First Run

May 21- June 1, 2009
This trip took us to the Fall Lake National Forest Campground. This is my kind of campground. The forestry is not as interested in packing them in so each site has a nice distance between it’s neighbor. Lots of trees and nature to keep you secluded, and best of all, the cost is only $20 per night. This cost includes 30 amp electrical services, very clean showers and bathrooms in excellent working condition, access to the trails and boat ramp which is well maintained and easy to use. There is no pumping station and clean water access is scattered around the campground.

We had first choice of the non reserve sites and picked number 30. It is across the street from the lake with access just a few steps away. We choose to walk just a few site further down the road to launch our inflatable kayak because the shore area was a bit better than the one in front of our site. As we walked around the campground, we checked out the many reservation only sites (the prime sites some with 50 amp service) and felt that 27 would be our first choice if the site was available. 39 was also a nice site and was walk-in-only but was taken when we first arrived. Making reservations is easy online at recreation.gov or 218-365-2963. There are also two secluded groups sites, one that holds up to 30 people with 3-30 amp and 1-50 amp hook-ups for $75 per night. The other group facility holds 20 people per night for $60 per night with 3 electrical connection points with 30 and 50 amp available. Both sites have their own dock, bath house, pavilion with grills and fire rings circled with benches.

The lake is a large enough lake but not so open that you would get blown off in a wind storm. It is the starting point for the BWCAW including restrictions on the upper part of the lake. We tried our luck at fishing but as Gary says “that’s why they call it fishing, not catching” we were skunked. No problem, we enjoyed a great kayak trip to the first portage area on the north side of the lake near the falls. The weather was as good as it gets with 70 degrees and bright sun. We received our first MN sun burn of the season. We also viewed nature at it’s best with very few bugs, lots of birds, including everything from Redstarts to Eagles and found the strawberry flowers popping out everywhere. The camp host showed us Morels she had found along the gravel paths. We went Morel hunting but the 7 wood ticks we picked up changed our minds about gathering wild mushrooms.

We traveled the northland this last week in May with great results. The weather at this time of year can be very unpredictable including very cold temps and even snow. Instead we had warm days and cool nights with no bugs until we dropped below Duluth on Saturday the 30th. After our stay in the Fall Lake campground we drove County Rd 1 from Ely to HWY 61 on the north shore of Lake Superior. We stayed in the Temperance River State Campground and explored the fantastic falls and many hiking trails. Much has changed in the many years since we last saw this park. It is a fantastic park that handles many people during our short summer vacation season. The campground workers are busy cleaning up the park after a bad storm in March knocked down many of the Birch trees.

After two days at the state park we drove to Grand Marais and up the Gunflint Trail. The trail is a land mark in northern MN and little has changed in much of the area. A fire took a huge toll in a large area including the private campground we stayed at on Gunflint Lake. The campground was not my favorite but we had a nice drive and good views of the burn area across the lake in Canada. The Gunflint Trail is flanked by the BWCAW and Superior National Forest.

Our next stop was a night at the Gooseberry Falls State Park Campground. No crowds, beautiful weather and a fantastic park made for a wonderful stay. We hiked many hours on the trails and enjoyed the parks falls and Superior shores. Like the Temperance State Park, much has changed to handle a large volume of people but it is still a great place to stay and visit. We had a nice site but after scouting the grounds would recommend 6 as our favorite, with 42-44 also great choices. 19 and 16 are also good sites.
I enjoyed the birds along the north shore which are not as common in the Twin cities including Loons, Mergansers and a possible sighting of a white-Winged Scotter. I was thrilled to hear the evening calls of a Veery brought back memories of weekends at the cabin in Pequot Lakes. I did not hear the Wip-Poor-Will and wonder how many still exist in the north woods. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orioles, Cardinals, Ovenbirds, an American Redstart, Blackburnian Warbler, Shrike, Waxwings, Nut Hatches, Blue Jays, Robins, Spruce Grouse, Downys and a Pileated Woodpeckers.

Our way home found us stopping in Banning State Park for the first time. The park was very nice with many hiking trails through the old quarry along the Kettle river. The weather was very different from the north shore. The woods were filled with Trillium flowers in full bloom which was a first Gary and I had seen this. A great trip!