Entire cabin

White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.

White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.

Photo gallery for White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.

White Pine Retreat
Dining turret overlooks pristine Lake Gegoka
Your perch on the lake bluff
Lake
"Rustic" wetland boardwalk to canoe and kayaks access (not swimmer friendly)

Overview of White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.

Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 498 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Enjoy the area

Map
Isabella, MN
  • Popular LocationSuperior National Forest1 min walk
  • Popular LocationLake Gegoka11 min drive
  • Popular LocationTettegouche State Park41 min drive
  • AirportEly, MN (LYU-Ely Municipal)43 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Loft bedroom

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Sun Porch

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only · Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.

White Pine Retreat is a cozy log cabin overlooking a small, quiet lake in the heart of Superior National Forest. It’s just 8 miles south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate experience with nature, you’ve found your destination. Several century old white pines grace the property and wildflowers surround the open space around the cabin.

Enjoy a campfire at night under a canopy of brilliant stars. Wander down the hillside path and across a "rustic" wetland boardwalk (Please see photos) to access the canoes and kayaks on pristine Lake Gegoka. Be aware that the waterfront is not swimmer friendly and the long rustic boardwalk isn't appropriate for those with challenged mobility, but you can slip the boats from the wetland, past wild rice stands to explore this peaceful lake. Enjoy a leisurely paddle or toss out a fishing line. Speedboats and jet skis are out of character here. You can also load a canoe on your car top (pads and tie downs provided) to explore other peaceful area lakes or do a day trip in the BWCAW. Drive, hike or bike the many nearby forest and old logging roads in search of scenic lakes, overlooks or maybe a rare glimpse of moose or wolves. In the winter, the Flathorn/Gegoka cross country ski trails and snowshoe opportunities are right out the door; no driving required. Book your get away now while there is still vacancy.

Flathorn Lake (connects to Gegoka) is just a couple of minutes away and features a very scenic hiking trail around it and a picnic area with water pump, grills, tables and a well-maintained vault toilet. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic or taking a dip at the swimming beach.

26 km of beautiful, wilderness cross-country skiing right out your front door. No need to drive - just put the skis on and get to the beautiful Flathorn-Gegoka ski trails. https://www.flathorngegokatrails.org/

Inside, enjoy a cup of hot coffee and panoramic lake view from our unique dining turret. Relax with a book in the sun-room or screened porch. Spend an evening in the warm glow of the living room’s custom wood stove. The living, dining and well equipped kitchen area are open design with high ceilings. The log walls and wood paneling keep it cozy and inviting. In the summer try an outdoor shower under the stars.

Want some more to explore? Lake Superior's North Shore is only about 30 minutes away and provides many opportunities for day trips, including Split Rock Lighthouse tours, the Superior Hiking Trail and some of Minnesota's most popular State Parks. It's a great place to cool down on a warm day and grab a bite to eat or a special souvenir. Ely is a 45-minute drive and has a variety of good restaurants and unique gift shops. This lively little town is the jumping off point for Boundary Waters Canoe Area trips and has some great attractions for rainy or sunny days. Both the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center are great places to learn about 2 of the areas wild residents. The Soudan Mine tour is a fascinating look back in time to 'hard rock' underground mining on the Range in the early 1900's. We also have several guide books at the cabin, as well as secret tips for enjoying this area.

Property manager

Joe & Gina Boll
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Up to 2 dogs - $50 stay (not per dog)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Occupancy limits are set by our county. If you exceed the maximum number of guests listed, you will be asked to leave without a refund.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Isabella

Located in Isabella, this cabin is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling.
Map
Isabella, MN

What's nearby

  • Superior National Forest - 1 min walk
  • Lake Gegoka - 11 min drive
  • Tettegouche State Park - 41 min drive
  • Palisade Head - 50 min drive
  • Black Beach - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • Knotted Pine Inn & Tavern - 2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is White Pine Retreat - A true wilderness retreat. located?

Offering ski-in/ski-out access, this cabin in Isabella is situated on a lake, 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Superior National Forest, and is convenient for winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Lake Gegoka is 7.1 mi (11.5 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 148 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 17 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 171 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 171 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Needs more truth in advertising
This was our third January trip to northern Minnesota, and the first time at the White Pine Retreat. There are lots of nice things about this cabin: the location is outstanding; the interior of the cabin is pretty; the wifi worked; the kitchen was nice. On the other hand, in winter, the cabin is cold. The floor heat does not help much, and you have to keep a fire going in the wood-burning stove in order to keep warm. The owners know this. The instructions in the house say "It gets cool in the back rooms and sometimes in the turret. Use the space heater or blankets if needed." Our biggest surprise was to get this message from the host four days before our arrival: "Winter Guests - The driveway has a steep dip which makes it unwise to navigate in the winter. Instead you are welcome to park at the National Forest Lodge and follow the short path to the cabin." How does one get one's stuff from the National Forest Lodge parking lot to the cabin? Inside the cabin, there are laminated instructions: "In winter, park at the National Forest Lodge and use the sled to transport your supplies to the cabin." In the end: 1) $250/night is too much to pay for a place with poor heating and poor access. 2) these are deficiencies the owner clearly knows about and acknowledges--but only after you've booked your stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Here for the holiday!
Our second Christmas at this cabin! We brought our tree, lights, presents, and enough food to last us several days. Because there was no snow and we found slushy ice on Gegoka, we drove to nearby hiking trails—all lovely. The kitchen is well-provisioned with spices, herbs, pots and pans and the bookshelves are loaded with terrific wildlife resource books. This cabin has one of the best wood stoves we’ve experienced. Despite gloomy, rainy days, we had a good stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

jake s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great log cabin
Awsome cabin to stay at with all the amenities. Boardwalk to the lake is cool. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Tasha M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Dog friendly
Overall not bad stay if you want to be close to Lusten and have dogs. It had everything we needed to make dinner and things for the dogs. I would stay here again if they update the furniture. The bed and couch was uncomfortable and old. Tv and couch is position in an awkward spot.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

William R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fall 2023
Great place!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Joe & Gina Boll

Host profile image
The owners, Mike and Joan, live in St. Paul, the best small Big City in the U.S. Joan is a nurse and Mike is a hydrologist. We’ve raised boys and now dogs. We love the outdoors – biking, skiing, camping, hiking, and so on. But we love the city too – theater, music, fine food, and more. Our home and our cabin epitomize the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in us. -Mike & Joan, owners

Why they chose this property

Minnesota’s Arrowhead region - the BWCAW, Lake Superior, the region’s history, wildlife, forests, geology, and so much more. We were lucky to find this property. Century old pine trees on a quiet lake within miles of all the Arrowhead has to offer. And great neighbors to boot. To not take advantage of that opportunity would have been foolish. -Mike & Joan, owners

What makes this property unique

You can’t build a structure in a wilderness area without impacting the area. But we hope this cabin minimizes that impact while allowing access to all the area has to offer. If you have been to this part of the state, you don’t need us to tell you what is unique about the area. If this is your first visit, you are in for the treat of your life. We think our cabin will enhance your experience. -Mike & Joan, owners

Languages:

English

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