Hi All, I've been to Knife Lake many times over the years with the same group. Wondering if there are less popular sights/campsites/etc. around that area that folks can recommend? The group prefers this area and we would enter on Sag and go through Ottertrack. We have already done the popular items like Eddy Falls.

Would be great if folks could point out their favorite or overlooked spots/sites to help keep things fresh. We typically end up going through the Amoeber to Ottertrack route so especially looking for things on or just off NAK or SAK. Any help is greatly appreciated! Trip is in mid-august.

Knife Lake is one of my favorite lakes. In fact, in just a few days time, my group and I will be spending 5-days on Knife, exploring and relaxing. We are entering SAK via Ester and Hansen, and will be departing KN via Ottertrack.

A favorite site of our is #1457 on SAK. Big and grassy and flat for tents with a nice rock beach for swimming and parking the boats. It's a good base camp location for running around to lakes like Kek, Eddy, and Amoeber.

Site #1464 on KL (my group calls it the "pooper with a view" site) is pretty nice. Sheltered bay and the latrine is right on top of an overlook.

Site #2042 on SAK is on a large sandy area if you are looking to just chill and soak up the sun on a beach. Only downside is that it is right next to the Hansen portage. But it is not the most used portage so you might not have anyone pass that way.

If you see a pair of canoes with Flying Moose (one kevlar and one dark green gel coat) that will be us! HA. Have a great trip.

If you have not been to Cherry or Ester lakes, both are beautiful lakes with large rock faced walls. You can easily day trip to these lakes from the SAKL. Numerous people have posted on this site that Cherry is a favorite lake.

Thanks RT that is excellent info. Will keep an eye out for Flying Moose next week.

So if you are willing to travel a little further off Knife Lake here are a couple other options:

1. Kekekabic Lake. There was a trail to top of hill on the south side of the lake that once had a fire tower there. I think the Kek Trail approaches from the other side of the hill.

2. Mueller Falls. Along the Kek Trail between Ogishkemuncie and Gabimichigami Lakes you will find Mueller Falls. Travel through Eddy, Jennie, and Annie Lakes to Ogishkemuncie. Then travel to Mueller Lake. Between Mueller and Agamok Lake the portage will cross the Kekakabic Trail. Head east about a quarter mile on the Kek Trail and you will find a bridge (iron works and everything) crossing a waterfalls that decends a long ways. There a paths (old portage?) along the waterway. There is a campsite for the Kek Trail here also. Bring a lunch and enjoy the outing before heading back.

If you enjoy the Knife Lake area, I would encourage you to try getting to the Gabimichigami/Little Sag area. Nice vistas, recovering nicely from a burn 20 years ago. Some day trip options also.

Thanks for great info! I can second Kekekabic lake as I briefly visited years ago and it was amazing. Might be time to revisit! Little Sag area I have not visited and will look at for a future trip.

If you haven't done so already? Check out this trip report. Hanging out north of the South Arm

I second the Cherry Lake idea, but if you are going to Cherry you might also try Lake of the Clouds and Gijikiki. There are not many campsites, but they are nice ones and the fishing can be good. The portaging is interesting. The late Bernie Carlson, who used to run Quetico Superior outfitters on Moose, sent us to Lake of the Clouds years ago when we asked a similar question. One thing many people doing Knife fail to do is to pick up fishing and RABC permits for the Canadian side, which can greatly increase your options. A Canadian permit would also get you to another great lake near Knife, Emerald, which was the place Bernie said he spent his honeymoon. I would also recommend you read some of the histories of that area because they can also suggest spots you may want to visit.

There are several small less traveled lakes just off of life. Sema, Toe, Spoon and the like. Many are worth the time to explore and offer interesting day trips.

Thanks OldGuide2! I’m intrigued by the lake gijikiki island site. That has been on my list a long time. Canada is also a great idea. I fear I’m too late for the permit this year. Their website says “no timeline guaranteed” for turnaround times.

Enchanted portage - Hanson into SAK
Cherry - Island and Cliff hiking
Lake of the clouds route - unique
Ester- clear AF
PMA - East of Hanson
Hike to the high point of campsite land in SAK
Kek Ponds

Knife sites : I have only camped at 5.
Favorite: site just west of Eddy Falls.
Not a great view. But it's a beautiful Cedar camp.

Have a great trip and let us know how it went. Have done Lake of the Clouds, Gijikiki when we were the only ones there. The portages keep out the tourists.