Eliza W.recommendsNovember 7, 2022
Danny's Tent
Magical forest camp right in Duluth
I had a great stay in Danny’s Tent at the beautiful Balsam Ridge Retreat — a forested and truly lovely property. Once you get back into the woods by the pond you forget you’re right in Duluth! Linda and Chris have put all the most thoughtful touches into each site/rental and throughout the whole property to make it a magical experience. I had fun with the rocket stove, enjoyed hearing owl sounds in the woods at night, and hiked on the back trails (use their helpful map!). I was able to keep the tent warm with the wood stove until bedtime, but also appreciated the heated mattress pad in the November weather (this might be a seasonal feature). Good to be prepared for: as of this date there isn’t a place for food storage for the tenters, and it’s a bit of a walk to the car which is kept (safely) by the owner’s garage and house. The sawdust toilet setups are quaint and clean (as is the entire property in general). The overall vibe of this Hipcamp leans towards the social side, and would be a ton of fun for a group of friends or large family to rent out multiple spots here! I can see why other reviewers are repeat visitors. Linda and Chris have put heart and soul into every piece of their property, and I’m grateful they have made it shareable it in this way. Thank you!
Kristin K.recommendsNovember 6, 2022
Danny's Tent
In spite of the late hour, Chris and Linda were outside greeting us as we arrived and showing us to our accomodations. The paths were lit with strung up lights, making a warm and welcoming atmosphere. They had prepped our wood stove and all we had to do was light it and settle in! Danny's tent was absolutely perfect. The bed is very comfortable and the wood stove quickly warms up the tent. The porch with the clear awning and lights is filled with peace and joy. On the property you will also find what we call the "living room," a community gathering space. There is charm and awe in every corner of their land, and so much positive energy. While two nights was absolutely lovely, do yourself the favor of staying 3-7 nights. You could not possibly regret it!
Chris P.recommendsNovember 6, 2022
Gökotta (Swedish for "dawn picnic")
We had a wonderful weekend staying at Linda’s property! They are so welcoming and it was a joy to stay here again!
Che S.recommendsNovember 1, 2022
The Stuga
Linda and Chris were such kind and gracious hosts! Our visit was way TOO SHORT but we were grateful to be able to enjoy the quiet and peace of Balsam Fir Ridge, the outdoor gathering spaces - communal fire ring, cozy outdoor living room complete with a rock chairs, wood burning stove and piano, and fishing pond. We can imagine returning for fun any time of year to fish, hike, ski, ice skate and connect with each other and the beautiful land.
Mc Kenzie J.recommendsOctober 31, 2022
Gökotta (Swedish for "dawn picnic")
We loved our stay with Linda and Chris! The site was fantastic. You can truly tell they are so thoughtful with every detail of it. I would HIGHLY recommend!! We will absolutely be back!
Chris B.recommendsOctober 29, 2022
The Mini Coop
I loved staying in the mini coop! It’s super cozy and Linda and Chris’ land is magical. I loved hiking on the nearby trails. Would definitely recommend.
Emily R.recommendsOctober 27, 2022
The Stuga
Fall Camping
This is our third time at Balsam Ridge and our first time staying in the Stuga! I loved the other spots, but the Stuga really shines at this amazing property. The beds are warm and comfortable (perfect for winter and fall), and the cabin is well-stocked and so cute. We brought a few friends this time and they knew immediately why we'd been raving about Balsam Ridge! Chris and Linda, are, as usual, supremely gracious hosts and we look forward to our next stay.
Nick T.recommendsOctober 26, 2022
The Roost
A place of true rest and magic
What a beautiful and soulful place of rest and hospitality. This place has magic and Linda and Chris steward it with overflowing hearts of welcome and joy. From the moment we arrived, we felt so at home, and so welcome. Visiting with and getting to know Linda and Chris was a definite highlight. It's clearly evident that they've put much time and love into creating and maintaining this space. They are wonderful communicators and everything is laid out invitingly and clearly. This might honestly be one of my new favorite places in the world and I will most certainly be back before too long!
Amanda K.recommendsOctober 25, 2022
Gökotta (Swedish for "dawn picnic")
Gokotta at Balsam Ridge!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Gokotta canvas tent at Balsam Ridge and will definitely be back. Linda and Chris greeted us upon arrival and gave us a full tour of the property! The moment you enter the tent you can see that a lot of effort was made to make sure all of our needs were met. From having basic camping supplies to adding additional personal touches (like a hand drawn trail map) Linda and Chris thought of everything. We are already looking forward to our next stay!
Ben T.recommendsOctober 24, 2022
Danny's Tent
Swing and a Bliss!
We loved out time at Danny's Tent! It is wonderfully secluded while also having so many fun activities/amenities like rope swings, hiking trails, and a pond for fishing (and broomball in the Winter)! We can't wait to return!
Kelly W.recommendsOctober 24, 2022
Danny's Tent
What a gem of a place! My 14 year old daughter & I go to Duluth every fall & this year I wanted to stat somewhere different & unique and that is exactly what I found at Balsam Ridge Retreat! From the second we pulled in the driveway & were met by Linda and Chris, we immediately felt at home. Their passion & love for what they do truly shines through & is enough alone to make one want to return again & again. We stayed in Danny’s Tent for two nights. I enjoyed taking care of the little wood stove & keeping the tent toasty, we enjoyed wandering the trails, swinging on the big swing, cooking dinner of the rocket stove & most of all just relaxing in the tent and listening to the snow & rain fall. I am already looking at my calendar to figure out when I can go back again! & will bring more money f my family next time! Exceptional care, love & hard-work has gone into the property & it shows. See you again soon!
Amber R.recommendsOctober 24, 2022
Gökotta (Swedish for "dawn picnic")
Perfect Tent in the Woods!
Another special weekend away in the woods! My second time here was just as relaxing and special. Thank you so much for everything! Can’t wait to go back again next year!
Alex D.recommendsOctober 24, 2022
The Stuga
Charming place in the woods!
We loved staying at Balsam Ridge! Their Stuga is a delightful little house with all essentials. This retreat's location is perfect- just a few minutes from downtown and yet far enough to make this place quiet and comfortable. Chris and Linda are great hosts - they literally thought of everything a guest might need! We are so glad that we found such a special place!
Cecelia S.recommendsOctober 23, 2022
The Mini Coop
My boyfriend and I were in town for the weekend for a wedding and needed a last minute place to stay, and we couldn’t have lucked out with a better place, with better hosts. The whole property was absolutely beautiful, our Mini Coop was just what we needed, and the hosts are honestly some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I cannot recommended this place enough, we were so sad to leave! We will be back to stay in all the different sites, that’s for sure. So incredibly happy we found this place!
Roger B.recommendsOctober 21, 2022
The Mini Coop
One of our favorite places
This was our second time staying at the mini coop. It’s simply one of our favorite places to stay. So snug, so peaceful, we sit around the fire and ask ourselves if we really need anything more. The coop is very well insulated, and the portable heater heats up the small space quickly. Linda and Chris are the definition of gracious hosts. Highly recommend. We’ll be back,
Chin K.recommendsOctober 21, 2022
Danny's Tent
Getaway Success!
We loved staying in Danny’s Tent during our little getaway! It was the coziest stay we’ve ever had! The wood stove kept us more than warm during these fall nights and the vibes were immaculate. Not to mention the heated mattress pad, a definite plus! Linda & Chris were the sweetest and kindest hosts and made us feel right at home.
Jessica M.recommendsOctober 21, 2022
The Stuga
Balsam Ridge Retreat is the most magical, amazing, relaxing place! Chris and Linda are the perfect hosts and are so loving and welcoming! I recommend this place 100%!!
Kara P.recommendsOctober 18, 2022
The Mini Coop
Stay in the Mini Coop!
The most perfect "glamping spot" in Duluth. It feels like you are in the country. I stayed in the Mini Coop and it was perfect for one person. It even leads out to a trail that was fun to hike. Everything was very clean. You get your own porch and fire pit but they also have an area where everyone can go to have a fire, chat, or play piano. What made the most out of my trip was how nice the owners are. They are truly delightful people! I will definitely be back.
Jon A.recommendsOctober 10, 2022
The Mini Coop
This spot is easily one of the best run sites I've found on Hipcamp, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to stay in the Duluth area. You're in Duluth, but it feels like you're well outside of the city. The Mini Coop was a fun place to stay--clean, warm, and a great place to hang out and have a fire. I'll definitely be coming back next season!
Claire Z.recommendsOctober 9, 2022
Danny's Tent
This place is a gem- I couldn’t recommend any more! Every detail is intentional and unique and magical. Chris and Linda are the cherry on top with their enthusiastic welcoming nature. Staying at Balsam Ridge Retreat is a joyful healing experience!
Robert A.recommendsOctober 9, 2022
The Canvas Cottage
One of a kind camping experience!
We loved The Roost! It was so cozy and warm. It has everything you need and then some. The fireplace was incredible and the giant swing was a new experience. Linda and Chris were wonderful hosts and did everything to make our stay one to remember. We can’t recommend Balsam Ridge Retreat enough!
Jessica T.recommendsOctober 6, 2022
The Canvas Cottage
We loved our stay on Lisa and Chris’s land! The canvas cottage was the perfect mix of glampin and campin that we were looking for. The beds are cozy, the views are beautiful, and we loved cooking on the rocket stove. Chris and Lisa are the best hosts. Kind, authentic, and helpful! We can’t wait to stay at the Balsam Ridge Retreat again!
Pawel G.recommendsOctober 5, 2022
The Roost
Cozy Autumn Times
We had a super cozy time at the Roost! We especially loved the huge swing (just outside), the chiminea, which made for many nice fires, and the walking paths around the beautiful land.
The location is amazing — we enjoyed having time in nature and quiet, but with great access to restaurants, breweries, and other attractions just a short (~10 min) drive away.
Thanks for sharing this gem with us, Linda and Chris! We'll be back ☺️
Mark Y.recommendsOctober 5, 2022
The Stuga
Bird TV was great
Northwood seven minutes away from the city