Hi all, my wife and I are planning a weeklong early-June trip and are looking for a basecamp that offers some interesting day trips in the area.

We're not afraid to travel for a day or two to get away from crowded entry points. We like all of the usual stuff, scenery, wildlife, pictos, waterfalls, hiking, old growth pines. Walleye lakes in the area would be bonus points but not a dealbreaker.

Any recommendations on a destination lake to check a few of these boxes?

Pawness: good scenery paddling LISN, access to Devil's Cascade, hiking trails, etc. Day trips to bigger water, or more remote lakes for wildlife. Fishing nearby.

Only box this does not check is 'away from entry point' but Clearwater Lake off the Gunflint. They have bunkhouses for the night before, fantastic breakfast for morning of and will issue your permit. Camp on Clearwater or West Pike, I prefer West Pike just to get off Clearwater and it's up to 10hp motors. You have easy access to Border Route trail for hiking, Johnson Falls is a day trip (big day so maybe be aware of the weather), beautiful cliffs, plenty of towering pines. It's a lovely area, really one of my favorites due to the towering cliffs you don't see many other places in MN.

Little Saganaga can be reached in a couple days without too much effort. Tons of daytrip options from there. 7 different portages in and out of little sag!

Ogishkumuncie or South Arm Knife would be other options that are a day or two in. Better fishing but likely more people than Little Sag.

Duncan is not as far in but great scenery. Spent a great Memorial weekend there a few years back. Tons of hiking trails in the area including the Border Route.

Horseshoe Lake through the Lizz Lake entry point is a great place for wildlife. however it is a very popular destination. You could extend down to Vista or over to Gaskin to get maybe get away from crowds.

And I will second LISN and Pauness, although you might want to get in a little further to get away from crowds. Another alternative in that area would be to use EP16 and push for 2 days to get to Gebeonequet (spelling?) I think that would be a great location to set up camp. Day trips to LLC gives you great fishing, Pictos on Rocky, etc.

Thanks for the great replies so far, these are the best kinds of decisions to be faced with.

We've been to areas around Horseshoe and Clearwater and absolutely loved them. Would like to return to both at some point but we're looking to explore somewhere new this year.

Ogish and Gebe were already on my short list, I think I'm leaning toward Gebe so far-if she's up for the work to get there.

I've also been looking at Baker entry but feeling nervous about the crowds, especially with the increased traffic lately. Pauness and Duncan might be a similar story being so close to the put in, but busy is all relative I guess.

Stuart came to mind when you said you don't mind some work, want walleye, and old growth pines. Shouldn't be a busy area and checks those boxes. If you don't mind more work....Curtain Falls is a bucket list spot and a day trip away (but a heck of a day trip w/ those portages north of Stuart) The Dahlgren and Boulder river to the west is the tree area beyond what you'll see on your way in and that portage is sweet. You could also venture east into the PMA that does get a little travel. So you've got route options though they're not super highways by any means. (unless you do get to Iron or LLC)

Thanks c3, everything in our window is booked for Moose and Stuart River EPs. Hope to get up into Stuart at some point, just not this Spring. Thanks for the good suggestions.

fadersup, take a look at the Kawishiwi Lake entry up to Malberg for an initial basecamp. About 6.5 to 7 hours travel. Beautiful lake with lots of points bays and islands and several narrows, also many very nice campsites including sand beach sites. From there you have multiple daytrip options that include remote lakes to the north and northwest, pictographs down River lake to Fishdance, over to Alice for more sand beaches, or a nice daytrip loop on the Kawishiwi River starting and ending at Malberg. There is very good fishing to be had in Malberg and River Lake among others. Some small waterfalls on the Kawishiwi River, huge glacial erratic in the middle of a stream along a portage south of Malberg, and if you really up for adventure you could head down the Louse River for a remote daytrip.

This is a very versatile route with a lot to offer and I would say it is average to below average in terms of traffic, once you get to Malberg and beyond. You could basecamp the whole time on Malberg and have plenty to do and see, or spend a couple nights there, head over to the southern island site on River Lake of the sand beach site on Amber lake for a couple nights, and head back out the way you came.

There's lots more to know about this area so if it is even on your list, ask away.







Sand beach site on Malberg







View from River Lake site







Huge boulder in river south of Malberg along portage

Thanks Lindy, I really like this idea! Looks like smaller water which we enjoy and it sounds like there's some fish in the area.

Mind if I contact you directly for a little more detail about your experience?

That is a good option. We single portage and were on Malberg by lunch from the EP. But we slept in the truck and were itching to get out so it was about as early of a June morning start as you'll find....

The canyon where the river flows out of Malberg to the NE is very cool and very fishy. Lots of good fishing spots. I've got a map marked up for the area if you want to email me. Plenty of bass, walleye, and pike all over. Lakers are a day trip away. But yes, Louse river is very cool and small water. Pictos on Fishdance. Lots of small rapids/falls on the river to check out and/or fish on the Kawishiwi.

Thanks cyclones, I'll shoot you a PM and I appreciate the recommendations!

fadersup, feel free to contact me with any questions. There is a little more detailed review of the River Lake campsite in the "portages and campsites" forum.

Also, here is my trip report from the area:

Malberg area