Cedar Valley Resort
Open Year Round!
Welcome to beautiful bluff country…
Cedar Valley Resort offers 11 beautiful log sided cabins built between 2001 and 2014 that accommodate anywhere from 2 to 37 guests. For vacations, business retreats, church events, family reunions and everything in-between, our cabins and 30 acre resort property in beautiful bluff country offer a perfect getaway.
With the Root River State Bike Trail winding through our resort and the Root River running alongside, there is no better access to biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, tubing and fishing. We are located an hour southeast of Rochester, Minnesota and just 5 minutes from Lanesboro, Minnesota (one of America’s Prettiest Towns according to Forbes Traveler).
Enjoy the unspoiled natural splendor of the Root River Valley right from your cabin porch. The wildlife is abundant with bald eagles, deer, wild turkey, song birds and in the evening, you will hear the owls hoot and the coyotes howl.
Book your next vacation, family reunion, friends’ weekend, conference or group retreat with us today! Cedar Valley Resort offers the perfect setting and accommodations for a relaxing, scenic and memory-filled getaway all year long!
Accolades“#1 Top Minnesota Winter Cabin Getaways” by Resorts and Lodges
“2024 Best of the Best – Rentals” – by Bluff Country
“2023 Best of the Best – Event Center” by Bluff Country
“2022 Best of the Best – Lodging & Vacation Rental” by Bluff Country
“#1 Top Minnesota Team Building Resorts” by Resorts and Lodges
“2021 Best of the Best – Lodging & Vacation Rental” by Bluff Country
“Best of Minnesota – 2015” by Star Tribune
“The Best of the Midwest – 2013” by Midwest Traveler
“Operators of the Year – 2013” by Minnesota Resort and Campground Association
Family Owned and Operated!
John, Brittany, Cooper, Oakley, and Tucker Smith
What our guests say…
We had a wonderful stay at the resort. I can’t recommend it enough! Was there for Owl Festival weekend.Lots of bird feeders set up at the cabin too!
10!!!! We have had our family Christmas several years at Cedar Valley and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. From the beautiful spacious cabins to the beautifully decorated Christmas trees to all the amenities this resort offers. Highly recommend to anyone that wants a family retreat! Langes
We have coming to Cedar Valley for the last 22 years. Never are we disappointed. The staff are so welcoming and perfect accomidations. We always can hardly wait to come back.
We received a weekend stay as a Christmas gift and got around to using it on the weekend of 12/6-12/8. We stayed in the Moose cabin and it was big, clean, and decorated for Christmas!! It was beautiful, the kitchen was fully stocked with anything you would need. Since we came at kinda a weird time there wasn’t much to do (snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc.) so instead we went on a 5 mile walk on the Root River Trail and it was beautiful. The property is great and the staff were helpful, nice, and personable! We are already planning on coming back in either the summer months or more into the winter. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a relaxing get away!
Can’t say enough about how accommodating Cedar Valley is to is customers. We hade family emergencies come up and they did everything in their power to work with us to make our trip work out with little stress to our already stressful situation . The staff are so welcoming we feel like a part of their family. Kudos to this wonderful family look forward to next year.
My wife and I had a small wedding of about 30 people at the Retreat Center. Our group stayed in the Moose, Whitetail and Wolf cabins. The Cabins and Retreat Center were close to each other making it easy for people to prepare for the ceremony. Both the cabins and Retreat Center were well appointed and the layout and size of the Retreat Center was perfect for our celebration. Working with the owners and staff was a pleasant experience through the entire process. Would definitely recommend.
Come for the fresh air and beautiful outdoors; stay for the friendly staff that goes out of their way to help. The operation is well organized and makes for a stellar family vacation. I recommend Cedar Valley Resort.
My sisters and I had our yearly trip at Cedar Valley Resort and had an awesome trip. Everything we needed was right there. From renting bicycles to getting kayaks, and paddle ball equipment. Brenda was so very patient with us even when one of us was a tad hard headed. The only issue we had was getting the firepit going. But we had the nicest neighbors that provided us with what we needed to get it going. This is an awesome place to gather and have a great time. Highly recommend this place.
Cedar Valley more than exceeded our efforts our daughters wedding celebration! We had the retreat center for the entire weekend to host 80 family and friends. The cabins and grounds are so clean, spacious and a natural fit with the surroundings. Accommodating the kids wishes to have plenty of outdoor activities was no problem here! They enjoyed the horseshoes, pickleball, whiffle ball, kayaking, bike riding, fire pit and a big bags tournament to top off the weekend.I have to say the highlight was seeing everyone having such a great time. This was in large part due to the exceptional owners/staff! They were there to help make our weekend run as smooth as possible. From helping find a mechanic for an engine light that came on to making sure electronics were in place for the “big game” on the big screen, their hospitality is unmatched! Thank you Cedar Valley for making our weekend the best!
I recently stayed here (Sept 3-5, 2024) with a biking group. I rented an e-bike for the first time and it was great! John helped me with it and was also very helpful with other aspects of the cabin. The rest of the staff we saw were also very friendly. We had a group of 16 and stayed in the Northwoods Lodge. It was clean, well supplied, and roomy. Just sitting outside was very enjoyable as well as using the bike paths. We all loved the location and the facilities and have already booked for next year. Not sure why a saw a 2 star rating for this wonderful place.
The unit we rented for a family reunion, Northwoods East and West, was the best! Perfect layout, so comfortable, encouraged different family groups to meet. It is so clean, modern, well kept. Beds were comfortable, quality furniture. Staff were so helpful. We did the river tubing with a large group, what fun. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
We’ve been going to Cedar Valley for 11 years with a large group of college friends and their families. The resort area is beautiful and has lots of open space and amenities for guests to enjoy. The spaces are always fresh and clean and the staff is so incredibly responsive. It’s a great spot for large groups and has amenities that appeal to all ages and abilities.
We have been going to Cedar Valley Resort for our family reunion for 10 years now. It’s located in a beautiful area known for biking trails, pie shops, and tubing the Root River. The Resort’s owners are amazing. They strive to give their guests a special time. We’ve stayed in Big Timber, where our numbers have ranged from 17 to 27 over the years. It’s a safe place for kids to run and play. They now have a pickleball court which was a plus for our family.
Family vacation. Everything was wonderful. The owners are great. Space was super clean and fresh. We already are trying to figure out when we can go back.
Ampersand Families is a small nonprofit organization based out of Roseville, MN that serves older youth in foster care. Our contract allows us to host 3 retreats for our families every year, and our spring retreat was held at Cedar Valley Resort. The weather was a bit chilly but the youth still had a great time biking on the bike trails, playing lawn games, and using their imaginations on the playground. There was plenty of space for them to run around and play flashlight tag and ghost in the graveyard too. All of our meals were hosted in the Retreat Center. We got catering and deli food delivered from the local restaurants/grocery stores, and we served it out of the kitchen. The kitchen was gorgeous and had everything we needed (and more!). It was a beautiful space to eat, socialize, and set up crafts.There was a fireplace in every building, including the Retreat Center, and a firepit and grill outside each as well. We had a campfire one evening to roast our own hot dogs and smores, and we also fired up a grill to cook the hamburgers we brought.Everyone reported having a great time, and it was a pleasure to stay there. The owners are all super accommodating and kind. We would love to come back in the future. As long as an organization has the staff and materials to do their own programming and meals, this is a great place to host retreats and gatherings!
We’ve been coming to Cedar Valley Resort since they opened and have always had a 5 star experience! From the amenities, to the extremely well maintained cabins and grounds, to the amazing staff – you can’t beat it. We would reccomend to any and everyone who is looking for a wonderful getaway. Cedar Valley Resort will always have a very special place in my heart!
Cedar Valley Resort is the gem of Bluff Country! The cabins are inviting, clean, and cohesive with the nature experience but with all the modern amenities. Whether you want to sit back and relax on the porch or in front of a fire, or take in all of the outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and canoeing – they have you covered. The beautiful new event center is also great for large birthday parties or bridal showers, and was so much easier than hosting 50 people at home! This resort has stunning grounds and is so versatile for groups small to large.
Cedar Valley is a beautiful resort with exceptional service from great people.
Exceptional stay at Cedar Valley Resort! Impeccably clean cabins, breathtaking views, and outstanding hospitality. Can’t wait to return for another unforgettable getaway!
“Absolutely phenomenal experience at Cedar Valley Resort! From the breathtaking scenery to the cozy cabins, every detail exceeded my absolute expectations. The staff were some of the best people I’ve ever met, ensuring my stay was nothing short of perfect. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, this hidden gem in Whalen, MN, is a must-visit destination. Can’t wait to return!”
My favorite place for our family to host gatherings! So much fun for all ages.
Cedar Valley Resort is a great getaway for friends, family, work trips, you name it. The staff is very welcoming and there are many things to do for all ages.
I have been to Cedar Valley Resort on several different occasions and I love it there. They have such a beautiful spot it is quite and the staff is amazing and so nice always willing to help. I would love to come back again soon.
First-class resort in every way. The rooms, the family-friendly activities, the grounds, and most of all, the friendly and helpful owners. So many thoughtful touches to make your time restful and pleasant. You can be as active or as relaxed as you choose.
We know the owners and have stayed here before. Great location and cabins!
Went to consider it for a retreat I am planning. Very nice place!!
Who would have thought that this wonderful resort is located just outside of small town Whalan Mn. Very nice facilities and helpful staff.
Great cabin resort in southeast Minnesota on the root river trail with many activities for all seasons. The cabins are clean with plenty of space and full kitchens. It is close to lanesboro if your group needs to go out and eat.
What our guests say…
We had a wonderful stay at the resort. I can’t recommend it enough! Was there for Owl Festival weekend.Lots of bird feeders set up at the cabin too!
10!!!! We have had our family Christmas several years at Cedar Valley and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. From the beautiful spacious cabins to the beautifully decorated Christmas trees to all the amenities this resort offers. Highly recommend to anyone that wants a family retreat! Langes
We have coming to Cedar Valley for the last 22 years. Never are we disappointed. The staff are so welcoming and perfect accomidations. We always can hardly wait to come back.
We received a weekend stay as a Christmas gift and got around to using it on the weekend of 12/6-12/8. We stayed in the Moose cabin and it was big, clean, and decorated for Christmas!! It was beautiful, the kitchen was fully stocked with anything you would need. Since we came at kinda a weird time there wasn’t much to do (snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc.) so instead we went on a 5 mile walk on the Root River Trail and it was beautiful. The property is great and the staff were helpful, nice, and personable! We are already planning on coming back in either the summer months or more into the winter. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a relaxing get away!
Can’t say enough about how accommodating Cedar Valley is to is customers. We hade family emergencies come up and they did everything in their power to work with us to make our trip work out with little stress to our already stressful situation . The staff are so welcoming we feel like a part of their family. Kudos to this wonderful family look forward to next year.
My wife and I had a small wedding of about 30 people at the Retreat Center. Our group stayed in the Moose, Whitetail and Wolf cabins. The Cabins and Retreat Center were close to each other making it easy for people to prepare for the ceremony. Both the cabins and Retreat Center were well appointed and the layout and size of the Retreat Center was perfect for our celebration. Working with the owners and staff was a pleasant experience through the entire process. Would definitely recommend.