Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota
February 5-9, 2026
Birding Tours in Minnesota
Do you want to explore the home of the Great Gray Owl? Venture to the black spruce and tamarack bogs in Minnesota’s famed boreal forest to search for northern owls, finches and more! Every birder should make the trek to the Bog during the winter!
Sax-Zim Bog Tour
Dates: February 5-9, 2026 (five days, four nights)
Cost: $2,150 per person double occupancy ($500 single supplement)
Guide: Peter Burke
Highlights:
Experience the Boreal forest in the winter!
Search for up to six species of owls, including the Great Gray, Boreal, Snowy, Barred, Northern Saw-Whet and Northern Hawk-Owl!
Winter finches including Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Redpoll, and White-winged Crossbill.
Other targets include Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, Black-backed Woodpecker and Ruffed Grouse.
Rocky Mountain Birding tours are small and fill quickly!
Book today! Please click on the button below and complete the simple form based on your birding interests. We will be in touch to walk you through your birding or wildlife adventure of your choosing!
Learn More:
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Included:
Guided birding for four days.
Lodging four nights in Duluth.
Meals beginning with dinner on the first night through breakfast on the final day.
Transportation including airport pickup and drop off where possible (the hotel is just 15 mins from DLH).
Optics – I will have a Kowa 99mm scope available throughout the tour.
NOT Included:
Flights to and from Duluth International Airport (DLH).
Lodging/Meals prior to or after the tour dates: Feb. 5-9, 2026.
Personal items such as alcohol with meals, laundry, etc.
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Thursday, Feb. 5
Arrive in Duluth, MN (DLH). Depending on your arrival time, I will pick you up at the airport or you can take a cab/Uber to the hotel that us just 15 mins. We’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and review our plans for the next three days.
Birding the Bog
Our routine for the next three days will begin with an early breakfast in the hotel so we can get on the road by 6AM. It's about a 45-min. drive to the outskirts of the bog, and we'll want to arrive in the first morning light to have the best chance to see a Great Gray Owl.
Once the sun is up, we'll drive through the bog, making stops at the visitors center, at feeders and in places where some of our target species have been seen. Depending on conditions, we may walk around a bit, or stick close to our vehicle.
We'll have an early lunch at a diner in nearby Cotton, then return to the bog for afternoon/evening birding.
Duluth has a nice variety of restaurants, and we'll sample one each evening as we rejoice over the day's sightings.
Monday, Feb. 9
Departures. I will provide transportation to the airport for your flights out of Duluth International Airport.
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