Northwoods Wilderness Outfitters & Adventure Store

Owner Randy Gustafson takes paddlers and fishermen trips from 2 hours to over 3 days on the nearby Brule, Menominee, Pine, and Michigamme rivers.

An unusually wide variety of area outings is offered by Iron Mountain native Randy Gustafson. His extremely well-stocked outdoors store offers his favorite equipment for sale and sometimes to rent. For instance, there are Perception, Wilderness Systems, and Current Design kayaks; We-No-Nah and Mad river canoes; both high-tech and traditional snowshoes; camping gear for paddling and backpacking; bait, tackle, and extensive fly-fishing supplies; and an excellent selection of instructional guides.

The store carries a wide range of dogsleds, skijouring sleds, and related equipment, probably the only Upper Peninsula retailer to do so at this time.

Randy is a big believer in wool and fleece for outdoor clothes. It's quiet, warm, and extremely functions. He stocks an extensive line of Woolrich wool clothing.

Local advice on hunting, trapping, fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing is a big part of what locally owned outdoors stores have to offer. Check out www.northwoodsoutfitters.com for up-to-date fishing reports from guides, river conditions, and much more. Now Randy and Aaron Harper co-host a timely outdoors radio show Saturdays from 8 to 8:30 Central Time on WJNR 101.5 FM. It can be heard within a hundred miles of Iron Mountain.

Outings include:

• Kayak outings on the complex backwaters of river floodings. They use stable, fun kayaks, easy to fish out of and ideal for beginners because no lessons are required. Lessons are needed before sea kayak touring, with its more complex watercraft.

• Canoe trips on the Pine and Brule rivers, ranging from 3 hours to 3 days. Day trips have mild or mild to moderate current and no portages. Trips include drop-off, pickup, map, equipment, and notes on highlights. Small groups are encouraged to enhance quiet and opportunities for seeing and hearing wildlife.

• Fishing guides can be arranged for many species.

Reservations for trips are required. Weather may require canceling trips, with refunds. (The water and air temperature must add up to 100 for trips to be on.)

Randy has now branched out into manufacturing. His Northwoods Outdoors canvas gear includes shoulder bags, backpacks, and duffels. He bought out a company that made portable hunting blinds and ice-fishing tents, now also sold under the Northwoods Outdoors brand. Now it also makes photo blinds marketed by noted outdoors photographer Len Rue.

Just north of Iron Mountain at the intersection of U.S. 2/141 and Pine Mountain Rd. Prominent sign. (906) 774-9009. Open Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun 7-4 Central Time. From January into April open from 7:30 to 5 Monday through Saturday, 8 to 1 on Sunday. Handicap accessible.

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