With the NW Angle Guest Ice Road Closed, Travel Options up to the Angle
2022 NW Angle Guest Ice Road is Closed. Have you ever heard the saying, “Mother Nature is in control.” Well, she is. The announcement was made after a huge effort by Points North Services to create another ice road to the NW Angle this year. After the ice blew up in many areas, had natural expansion cracks in others and a ton of snow, an effort was made to reroute the entire ice road. The point finally came, as announced on the Northwest Angle Guest Ice Road Facebook Page on January 27, 2022 to discontinue efforts for the 2022 NW Angle Guest Ice Road.
With that being said, there are a variety of ways to travel up to the NW Angle.
- Drive through Canada
- Snowmobile up via the groomed and marked snowmobile trails on Lake of the Woods
- Lake of the Woods Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake)
- Lake Country Air
What is needed to drive through Canada to the NW Angle. There are some criteria travelers must have in order before traveling however. First, a traveler must download the ArriveCan App. Second, a traveler must be double vaccinated and upload their vaccination card into the app. Finally, a traveler must have a PCR or molecular COVID test showing a negative test result within the past 72 hours of taking the test.
There are a myriad of PCR / Molecular COVID testing options. Ideally, a traveler would get a PCR or Molecular COVID test near their home before they cross the border. Usually, this takes 27-36 hours to get results. This cuts it close and makes some nervous. Rest assured, if for some reason test results were not received on your smartphone in time or even while you are traveling up, there are a couple of rapid test options near the border. These solutions are super easy and although there is a fee, the convenience and opportunity to turn in the receipt to your insurance company for possible reimbursement make them attractive.
Thankfully, there are options available as long as you know where to find them. Here are a few…
PCR COVID Test in 30 minutes, Thrifty White, Baudette, MN. How convenient. For $100 (which you can turn your receipt into insurance for a possible reimbursement), you can have a result in 25 minutes. This testing option provides a PCR test result which satisfies the Canadian qualification for entering the country. Turn your receipt into your health insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Thrifty White is open for testing Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm.
Quick Results, LLC in Warroad, MN. This is a new private testing company that was created out of need. It has grown to six different locations throughout Minnesota including Warroad, Bemidji, Becker, Brainerd, St. Cloud and International Falls. If you are near or traveling through one of these locations, this could work out great.
With test results less than 30 minutes for a COVID PCR test that works to travel through Canada, this is an easy solution. The tests are $125 but you will receive an itemized receipt that most are turning into their insurance companies for reimbursement. The testing facilities are open 7 days a week.
Amazon. Yep, this isn’t a typo. Amazon offers COVID test that meets the requirements for Canada. This is a PCR test that you order through Amazon to your home. It is a nasal test with no supervision, such as a Zoom call, necessary. Includes prepaid UPS next-day shipping to lab at no additional cost. Drop off your sample at UPS within 24 hours from collection. Receive results within 24 hours of your sample arriving at the lab.
MN Department of Health Walk In Testing. MDH has many walk in testing options available throughout the state of Minnesota. Both residents and non residents are allowed to use walk in testing locations. You will be asked for your insurance info and but if insurance does not cover it, there is still no cost to you. These are normally a saliva test and results are received 24 – 48 hours after you take the test. This can make things a bit tight with a 72 hour window but certainly doable.
MN Department of Health No Cost Test at Home Program. Minnesota and various other states offer no cost COVID test at home options. Basically, you order a COVID test kit and do a Zoom call with someone who oversees your saliva testing process. Results are emailed typically in 48 hours or less. The brand name of this test is Vault and there is a question when signing up that asks if you are using this test for travel. If you reply yes, the cost is $119. If you reply no, the test is at no cost. 
Driving back through Canada on your return trip. There is no requirement for a new COVID test when leaving the NW Angle to travel south back to the U.S. Travelers still need to check by contacting CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) as they always had to do. This can be done at Jim’s Corner or by calling the 1-888-CAN-PASS number and updating your ArriveCan App as CBSA will ask for that info.
Travel to the Angle and avoid the border. There are three viable ways to travel up to the NW Angle and avoid the border all together.
- Snowmobile up. There a couple of different snowmobile trails that are groomed and staked that keep you in Minnesota by going across Lake of the Woods.
- Lake of the Woods Passenger Service. This is a service that transports you up to your favorite NW Angle resort via bombardier across Lake of the Woods. Sit back and enjoy the scenery!
- Lake Country Air. This fly in service will fly from a few different locations on the south end of Lake of the Woods across the lake up to the NW Angle. The plane lands on the ice runway. This 15 minute flight is scenic, easy and quick.
The NW Angle is an absolute premier ice fishing and snowmobiling destination. In today’s age of COVID, it might take a bit more effort to get there, but for most, it is well worth the effort!
General info about Lake of the Woods
