Be careful to read the fine print about payment if the lobby isn't open. Let my check for payment and they billed my credit card instead because I didn't pay in person. I've stayed here before and the accommodations are adequate, but they earned an extra $10 from me because they tossed my check payment. Poor customer service! And the person I spoke to kept calling me "dear." Common! read more

What a great motel! We were on the 2nd floor and the lake was beautiful even on a cloudy day. The room was nicely decorated and very clean. Super comfortable and it didn't break the bank. Next spring, we will definitely be back. Perfect location, perfect place to stay, and beautiful scenery. What more could you ask for? read more

My sister recommended this place as they stayed here a year ago. The check in process was nice and easy. The new owners (February) are very friendly. It is cabin style so no daily maid service and the room rate is a great value! There are plenty of towels in the room, a larger garage, and a good size mini fridge. No daily maid service necessary! Breakfast is free every morning-waffles, scrambled eggs, cereal, and a variety of toast, bagels and English muffins. Every room has a deck and an amazing view of The lake. The new owners seem to be invested as I noticed when we were checking out that a palate of new toilets had just been delivered. The location of this hotel is great. Close to fantastic hiking and less than 30 minutes from Grand Marais. read more

The Cliff Dweller on Lake Superior - View from our room - Hotels Near Me - Tofte, Minnesota

Our family stayed here for 2 nights October 17-18 during MEA also known as teachers state conference and all kids are off school. Grand Marais was all booked in September but there were openings here. A good feature is dogs are allowed for an extra $10 a night. Good luck finding boarding that cheap. Just be responsible and not leave your dog unattended. We arrived Thursday afternoon and were hangry as we could not find any restaurants from Two Harbors on. Front desk gave some suggestions in Lutsen and Tofte. The hotel is right on Lake Superior but on a cliff. Front desk said there is a foot path a tenth of a mile by Onion River. See gorgeous photos. The room is a motor hotel with door access from outside. The views to Lake Superior are nice and the sound of waves is cool. Room contained a small fridge and microwave. Wi-Fi was spotty and tv stations limited. Breakfast provided next morning consisted of scrambled eggs and potatoes one morning and biscuits and gravy the next. A bonus is the wayside rest park across the highway leads to a trail with a waterfall. This hotel is no frills amenities such as no pool, hot tub, exercise room but beautiful hiking nearby. Two nights with dog and taxes $345.00. read more

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What a wonderful surprise! We stayed for a long weekend to see the fall colors of the North Shore and I fell in love with the Cliff Dweller. It is a small little resort with only 12-15 rooms, but it is very clean, updated and the owners Michele and Todd could not have been more helpful and welcoming. Our room had everything we needed, a mini fridge, microwave, ice and vending machines were close by. Plus, we had a magnificent view of Lake Superior from our balcony. We will definitely be staying here again whenever we visit the North Shore. read more

Todd & Michelle are extremely friendly & warm hosts. We have visited twice with more to come. The staff is kind & accommodating & always there to help. The rooms are clean & comfy, the location is close to many North Shore adventures. It's also a great place to just relax. Every room looks out on the lake. They have contact-less check-in to add to our safety. We couldn't have asked for more! Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we have. Thank you Cliff Dweller for another spectacular visit. read more

Love this place! This is our second time here. We stayed with a group of friends and found that the accommodations exceeded our expectations and the owners were super friendly. They bent over backwards to be sure that we had everything we needed and provided excellent advice on local hiking, biking, and kayaking. We are already planning our next visit/reservations for next year! read more

The Cliff Dweller on Lake Superior - Our group had a wonderful time at Cliff Dwellers! - Hotels Near Me - Tofte, Minnesota

I have driven by the motel many times but this was our first stay. It is an older building but well maintained with charming knotty pine board walls and ceilings. Very comfortable bed and a great view of the lake all at a great price. The owners couldn't be more friendly and helpful. read more

Rarely do I get to stay at upper-tier hotels when I travel on business. I usually look for convenience in selecting, going with whatever is closest to my destination the next morning. Usually I'm at some Interstate motel, getting in late and leaving early. This makes for uninteresting stays, but I suppose I'm not getting paid to have a good time. And this was the case until I pulled a site in Lutsen, MN. A quick internet search turned up the Cliff Dweller, which was a Best Western affiliate at the time (now independent). I didn't look into the hotel other than seeing it was a mile and a half from the site, and the price wasn't outrageous. Even though the name is "Cliff Dweller" I didn't think anything of it - just another hotel. I was entirely wrong. The Cliff Dweller marked the first time in over four years of business travel throughout the Upper Midwest that I was blown away by a hotel. It was a hot summer day last year, and I had worked my way up from Madison on US 53 to Duluth/Superior during the day. I started up Hwy 61 and was making quick time as evening started to come on, and coming around a slight bend the hotel is suddenly there, screened by a stand of pine. I turned into the parking lot altogether too quickly and after gathering my wits noticed, "Hey, this place looks pretty nice." I walked into the lobby and was greeted by the desk clerk, the first person I had spoken with since lunch. She pulled up my reservation and pointed out my room. It was going on 8:00 PM and I asked about dinner options in the area. She directed me to back toward Tofte, saying that there was a selection of restaurants and cafes there. I walked over to my room to drop off my bags, and I was awestruck. I didn't even realize when booking my room that this hotel overlooked Lake Superior. It was beautiful. The patio door had been opened and a oscillating fan had been set to low. Air conditioning was definitely not required. I took the advice and drove down to Tofte for dinner, which was a great experience in itself. Coming back I thought I'd maybe check my email or watch a little television before bed. I did neither. I sat out on the balcony and waited for the sun to set, then went to bed with the patio door still open, the sound of the waves lapping against the cliff filling the room. I briefly turned on the television but quickly turned it off, realizing that a full moon was rising over the lake. I fell asleep to the moonlight reflecting off the waves. It was perfect. Several months ago I needed to make a return trip to my site in Lutsen, and I was excited about the prospect of staying at the Cliff Dweller again. The weather was not as cooperative this time, as it was gray and cloudy with a shower or two. However, any disappointment brought on by the weather was more than overshadowed by the friendliness of the staff. After dinner in Tofte again I returned and spent a good half hour talking with the manager, who said he was just interested in other people. The next morning was foggy, in fact unacceptable conditions for the purpose of my trip. I was upset, but not entirely. It only means that I'll have to return to Lutsen again. read more

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So I stayed in this hotel in 2002 when it was a Best Western. My friends and I were young and stupid, and kinda trashed the room and partied hard (cheap vodka will cause that). It was because of this I was a little nervous to book again when looking for a weekend up north, as I didn't want to run into my past self. Well, I'm glad I booked. This place is a real gem. Yea, the rooms aren't fancy, and the beds are a bit lumpy, but the staff is really friendly, and the location is fantastic. Every room is clean, has a great view, and sleeping with the door open listening to the waves crash is great. This place is perfect for those that don't want to blow the bank, but would still like a relaxing weekend up north. read more

The Cliff Dweller is adequate. It's nothing fancy, but it's close to everything and has a lovely view of Lake Superior from the balcony. Each room has a refrigerator and microwave, which comes in handy. The price is very affordable, which is probably what keeps people coming back. We were a little bummed that there isn't a coffee maker in the room. Also bummed that the breakfast is very subpar and uses all styrofoam and plastic for flatware/utensils. It's just off Hwy 61, so can be a bit noisy, too. read more

We visited in May, 2009. We chose the Cliffdweller because we wanted an affordable place to stay, as we explored the North Shore. We found the Cliffdweller via internet search. We pulled in, and realized there was road construction on the highway outside the motel. Uh-oh. Thankfully, the workers did not start until around 8 every morning, so sleeping in was not a problem. Even so, though, we did not hear the workers at all, even when we got up EARLY one morning to seek birds (we are avid birders), and returned late in the morning for a nap, before ocntinuing our explorations! The continental breakfasts are fantastic! Fresh fruit, bagels, English muffins with butter, peanut butter, jellies and the like. Also included were cereals, juices, and coffee. In the breakfast room, we were treated to a fantastic lake view, complete with birdfeeders. We saw Harris's sparrows, pine siskins, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows every morning. We don't get birds like that at home often! Speaking of lake views, the view from our room was amazing! We were treated to storms a couples nights we were there, and that was fascinating to watch. We greatly valued the free wi-fi connection, so we were able to surf the internet with our laptop in the evenings. And the provided toiletres were fantastic! Proximity to state parks is very nice, and there are many beautiful spots along the lakeshore to stop for photographs. When we asked for directions to various places, the owner was not only knowlegeable, but very accomodating. We will be back! read more

I love this place! Host and Hostess are very friendly and will go out of their way for their customers. Rooms are very clean and beds are comfortable. Breakfast is provided and wonderful. Prices are the lowest in the North Shore! read more

A very clean delightful place. Located right on the shore of Lake Superior. The view from your balcony is straight out across the lake. The waves hit the shore immediately below the balcony. The proprietors are a wonderful and engaging couple. You will be very happy here. read more

We were delighted with the hospitality provided by Michelle and Todd the new owners. They are extremely customer sensitive and made our stay "homelike". Obviously, we'll be staying with them each and every time we visit that part of Northern Minnesota. read more

For what it is... it's perfect. I have stayed here every winter at least once for the past 5 years. My buddies and I use it as a landing pad for a weekend of skiing at Lutsen. It is inexpensive, comfortable and has really amazing views of the lake from all rooms. For such a cheap price it has a microwave and fridge in each room as well. The owners are great. The continental breakfast is solid and it's super close to the hill. I can imagine it looks great in the fall with all the colors changing. I'll be back up there this winter. they have free wi-fi but make sure your room isnt all the way at the other end from the office, it gets a little dicey. read more

I was in a group of 7 motorcyclists touring Lake Superior. When we arrived to check in for the night we were treated like family. The rooms are decorated like little cabins and the view of Lake Superior is amazing. The owners (Michele & Todd) allowed us to gather in the dining room for cocktails and snacks after a day of riding and even joined us for some lively conversation. If you're ever cruising Hwy 61 on the north shore and need a place to stay, don't hesitate to stop at The Cliff Dweller. We'll definitely be back! read more

I absolutely loved this hotel - it has the atmosphere of a nice B&B. There is a fun sitting area with games and books, which overlooks Lake Superior. We ended up coming out of the BWCA a day early, and they were very accommodating and even arranged an early check-in so we could freshen up. The staff are very friendly and the rooms were clean and well-kept. The breakfast was wonderful as well. I just loved the atmosphere! I definitely plan to stay here again in the future! read more

I simply cannot say enough good things about this establishment. The owners are amazing and the views are breathtaking. We did not want to head back to the Twin Cities, but life goes on. We did some of the most amazing things that anyone could see or achieve in the State of Minnesota. Do yourself a favor a get up there. The drive is a haul, but well worth it. read more

Needed a place to stay at a moment's notice (we were in the car driving in that direction). They quickly found an open room for us, booked us over the phone and made sure to give us all the info we might need about our stay as well as how to get our keys since the front desk would be closed by the time we got there. Very lovely spotlessly clean room. Soft sheets, comfy bed, and beautiful lake view when we woke up. Breakfast was provided at no charge. It wasn't fancy, but there were a lot of options and it tasted good and we appreciated not having to get all packed up to check out before driving somewhere to get breakfast at a restaurant. Conveniently located right on highway 61 near Lutsen and easy driving distance to Grand Marais or Silver Bay. New owners are very friendly, rates are very reasonable and we look forward to staying there again. read more

This place was filthy. First of all, there were underwear left behind from a previous guest. There were many hairs in the sink and the tub needed a cleaning so badly we opted not to bathe. The water from the sink was yellowish/brown. The toilet did not flush well. The floors needed to be vacuumed as there was animal hair all over the floor. The framed art was streaked with greasy fingerprints and the railing in the deck dangerous for small children (which we were traveling with). The electrical outlets did not work to charge any of our devices unless we held them to the wall which leads me to think the electrical needs to be updated. The unobstructed view of Lake Superior was the only positive about this place. read more

This friendly, comfortable hotel is the best value I have seen in the area. I recently stayed here the night before starting a trip in the BWCAW, and it was a great choice. The rooms are comfortable, rusticly furnished, and each provides a magnificent view of Lake Superior. An excellent continental breakfast is served in a peaceful setting each morning. Kids will find this place boring, as will anyone looking for action & nightlife. But for anyone else seeking a pleasant, peaceful and restful place to spend a night or more you would be hard pressed to find a better place to stay. read more