Come Aboard Our Loon Pontoon!
Our Loon Pontoon, “The StewardShip,” provides a fun and informative tour of Cross Lake that includes respectful (and exhilarating) observation of loons as well as lessons about the actions we can take to conserve loons and freshwater ecosystems. There are plenty of activities and teachings aboard the Loon Pontoon to learn why and how to value the natural world we live in.
- Common Loon sightings
- Water quality & transparency testing activities
- Contribution via observation & documentation to our critical loon research
- An expanded knowledge of loons, freshwater ecosystems, the National Loon Center, the Cross Lake Recreation Area and Pine River Dam, and the history of the Whitefish Chain and Upper Mississippi Headwaters System.
- A refined or newly discovered passion for conservation ethics and stewardship of the environment
Details
Cross Lake Recreation Area
35507 County Road 66
Crosslake, MN 56442
Off-site parking information is included in your reservation confirmation email.
Thu – Sat
9 – 11 AM
Trips are two hours in length. Please arrive at the docks at least ten minutes early to check in.
Please bring confirmation of your reservation. Life jackets and binoculars are provided. Water, sunglasses, sunscreen, and motion sickness medication are encouraged.
Rain Checks
We are careful about our excursions on the water, and we take the weather seriously. When the forecast appears threatening, we may cancel trips due to heavy rain, thunderstorms or windy conditions. We will do our best to notify passengers of rain checks at least 24 hours in advance. The captain reserves the right to cancel any excursion due to unforeseen weather conditions up until the moment of departure or shorten an excursion for safety purposes. Use the buttons below to view the weather and wind forecasts in Crosslake to help plan your trip.
Reserve Your Spot
Programs
Loon Pontoon Tours
Thu-Sat | 9-11 am
Our floating classroom, the Loon Pontoon, provides a fun and informative tour of Cross Lake that includes respectful (and exhilarating) observation of loons as well as lessons about the actions we can take to conserve loons and freshwater ecosystems.
Junior Loon Biologist (Ages 7-12)
2024 program dates now available! Register below!
In partnership with the Crosslake Community Center, we’re excited to give youth an opportunity to learn what a day in the life of a biologist looks like, collecting real data on Common Loons on the Whitefish Chain to aid in conservation efforts! The free, two-hour program includes a fun educational trip on the Loon Pontoon departing from the docks at the Crosslake Recreation Area.
Loon Conservation Workshops
Sign up for these interactive workshops exploring loon research and diverse conservation methods aimed at protecting loon habitats, food sources, and nesting grounds. Two programs occur each month: a specialized conservation topic with guest experts and an introduction to loon surveys, providing hands-on training for statewide loon monitoring initiatives.
We’ll see you on the water!