Just heard about this place and don't think I've ever seen it mentioned here.

Has anyone here been to the Trestle Inn Saloon near Finland, up the north shore of Lake Superior? Looks like a pretty cool place to visit.

I've been there a couple times over the years. The food is decent and the atmosphere is pretty cool

That’s my go-to stop for lunch after any trip in the Sawbill Trail area. My two favorite restaurants are there and Trail Center. I’ve never had a bad meal at either place.

Been there many times, I used to play the piano there. They have a couple hundred patches/shields from LEO and other rescue departments. They have my old US Fish and Wildlife patch there. They also have a burned board from Comfort Lake with the word Pagami burned into it after the Pagami fire along with a map of the fire.

Their gas is for snowmobiles so it might be a little spicy for some cars but, could get you through in a pinch.

Yes!

Best burgers around- have caught it on many bike camping trips through there

Love it, looks like my kinda party. If I take an Uber from Lake Villa Il I can be there in 9 hours, save me a seat.

Cheers. scat

A bit of historical trivia: the building at the Trestle Inn was moved there from what is now the Sand Lake campground, which is on Lake County 2. There used to be a camp there for paper company higher ups.

Yes, we have been there several times after our trips. It is a memorable way to end a trip with a libation and a good burger. I know there is a photo at the end of my trip report titled "Return to Cherokee". Probably a couple of the others, too.

I definitely have mentioned it here in the past, but could not tell you when. :-)

I've also mentioned in it a few trip reports; including this one Old friend's, new memories .

Definitely worth a visit. Its a really neat place that serves excellent food. It's quite a distance off the beaten path so it's really only somewhat convenient for a few EPs (Hog Creek, Kawishiwi Lake & Sawbill Lake)

Little story of my first stop at the Trestle Inn.

Just finished a late fall trip and got a room in Tofte at the AmericInn. Asked the girl at desk of cool place to eat and she suggested Trestle Inn and drew us a crude map. A few miles of dusty gravel roads later, we pull in. Four to five regulars at bar give us a look over and we grab beers and get food at our table. We are the only diners.

A grizzled man walks in door carrying a cooler with a St. Bernard and Jack Russel at his side. Plops cooler on bar as he walks behind it and pulls a beer and proceeds to show regulars his limit of walleyes in cooler. He then walks to kitchen and grabs the days food scraping bowl, walks back out and dumps it right on floor behind us. The 2 dogs rush in and start devouring the mess. A regular wanders over to us and says not to worry cuz the dogs will polish that floor right up. My buddy lifts his beer and says to me, "I told you this place would be great!"

To top it off, we almost hit a moose on drive back to Tofte.

LindenTree: "Been there many times, I used to play the piano there. They have a couple hundred patches/shields from LEO and other rescue departments. They have my old US Fish and Wildlife patch there. They also have a burned board from Comfort Lake with the word Pagami burned into it after the Pagami fire along with a map of the fire.

Their gas is for snowmobiles so it might be a little spicy for some cars but could get you through in a pinch."

Man, you're so multi-talented. Awesome.

Love this place. But you should know they only accept cash or check. But it has been a couple years so that might have changed.

Looks awesome. If I have a little extra time on a future drive to or from Quetico, I may have to go the long way around through Thunder Bay and make a stop for lunch or dinner.

cowdoc: "Little story of my first stop at the Trestle Inn.

Just finished a late fall trip and got a room in Tofte at the AmericInn. Asked the girl at desk of cool place to eat and she suggested Trestle Inn and drew us a crude map. A few miles of dusty gravel roads later, we pull in. Four to five regulars at bar give us a look over and we grab beers and get food at our table. We are the only diners.

A grizzled man walks in door carrying a cooler with a St. Bernard and Jack Russel at his side. Plops cooler on bar as he walks behind it and pulls a beer and proceeds to show regulars his limit of walleyes in cooler. He then walks to kitchen and grabs the days food scraping bowl, walks back out and dumps it right on floor behind us. The 2 dogs rush in and start devouring the mess. A regular wanders over to us and says not to worry cuz the dogs will polish that floor right up. My buddy lifts his beer and says to me, "I told you this place would be great!"

To top it off, we almost hit a moose on drive back to Tofte."

Was waiting to read that you had fresh walleye for dinner! Cool memory.

Hey Sunburn.....are you a DVM?

Yes. I found out about it on this forum. We stopped by after paddling out on a windy rainy morning in 2024. It was still drizzling when we got to the Trestle Inn.

We had a nice meal. I remember something about "debris" on the menu. The members of our group that ordered it, enjoyed it.

It was in the kind of location that my google maps got directions there but not on the way out. Fortunately, there were only a couple of turns along gravel roads to get back to the main highway.

Yes

Yes! Great food, great atmosphere for us BWCA geeks! Been a few years since I was there, but have heard it’s still good!

cowdoc: "Hey Sunburn.....are you a DVM?"

Yup. 2000 grad from Kansas State.

I'm guessing you're a UWM grad?

UW grad, charter class 1987. Retired a few years ago. Good to see another paddling vet

Pretty much since the beginning. They must have had an off-premises liquor license in the mid 80s since I remember buying beer there.

We've stopped in many times but not for about 10 years. Tried to hit them up on a Monday afternoon with my nephew in July but I guess they are closed on Mondays. I heard that it is under new ownership so not sure if that has changed anything.

Is the Trestle Inn affiliated with Crooked Lake Lodge or are they just coincidentally next door to each other?

jamotrade: "Is the Trestle Inn affiliated with Crooked Lake Lodge or are they just coincidentally next door to each other?"

AFAIK they are just next to each other but I know nothing about any new ownership.

I've spent quite a bit of time camping and fishing in that area over the last five years or so. Some really neat lakes, plenty of stocked trout and plenty of campsites/campgrounds. Take a portage into a lake and you wouldn't know it's not designated wilderness. It's not overrun by loud, gigantic ATVs like so many other places but I'm sure that's getting worse every year.

The Trestle Inn has always been fantastic, I stop in at least twice every time I'm in the area. Beautiful old log building, friendly staff and good burgers. And cold beer.

Agree. Love that area!