Fall Foraging with Chef Lachelle Cunningham and MPR's Angela Davis

Overview

Discover the magnificent fall colors of Lake Superior’s South Shore on coastal and inland foraging hikes around the Bayfield Peninsula, with Twin Cities Chef Lachelle Cunningham and MPR host Angela Davis. Explore the beauty of the area, including hemlock forests, hidden waterfalls, and Lake Superior beaches while searching for nature’s foods. Spend your evenings learning, cooking, and sharing meals with Chef Lachelle and Angela Davis, emphasizing the connection between nature and nourishment. Enjoy the accommodations at Wilderness Inquiry’s Little Sand Bay base camp, just north of Bayfield, Wisconsin. This is a great trip for adults seeking a relaxed and meaningful exploration of the outdoors and natural foods amidst the autumnal beauty of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Sample Itinerary

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Your trip starts by meeting the group at the Wilderness Inquiry Headquarters in St. Paul. You'll enjoy a roadside lunch of roasted veggie and wild herb pesto wraps before arriving at Wilderness Inquiry's beautiful Little Sand Bay base camp. Orient yourself to the quiet North Woods on our 40-acre property and take a short hike to School Bus Rock. Get to know your guides and your hosts Chef Lachelle Cunningham and Angela Davis over a glass of wine and enjoy the crisp fall air together with a warm campfire and great conversation.

After breakfast and delicious coffee, learn the basics of foraging as you enjoy the beautiful fall colors while hiking above the National Lakeshore, admiring the sea caves below. After a lunch of grazing a charcuterie table, Chef Lachelle will share how to make healing tea blends from dried herbs that you can usually find in your backyard. The tea blends will support the immune system and seasonal allergies and promote relaxation or energy. You will incorporate what you’ve learned into your evening meal.

Building on what you learned, discover the healing benefits of plants during your visit to Houghton Falls and see why this area has attracted explorers for the last three centuries. In the late afternoon, discover hidden waterfalls at Lost Creek Falls before a hands-on workshop on processing your foraged finds. This is followed by an unforgettable dinner at base camp, where you will relax under a star-filled sky with your adventure companions for one last fireside chat.

Walk down and dip your toes in Lake Superior, taking in a final vista of the clear blue waters before traveling home. You’ll make a pit stop in Duluth to share a final meal (on your own) at a local restaurant.

Dates & Fees

2025 Dates	Fee	Registration
9/18-9/21/25	$995	Register Now

What to Expect

ACCOMMODATIONS: You will enjoy your stay at our Little Sand Bay base camp. At night, you will sleep in comfortable platform tents with cots. Typically, there are 2-3 people per 4-person tent (other arrangements can be made). Our Little Sand Bay base camp has very nice bathrooms and shower facilities with hot water.

ACTIVITIES ON YOUR TRIP: Your time will be spent hiking along Lake Superior. An average day’s travel consists of 2-3 hiking hours, depending on weather conditions. Travel distances vary from 2-4 miles each day.

MEALS: We’ll enjoy preparing our meals with Chef Lachelle and our host, Angela Davis. together using fresh, healthy ingredients for bountiful dishes. Rise to the smell of freshly brewed coffee to enjoy with your breakfast of veggie breakfast tacos, sweet potato hash with chickpeas and green scramble. We’ll pack picnic lunches with hearty snacks before heading off to explore. In the evening, we’ll prepare our dinner together over stoves and campfires, and then finish with s’mores or a glass of wine. IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, BE SURE TO LIST THEM ON YOUR REGISTRATION. Lunch on the last day is on your own and not included in your registration fee.

YOUR GROUP: We welcome people of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including people with disabilities. Our trips are cooperative adventures and people pitch in with camp chores as they are able.

MEDICATIONS: Please list all of your medications on your registration form. Consider bringing two sets of your medications: one set that can be kept with you, and another set that will be kept by your trip leaders. If you need assistance taking your medications, please explain on your registration form. Wilderness Inquiry will bring a collection of over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, Advil, anti-nausea, etc.).

CELL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES: You are welcome to bring cell phones and other devices like cameras, but they are your responsibility to take care of. You may have inconsistent cell service, so we encourage you to unplug! Wilderness Inquiry is not responsible for any lost or broken electronic devices.

SAFETY & EMERGENCIES WHILE ON TRAIL: All Wilderness Inquiry guides possess experience in administering First Aid, CPR, and Water Safety, carry fully-stocked first aid kits, GPS communication devices, and are trained on how to respond to emergencies while on trail. If a loved one is participating in a Wilderness Inquiry experience and you need to contact them due to an emergency, please call the Wilderness Inquiry main phone line at 612-676-9400. We will work to get in contact with trip leaders as soon as possible.

COVID POLICY: We continue to monitor and update our COVID-19 policies. Wilderness Inquiry strongly encourages everyone to be fully up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination and take other necessary steps for the health and wellness of all. We ask you to self-screen for any signs of illness before your trip’s departure. Please contact Wilderness Inquiry if you are exhibiting signs of illness. We will also continue to follow all guidance and requirements of locations that we travel, keeping in mind some international destinations do require vaccinations and/or negative COVID tests. We will update this policy as new information and guidance become available.

GROUP EXPECTATIONS: To facilitate a safe and inclusive environment where we can all come together as our true selves, feel supported, and enjoy the outdoors in community, we have developed community agreements that align with Wilderness Inquiry’s core values and brand promise. We ask that you review these before your adventure so you can help Wilderness Inquiry create an inclusive environment for all.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS AS WE ADVENTURE TOGETHER
☐ We are safety conscious so everyone can have fun!
☐ We seek to understand each other and celebrate our differences.
☐ We are curious, open-minded, and communicate respectfully.
☐ We are open to trying new things and pushing outside of our comfort zone.
☐ We support each other and collectively contribute to group tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Standard Meeting Places and Times

Start: Wilderness Inquiry Headquarters at 8:00 AM (local time)
End: Wilderness Inquiry Headquarters at 7:00 PM (local time)

Transportation

This trip begins at 8:00 AM at the Wilderness Inquiry Headquarters in St. Paul. The trip ends at 7:00 PM at the same location. Detailed meeting place directions will be sent to you when you are confirmed for the trip. Booking a flight? We recommend flying in the night before your trip to the Minneapolis St. Paul airport, and flying out from Minneapolis St. Paul after 9:00 PM.