A perfect glamping retreat awaits you at Rockhound Hideaway's Agate Grove Bell Tent. Situated on a private two acre lot with two other rentals and my private residence in the Ottawa National Forest, steps from the Black River, North Country Trail and a one mile walk to the Lake Superior Shore, this is an ideal getaway for those seeking the adventure of camping with the comforts of home. Fall asleep to the sound nature and wake up to deer passing by as you enjoy your morning coffee.
The space
This space is perfect for those looking for camping with frills! A great nature escape in a for hiking and raging spring waterfalls. Please make sure to read the entire listing so you don't encounter any surprises during your stay.
The tent is a 16ft diameter waterproof canvas tent with a center pole height of 11 feet, door height of 6ft and door width of 23". It is equipped with a two burner propane stove and water storage sink with grey water bucket that you will need to empty outside from time to time. You are responsible for bringing your own water from Labor Day to Memorial Day, whrn the tdmps are colder and unpredictable. In the warmer months, from MemorialDay through Labor Day, I provide a 5 gallon drinking water dispenser and additional drinking water containers are available for guests to help themselves to at the shared space, Kitchigami Commons in the summer.
The tent is heated with a wood stove and there is limited power at the tent for charging small devices. I provide two rechargeable lights. You are responsible for bringing your own additional lanterns, headlamps and flashlights for lighting. There is also a small buddy heater in the tent for back up heat if desired, BYO 1lb propane cylinders.
This tent is a perfect home base after a day of skiing, snowshoeing or winter fun. End the day with a toasty, relaxing sauna. If you are looking for an outdoor adventure with added comfort, this is for you! If you are looking for a stay with all the amenities and frills or for a very secluded and remote spot, you may want to keep looking.
There is a charcoal grill on the patio, BYO charcoal. You are expected to bring your own cooler/ice for food storage. Food is to be stored in the critter box provided or in your vehicle, not inside the tent.
There is a two stall outhouse about 200 feet away that is shared between your rental and my other off grid unit. To get to the outhouse, follow the path leading west (towards the road) and the structure with the white, slanted roof with two doors. The structure with the white slanted roof and two doors is the outhouse, you are welcome to use either stall.
INFORMATION FOR WINTER GLAMPING
Once the temps drop to freezing, the solar shower will not be accessible. I provide a stainless steel 5 gallon water tank that sits on your wood stove to keep drinking/cooking water warm, however I do not provide water, byo water. During the colder months there is a wood burning stove for which I provide firewood at no cost, and a propane heater for back up heat, which I do NOT provide propane for free. BYO 1lb propane cylinders for the buddy heater. I will provide blankets, but please bring appropriate clothing for your stay. I recommend paying attention to the weather in the winter and planning your stay accordingly. Bringing your own heaters will not be allowed to prevent fire hazards. The path to the tent is about 200 feet long from your parking space and will not be shoveled, rather a packed down trail from snowshoes. I cannot guarantee I will be able to pack down the trail for you immediately after every snowfall, but I do provide two sets of snowshoes for your use should you want to use them. You will also be expected to shake the snow off of the tent from the inside by knocking the roof with your hand and expected to shovel your own door/deck space during your stay in the event of snow. I do provide a shovel. If I see there is a heavy snow load that has not been addressed, I will need to come down and remove the snow from the outside of your tent.
There is a private changing/shower room with a solar shower inside. The solar shower holds 5 gallons and temperature will depend on the available sunlight. If the temps are freezing, the solar shower will not be available. In the winter months, I leave a bucket toilet in the shower room for closer access to a bathroom for overnight use. If you choose to use the bucket toilet in the colder months, you are responsible for adding saw dust mixture before and after each use and following disposal instructions in the outhouse.
Dogs may not be left unattended in the tent due to bark noise potential and damage to the tent should they get anxious there alone. Please plan to take them with you when not there. Cold Iron Brewing in Ironwood is a dog friendly spot in town that allows outside food if you are looking for an in town adventure. If you need lodging where you can leave your pup while you are away, please look at my other two rentals on the property
Wood-fired Sauna! I am sharing the wood-fired Finnish sauna I built with my guests. It is $10 per guest, per stay to use and requires reservation outside of the public sauna hours of 4-6pm daily. Bring your own towels. There is a full sauna instruction manual in your tent. During sauna use is the ONLY time you may leave your pets unattended in the tent. This is only under the assumption that they are non-destructive and will not bark or cry in your absence. If so, you will need to return to your tent, skip using the sauna, or book one of my properties that you can leave your pets in unattended.
Please note there is no cell service and that though there is wifi, it can be spotty. You will be able to receive/send texts, but likely not make phone calls or zoom calls. If you want to watch movies or listen to music, I recommend downloading before your trip, however the birds, wildlife and waterfall in the background are a music all of their own!
Guest access
The entire Agate Grove area is private for your use. You may encounter other guests at the shared outhouses, on your walk to the vehicle, down to the waterfall on the back of the property, or at Kitchigami Commons, which is the three walled concrete structure with the clear roof a short walk towards the road from your tent. Kitchigami commons outdoor space is intended for all guests to use who care to mingle. It has a outdoor fireplace, playing cards, yard games and two lake tubes for guests to take out and enjoy on the lake and is where I store extra firewood and extra water in the warmer months. Please help yourself to the water tubes, just return them to the Commons when you are done. (Kitchigami Commons is the yellow concrete structure visible towards the road, there is a path from your tent to it... it is also where we cook down our sap and turn it into maple syrup during mapling season!) I am still making improvements to the Commons to provide a more enjoyable shared space, but you are welcome to use it, explore it and access the floaties and games.
Sauna Hours & Rules:
$10 per guest, per stay charge for the sauna to help offset the time/cost of firewood. Did you use the sauna several times? Or just appreciate the effort I put into building it and splitting wood? Feel free to donate extra to the cause!
Pay via the airbnb app prior to use, or leave cash or check in your rental until upon checkout.
Open 8:30am-10:30pm.
Closed for cleaning from 3-4pm daily.
Open to all guests on property from 4-6pm.
-You may not make a private reservation from 4-6pm, but you are welcome to use it! Other guests may also be using it at that time. Clothing optional during private reservation times, bathing suits required during open hours.
Open for private reservations from 8:30am-3pm and 6pm-10:30pm.
If you would like to reserve a private time for the sauna, please visit the sauna and reserve your time on the reservation calendar.
Please be respectful of other guests and do not overstay your reservation.
All minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Use by minors is at the discretion of their guardian.
Each party is allotted 90 minutes for private sauna use per day. 30 minutes to start the fire and heat the sauna, 1 hour maximum in the sauna for safety (this includes your time to dress and exit the sauna). Please be out of the sauna space at the end of your reservation to be respectful of guests arriving for the next reservation.
Use at your own risk.
Consult your physician or do not use the sauna if you are pregnant or have any health condition that could be problematic with high heat.
No alcohol permitted in the sauna. No using the sauna when intoxicated. If you feel dizzy or light-headed, get out immediately.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after the sauna.
ALL surfaces in the sauna will be hot to the touch! Pour water on the benches before sitting down to reduce surface heat. All parts of the wood stove will be EXTREMELY HOT to the touch. Do not touch any part of the wood stove when it is hot. Use the welding gloves provided to open the stove door.
There is paper, kindling, and some firewood inside the changing room. More wood is stacked outside the changing room door under the black plastic. Please keep cover on wood to help keep it dry.
A blue barrel with water will either be outside the sauna entrance or in the changing room, depending on the outside temperature. This water is for your bathing use in the sauna. There are a couple smaller buckets in the sauna you can fill from the blue barrel.
To start the fire, open the drawer under the stove door a few inches before building the fire in the main compartment. That drawer helps allow more air into the fire box. Once the fire is going well, close the drawer most or all of the way. Do not set anything on top of the stove. From my experience, it takes 30 minutes to get the sauna hot. Get the fire going and fill with wood, check it again in 15 minutes to add more wood, then return 15 minutes later to take a sauna, it will be plenty warm to enjoy.
Make sure the door to the sauna room is closed or it will not heat as efficiently.
There is a drain in the sauna under the stove, but with heavy water use, it can pool on the floor. If you notice pooling when you are done, please use the floor squeegee provided to help push it towards the drain.
When you are done using the sauna, please sweep excess water towards the drain, push the stove drawer all the way in, close all doors, and turn out the light on your way out.
Sauna location:
The Sauna is the tall dark brown building with lots of windows on half of it. The windowed side is the sunroom/my office, it is still under construction. The side without windows is the sauna.
To get to the sauna, follow the string of lights, which begin at the common area and end at the sauna. The lights will remain on during open hours and shut off automatically at closing time.
Thank you for enjoying this space and let me know if you have thoughts on ways I can make this more enjoyable or the instructions more clear!
Other things to note
There is no cellphone reception. Some phones can pick up reception 3 miles up the road at Conglomerate Falls parking area. I do offer my wifi but it is limited and it does not always work so please download videos/music prior to arrival, or just enjoy the lack of communication with the outside world!
Upon check in, please take a moment to read the instructions for further details about the property.
All of my rentals are pet friendly. At your private space you are welcome to have well behaved pets off leash as long as they are under your supervision and control at all times. Please do not let them approach other guests or pets off leash. When on shared parts of the property please keep your pets leashed at all times. Please pick up any poop in common areas or on trail.. otherwise leave it, you're in nature! In the tent however dogs may not be left unattended due to bark noise potential and damage to the tent should they get anxious there alone. Please plan to take them with you when not there. Cold Iron Brewing in Ironwood is a dog friendly spot in town that allows outside food if you are looking for an in town adventure. If you need lodging where you can leave your pup while you are away, please look at my other two rentals on the property
Rockhound Hideaway is 420 friendly for 21 and up. No Cigarettes indoors. Woman owned. LGBTQ+
