
Piragis Northwoods Companyguide service · Canoeing · Ely, MN
Ely outfitter and guide service running guided Boundary Waters and Quetico canoe trips, including group trips.
Queen City Running Companyshop · Trail running · Marquette, MI
Marquette running store that hosts community runs such as an Earth Day plogging run.
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.
Skihutshop · Mountain biking · Duluth, MN
Duluth ski and bike shop that lists local group rides, clubs and community events.
Starved Rock Kayakingguide service · Kayaking · Utica, IL
Canoe and kayak rental and shuttle service for paddling near Starved Rock.
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.
Urban Kayaksguide service · Kayaking · Chicago, IL
Chicago River and lakefront kayak tours and rentals from the Riverwalk.
Vertical Endeavorsshop · Indoor climbing · Minneapolis, MN
Climbing gym chain with Twin Cities gyms offering intro classes and climbing programs.
Wateridersguide service · Kayaking · Chicago, IL
Guided Chicago River kayak tours and rentals.
Wilderness Inquiryguide service · Canoeing · Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis nonprofit running inclusive paddling, hiking and camping trips, including family and women-only trips.
Winneshiek County Conservation Boardvenue · Walking groups · Decorah, IA
County conservation board running night hikes, fishing clinics, nature programs and parks around Decorah.