Hey guys, I'm staying at Fenske Lake Cabins in Sept with the wife. I'd like to take a day trip to Grassy as it looks like there are nice numbers of bluegills and crappies. Anyone know the condition of the forest service road heading back to Grassy from the Echo trail? Can the lake be accessed from that road?

Any info would be appreciated, thankyou!

I will be heading to Grassy Lake over the labor day weekend with a group of 4. I am also asking about the service road that goes down to the lake. I was told that we couldn't drive down it, but was ok to walk down it. Can anybody tell me how long the road is? or any information about the entrance to Grassy Lake, was told its only about 20 minutes up the echo. Am I right that there is a private residence or cabin on this lake as well? If there was a way to drive down road, unload gear & then go back & park vehicle on the main road & walk in? This is the Grassy Lake that's just outside of the BWCA, so no permits required?

Thanks for any info.

I believe the road access answer is yes and no. The resort owners should be able to tell you a lot more.

When I was on Grassy awhile back we paddled in from Fenske Lake and there were some small powered fishing boats on the lake. They told me they access from Range River but had to carry in some ways. The boats were equipped with U channels on the gunnels and they stick a pipe thru the U channels and 4 men carry the boat down the portage trail.

On my Topo map Forest Rd comes close but there would still be some walking to access Grassy. I say just paddle and portage is thru Sletten and Tee lakes. There are several BW type sites on Grassy.

There is a cottage on Grassy and the fishing was pretty good for many species of fish.

UP Boy

To get to Grassy, go about 15-20 minutes up the Echo Trail. Take a right onto the minimum maintenance road and drive about 5-10 minutes. There are two ways to get to the lake.

1) You will see a sign on the right for a portage that will get you down there.

2) If you drive a bit further, you'll see a snowmobile/ATV trail that goes to the lake as well. I've always taken the snowmobile trail. It's a good trail, about a mile or so to get to the lake and has a few ups-and-downs. This trail drops you off in a marshy part of the lake. You cannot drive to the lake, you have to walk and leave your car on the gravel road.

The road off the Echo Trail is a bit narrow in spots, but if you continue down it a ways it dead-ends and there's more than enough room to turn around to go out the way you came in.

Hope this helps.

quote ogrezane: "Hey guys, I'm staying at Fenske Lake Cabins in Sept with the wife. I'd like to take a day trip to Grassy as it looks like there are nice numbers of bluegills and crappies. Anyone know the condition of the forest service road heading back to Grassy from the Echo trail? Can the lake be accessed from that road?

Any info would be appreciated, thankyou!"

Yes, it can be accessed from that road, but why not just paddle in from Fenske and take the few portages from Sletten, Little Sletten, and Tea Lake over to Grassy.

Oops, see UPBoy already covered this. Didn't read his post until I typed the same thing!!:(

I was thinking about that, but I'm bringing my dog with and it'll be the first time he's been in the canoe. Just a little worried about getting there with the wifey and the dog. Thankyou folks!

of the group of 4, one broke his back last summer & the other has had some major back issues this summer. They can handle a good walk down a good trail, but going though a rough portage trail might be difficult for them with the unstable ground. A single portage is all we want to do, base camping is what we prefer & portaging across a couple lakes might get pretty straining to them & I don't feel like being a pack mule for others.

Thanks for the info, looking forward to peace & quiet in the bdub.

Sloth- thanks for the info. You mentioned that the road dead ends. I want to know if I'm seeing my map correct.
The minimum maintenance road off of the echo trail (Cty Rd 116) is past Fenske Lake, I have it listed here as Mackie Road, which takes you on the north side of Fenske, Tee & Grassy lakes.
I see this road coming to a T, onto Cedar Lake Road/Cloquet Line?
Is that snowmobile/ATV trail on the right side of the road, right before this T in the road? My map shows a trail or road that leads you right down to the lake, or close to anyway. Or is the portage trail you mentioned & snowmobile/ATV trail you mentioned not going to show up on my map. Would the road I see be the private access for the cabin/cottage/residence that is located on Grassy?
You explained your route exactly the way a buddy of mine did, but he hasn't been to Grassy for 15 years, I just want to be able to find this access the first time. We will be pulling in mid-late afternoon & want to be able to find lake & get camp set up before dark.

Thanks a million!

Hey Dmpaul - Sorry, I haven't been on the site lately.

I'm not sure of the name of the road off of the Echo Trail, but Mackie may be correct. I seem to remember a green street sign that says "Grassy Lk Rd" or something. Sorry, I know the road, not the name. The way to know for sure is: As soon as you turn off of the Echo Trail, the road Y's. If you go to the right, I believe it'll take you to Fenske. Go left and you'll go where you need to be. I don't remember any other Y's, but if there are, just stay to the left.

Go a ways down this road, it's has some ups and downs. You'll see the sign on the right for the official portage to Grassy. The trail I'm talking about is a little ways further down the road. The road is narrow, and I can always tell where it is because it has a pull off area on the right side of the road where the trail is. Look down the trail and you'll see a hump of rocks and dirt, to keep larger vehicles out. The turn around area is maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile after this. There's a driveway on the right, so that may be what you see on the map leading down to the lake. That's as far as I've gone, so it may very well T at some point, I just remember it as a dead-end.

Just think of it as: If you hit a large cul-de-sac with a private driveway, you've gone too far. The trail is pretty obvious, so you should be able to find it fairly easily. Tip: Look at the map of Grassy and you'll see an island. When you reach the lake, this island will pretty much be right in front of you.

Tip: Once you get to the lake, you'll see that island in front of you. If you look to the left of the island, there's a point with a nice campsite on it. Just follow the shoreline to the left of the access and you can't miss it. Can't be more than a 10 minute paddle from the access.

Hope this helps!

Hey Dmpaul - Sorry, I haven't been on the site lately.

I'm not sure of the name of the road off of the Echo Trail, but Mackie may be correct. I seem to remember a green street sign that says "Grassy Lk Rd" or something. Sorry, I know the road, not the name. The way to know for sure is: As soon as you turn off of the Echo Trail, the road Y's. If you go to the right, I believe it'll take you to Fenske. Go left and you'll go where you need to be. I don't remember any other Y's, but if there are, just stay to the left.

Go a ways down this road, it's has some ups and downs. You'll see the sign on the right for the official portage to Grassy. The trail I'm talking about is a little ways further down the road. The road is narrow, and I can always tell where it is because it has a pull off area on the right side of the road where the trail is. Look down the trail and you'll see a hump of rocks and dirt, to keep larger vehicles out. The turn around area is maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile after this. There's a driveway on the right, so that may be what you see on the map leading down to the lake. That's as far as I've gone, so it may very well T at some point, I just remember it as a dead-end.

Just think of it as: If you hit a large cul-de-sac with a private driveway, you've gone too far. The trail is pretty obvious, so you should be able to find it fairly easily. Tip: Look at the map of Grassy and you'll see an island. When you reach the lake, this island will pretty much be right in front of you.

Tip: Once you get to the lake, you'll see that island in front of you. If you look to the left of the island, there's a point with a nice campsite on it. Just follow the shoreline to the left of the access and you can't miss it. Can't be more than a 10 minute paddle from the access.

Hope this helps!