My plans for a solo pedal kayak trip on Clearwater with an overnight motor permit to hunt for lakers have been foiled because only propellers driven by combustion seem to be allowed. I'm a little salty about it because the distinction seems unclear and free to be interpreted by whomever you talk to. I would still like a chance at catching big lakers on a lake that doesn't have such restrictions. This means going outside the BWCA (where most of the big lakers in MN are).

After some research it seemed like my options without going onto Lake Superior, without being restricted to a tiny portion of a lake like Snowbank or Seagull, are Gunflint or Burntside. Gunflint is half in Canada and only has a little bit of structure worth investigating, so it seems Burntside is my best option.

It would seem that there are only a half dozen established campsites on Burntside and they are all on the northwest end, but I'm not sure where I'd like to fish yet and I don't want to pedal 4 miles in the morning just to get to a spot if I don't have to. I might want to fish the southwest portion of the lake or the northeastern part. A centrally located campsite would be sweet.

I know I can't camp on the Scientific & Natural Area, and it seems some of the islands are privately owned. I can't find a map of which ones are privately owned, however, so I don't know where I can dispersed camp. It's within Superior National Forest and I clarified with the Supervisor's Office that I can legally dispersed camp there, just not in the SNA or on private land.

Does anyone know of a good map or any resources that will tell me about all of the private land? Any suggestions of where I might want to camp (like flat rocky shorelines with open groves of trees for a hammock)?

Any other advice is appreciated! Thanks!

It doesn’t look like St. Louis County has a free view-able on-line plat map, but I found this which shows public lands.

It is also legal to disperse camp on state owned lands. You might have to zoom in on the lake.

It looks like you will have to set up what you want to see in the "Layers" area too.

inspector13: "
It doesn’t look like St. Louis County has a free view-able on-line plat map, but I found this which shows public lands.


It is also legal to disperse camp on state owned lands. You might have to zoom in on the lake.


"

That public land map is awesome! If I'm allowed to camp on state or federal land in that area, then there is quite a lot of area I can check for a good hammock spot. Thank you!!

I *think* the only SNA on Burntside is on the SW islands. Go here and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for a map showing the group if islands.


That public lands map is useful. Another (less reliable) way to cross islands off your list is to simply look at the satellite imagery on Google Maps and X anything with a house built on it.

These might help, open click on to enlarge.

Burntside is a gem, shhh

There's a snf campsite on Loon...

Bushpilot: "These might help, open click on to enlarge. "

Bushpilot,
What is that resource? Can you please share the name of the map source?

Have you considered trout lake in Grand Marais? There are 2 campsites on the lake. Has high populations of both lake and rainbow trout, with a decent chance at a fish over 25 inches. The biggest advantage, it’s a small lake! You get any kind of wind on burntside, your not doing any fishing from a kayak.

You could probably check with the Kawishiwi Ranger Station too. I bet they'd know.

MidwestFirecraft: "

Bushpilot: "These might help, open click on to enlarge. "

Bushpilot,
What is that resource? Can you please share the name of the map source?"

+1

Most of the "established" campsites on Burntside are equipped with picnic tables. A couple of them are really great camps- and used much less than one would think. A beautiful lake.

MN_Lindsey: "

MidwestFirecraft: "

Bushpilot: "These might help, open click on to enlarge. "

Bushpilot,
What is that resource? Can you please share the name of the map source?"

+1"

I'll chime in and Bush Pilot can correct me if I'm in error.
It looks like that is a page from the St Luois County Plat Book. Most if not all counties have Plat books that show land owernship, they are usually updated every few years.

St Luois Plat Book

LindenTree: "

MN_Lindsey: "

MidwestFirecraft: "

Bushpilot: "These might help, open click on to enlarge. "

Bushpilot,
What is that resource? Can you please share the name of the map source?"

+1"

I'll chime in and Bush Pilot can correct me if I'm in error.
It looks like that is a page from the St Luois County Plat Book. Most if not all counties have Plat books that show land owernship, they are usually updated every few years.


St Luois Plat Book "

Thank you!

What Linden said.

GunflintTrailAngler: "Have you considered trout lake in Grand Marais? There are 2 campsites on the lake. Has high populations of both lake and rainbow trout, with a decent chance at a fish over 25 inches. The biggest advantage, it’s a small lake! You get any kind of wind on burntside, your not doing any fishing from a kayak."

It's a sit on top fishing kayak designed for stability. People take them out onto the ocean. I don't intend to, but as long as there aren't 6 foot rollers, I'll be on the water. I had not considered that lake though and will take a look. I'm more interested in catching a trophy but if I catch 5 25 inchers a day, that's not too bad. And I would like to catch my first rainbow as well. Thanks for the suggestion!

Rarely mid-week have I seen anyone camped on Burntside. The island site
on the N.Arm is killer, the site in the bay off the narrows is nice and quiet.
Birch Bay area with trolling Little Cleos will bring home dinner.
hope this helps.