Hi,

My significant other and I along with our 2 daughters (6 & 2) have decided to take a couple 3-4 day mini vacations this summer up The GunFlint Trail for our first times to do some fishing/camping/exploring.

We would like to keep the boat at home but still do a little fishing for fun. Would also be interested in any good swimming holes/beaches. Any "must see" areas or places to stop and check out?

Can anyone point me in the right direction to get the kids on some fish from shore? Any tips/advice are greatly appreciated......thanks

Flour Lake has shore access at the campground, nice campground and Honeymoon Bluff nearby, but I would watch the little ones on the overlook.

quote Podunk: "Flour Lake has shore access at the campground, nice campground and Honeymoon Bluff nearby, but I would watch the little ones on the overlook."

Thanks for the reply!

Flour Lake campground is one of the places we planned on checking out so that will be a good starting spot.

We will definitely watch the little ones closely around any thing dangerous, I have a hiking toddler backpack for the soon to be 2 yr old so I will probably just keep her in that while at the overlook.

Anyone else have other ideas/suggestions?

You could check out the fishing pier on Mink Lake-- about 12 miles up the Gunflint and then take a right for about 2.5 miles on Trout Lake Rd. Mink has Rainbows,Splake and even Brown Trout. Many people have success off the fishing pier.

quote WhiteWolf: "You could check out the fishing pier on Mink Lake-- about 12 miles up the Gunflint and then take a right for about 2.5 miles on Trout Lake Rd. Mink has Rainbows,Splake and even Brown Trout. Many people have success off the fishing pier.


"

Cool idea, the kids would have a blast catching some trout. I will definitely put that on the list of things to do......thanks

Go check out the Trail Center. It is a cool small store and a restaurant that you and wife would like and kids will like all the things on the walls. They are friendly people and I'm sure they could give a suggestion on what to do with a six year old. Maybe check out an outfitter, they could set you up with a rental canoe. Good job getting the family out there.

quote BLee: "Go check out the Trail Center. It is a cool small store and a restaurant that you and wife would like and kids will like all the things on the walls. They are friendly people and I'm sure they could give a suggestion on what to do with a six year old. Maybe check out an outfitter, they could set you up with a rental canoe. Good job getting the family out there."

Thanks for the idea I will add the Trail Center to the list!

I've been kickin around the idea of maybe renting a canoe for a day or two, looking at a
Wenonah Minnesota III for the 4 of us.

There is a lot to do up there and many places to visit and fish so it's tough picking and choosing!!

Aries if you do nothing else hit Trail Center for breakfast lunch or dinner, its excellent ! p.s. I forgot to ask what time of year will you be up there.

quote Basspro69: "Aries if you do nothing else hit Trail Center for breakfast lunch or dinner, its excellent ! p.s. I forgot to ask what time of year will you be up there."

Will do!

We are pretty flexible so we don't have anything set in stone yet. We have vacation dates set aside from June 8th through June 19th and also have every Thursday and Friday along with the weekends starting the last weekend of July all through August.

So we have the 11 days or so in June, and can leave anytime Wed evening until Sunday night from end of July all through August. After that Fridays are optional so we can also do some 3 day weekends during the fall time.

Spend an eve or at Gunflint lodge. Rent a pontoon; perfect boat for that age.

quote Aries: "

quote Basspro69: "Aries if you do nothing else hit Trail Center for breakfast lunch or dinner, its excellent ! p.s. I forgot to ask what time of year will you be up there."

Will do!


We are pretty flexible so we don't have anything set in stone yet. We have vacation dates set aside from June 8th through June 19th and also have every Thursday and Friday along with the weekends starting the last weekend of July all through August.


So we have the 11 days or so in June, and can leave anytime Wed evening until Sunday night from end of July all through August. After that Fridays are optional so we can also do some 3 day weekends during the fall time.



"

I will be up there the 9th through the 12th of June so if you come up later I can tell you where they're biting :-)

quote northallen: "Spend an eve or at Gunflint lodge. Rent a pontoon; perfect boat for that age."

I might have to do that especially if another family comes up, got a buddy who is the cabin type that wants to go. He already said he'd go if we get a cabin and rent a pontoon lol.

quote Basspro69: "

quote Aries: "

quote Basspro69: "Aries if you do nothing else hit Trail Center for breakfast lunch or dinner, its excellent ! p.s. I forgot to ask what time of year will you be up there."

Will do!



We are pretty flexible so we don't have anything set in stone yet. We have vacation dates set aside from June 8th through June 19th and also have every Thursday and Friday along with the weekends starting the last weekend of July all through August.



So we have the 11 days or so in June, and can leave anytime Wed evening until Sunday night from end of July all through August. After that Fridays are optional so we can also do some 3 day weekends during the fall time.




"

I will be up there the 9th through the 12th of June so if you come up later I can tell you where they're biting :-)"

That would be awesome, we can pick up right where you left off!! Keep me posted with some reports......thanks

Dyers Lake is about half an hour south of the Gunflint Trail and has special regulations for Sunfish and Crappie. DNR reports are pretty promising. I hear you can catch good sized Sunfish and Crappies from Shore in the Summer. I was there May 15th and there was nothing in site, but as the water warms they will come in. The State Parks along the North Shore are all worth visiting on your way up or down. I recommend Split Rock, Tettegouche (Palisade Head, Shovel Point, High falls) Caribou Falls, Temperance River SP, Cascade River SP, and Devil's Kettle Falls. On the Gunflint Trail I think Clearwater Lake is particulary scenic. I also recommend the Lutsen Gondola's and Alpine Slide for a little side trip. Here's a link to Swimming on the North Shore including Gunflint.

https://midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/nature/beaches/swimming_holes_beaches_duluth_north_shore.html

quote manmountain8: "Dyers Lake is about half an hour south of the Gunflint Trail and has special regulations for Sunfish and Crappie. DNR reports are pretty promising. I hear you can catch good sized Sunfish and Crappies from Shore in the Summer. I was there May 15th and there was nothing in site, but as the water warms they will come in. The State Parks along the North Shore are all worth visiting on your way up or down. I recommend Split Rock, Tettegouche (Palisade Head, Shovel Point, High falls) Caribou Falls, Temperance River SP, Cascade River SP, and Devil's Kettle Falls. On the Gunflint Trail I think Clearwater Lake is particulary scenic. I also recommend the Lutsen Gondola's and Alpine Slide for a little side trip. Here's a link to Swimming on the North Shore including Gunflint.


https://midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/nature/beaches/swimming_holes_beaches_duluth_north_shore.html "

Thanks for the link and suggestions, looks like there's quite a bit of cool things on that site to check out, I will bookmark that. We actually have reservations at Lutsen for one night at the end of July. Definitely gonna check out the Gondola's and probably the Alpine slide too.

From there we aren't sure if we are gonna continue up to the Gun Flint or head toward the Crescent/Sawbill area for some camping.

Any advice/suggestions from that area?