Tettegouche State Park: Camp Access Trail (Blog Hike #315)

Trail: Tettegouche Camp Access Trail

Hike Location: Tettegouche State Park
Geographic Location: north of Silver Bay, MN (47.36001, -91.28233)
Length: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: July 2010
Overview: An out-and-back hike up and over a ridge on the gravel camp service road.

Park Information: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00269#homepage

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=129260
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: This trailhead is located apart from the main park entrance.  To reach this trailhead starting from the intersection of SR 61 and SR 1, take SR 1 4.3 miles to Lax Lake Road (CR 402).  Turn left on Lax Lake Rd.  The unsigned gravel trailhead parking is 3.0 miles ahead on the left.

The hike: For my general comments on Tettegouche State Park, see the Shovel Point Trail blog entry.  The hike described here explores the Sawtooth Mountains and inland lakes contained in the western part of the state park. Most park visitors never get away from the lakeshore or waterfalls, so you will not pass many people on this hike.  Of course, you will not find any spectacular scenery either, so save this trail for when you want a quiet nature hike away from the tourists.

            Start by walking around a metal vehicle gate and heading up a two-track gravel trail.  The main trail described here is also the road park officials use to supply the camp, so you will be walking on wide gravel trail the entire distance of this hike.  Very quickly you will cross the Sawtooth Trail, a snowmobile trail that becomes highly overgrown in the summer.

Sawtooth Mountains in the distance

            The climb up the ridge soon begins, gradually at first but more steeply later.  Interpretive signs show you exactly where you are on the trail and give some information about the plants and animals you see around you.  These signs are mainly intended for campers to track their progress toward the camp, but they can be helpful for us dayhikers as well.

            At 0.8 miles, you reach point J and the highest elevation on the service road.  If you are tired of hiking along the service road, two alternate routes lead from here to the camp.  The trail heading left leads 1.6 steep miles past Nicado Lake and Mount Baldy, while the trail heading right leads past several lake overlooks.  These alternates are much more scenic than the service road, but on my visit they were both rather overgrown.  Once you get to this point, you can choose whichever route appears best to you.

Climbing along the access road

            Continuing on the service road, the trail descends on moderate to steep grades as it continues east toward the camp.  At 1.3 miles, you reach an overlook of peaceful Tettegouche Lake on the right side of the trail.  Other side trails give access to the lake for canoeists.  Unfortunately, mosquitoes and biting flies also enjoy the area around the lake.

Tettegouche Lake

              At 1.5 miles, you reach a sign welcoming you to the camp, and in another 0.1 miles you reach the camp itself.  The two alternate routes come in from the left and right respectively near the shower building.  As expected, the gravel service road ends at the camp, so you will need to either retrace your steps along the road or try one of the alternate routes to complete the hike.