A couple of hours from Minneapolis, Stout's Island offers rustic lodging, water sports, and regional cuisine.

Published on May 11, 2026

Credit: Courtesy of Stout's Island Lodge

The coziness of cabin life meets the whimsy of an island getaway—and it’s all tucked away in a historic resort on a private island in Wisconsin’s Red Cedar Lake in Birchwood.

About a two-hour drive northeast of Minneapolis, Stout’s Island Lodge , which opens for the season in May, offers 40 rooms, each with its own flair. From a converted screened porch with windows on three sides to a room with its own living room and wood-burning stove to a top-floor lodge room with period furniture, every space tells a story. Groups can also rent out cabins with multiple rooms.

Courtesy of Stout's Island Lodge

Courtesy of Stout's Island Lodge

Getting to the island is part of the fun: A ferry brings guests over from the Shore House once an hour, between 7:50 a.m. and 10 p.m.…