Flour Lake

Flour Lake is located on the Gunflint Trail in Cook County, MN, 30 miles north of Grand Marais and 3 miles due south of the Canadian border. Adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Flour Lake takes on the beauty of pristine wilderness with rock cliffs, virgin white pines, and northern white cedars which creates an untouched perimeter of the lake. Flour Lake stretches to a length of nearly 3-1/2 miles east to west and one-half mile across at its widest point. The lake reaches depths of nearly 100 feet and has an average water clarity of 15 feet. With many quiet bays and a couple of islands, Flour Lake is a fun lake to explore and fish by canoe or kayak. Fishermen also take advantage of the lake by using the public access on the western end, at the Flour Lake Campground, to launch their boats and to fish for walleye, bass, and the many other fish species found in Flour Lake. The only resident on Flour Lake, Golden Eagle Lodge, also offers boat, canoe, kayak, and pontoon rentals as well as live bait, fishing maps, and other area information.

There are no motor restrictions on Flour Lake due to no part of the lake being within, or partly within, the BWCA. There are two portages, however, into the BWCA at the east end of Flour Lake; one to Moon Lake and one to East Bearskin Lake. For more information about Flour Lake, please visit the Minnesota DNR website.

Flour Lake is abundant with fish of the following species: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, Green Sunfish, and Herring. Shoreline fishing by boat or canoe is popular for catching smallmouth bass and walleye. Lake trout are mostly caught by those who jig and run downriggers. With a high abundance of lake herring, lake trout are often found at the same depths as their main food source, approximately 25-35 feet. Northern Pike are most often caught in the spring and fall in shallow water and in the summer amongst the weed beds in the western part of the lake and at the end of the north finger at the east end.

If consistent action is all you're after, the many rock outcroppings and two small islands on the west end of the lake are fairly consistent for catching perch, sunfish, smallmouth bass, and walleye. There is a slot limit on smallmouth bass caught on Flour Lake. The regulation specifies that all smallmouth bass 12" to 20" long must be immediately released. While the smallmouth possession limit is 6, only one can be longer than 20". This regulation is intended to maintain a high-quality smallmouth bass fishery. To view stocking reports and additional information about Flour Lake, visit the Minnesota DNR website.

With over 40 miles of trails that completely circle the lake, you can enjoy Flour Lake from any angle. Cross-country ski trails during the winter, these hiking trails are a great way to experience the lake and the surrounding wilderness; keep an eye out for wildlife along the way! Old Logging Camp Trail - Ridge Run Trail, a nine-mile loop around the lake, offers beautiful vistas overlooking Flour Lake on the south side and massive virgin white pines and glacier eskers on the west end. For shorter distance hikers, there are many smaller loops that offer overlooks, views of Flour Lake, and varying landscapes-pine forest, spruce bogs, rock cliffs, open pastures, and rolling hills. Print off a trail map and go for a hike! Also, don't forget to check out Honeymoon Bluff, one of the best places on the Gunflint Trail for viewing sunsets!

Note: These trails are maintained for skiing, making them considerably wide. However, they and are not maintained in the summer-be prepared for tall grasses and rough terrain. Mowed in the fall of the year, these trails are great for grouse hunting (foot travel only).