My wife and I did a two week tour of several cities in Minnesota, including Grand Marais, Duluth & Hibbing. We were up there to escape the Florida heat and didn't really know what we were going to do, but turned out to have a really great vacation. Please see my other posts regarding lodging, meals, etc. if you are interested in a similar trip.We spent a few days at the Poplar Creek B&B. Perfect area to hike, mountain bike, canoe, snow shoe, XC ski, etc. Just get up there and explore.
This is the first major lake that you will come to on your trip 'up' the Gunflint Trail. With four resorts on the lake you can usually find an accommodation. The lake is about 3.5 miles long and a mile wide with many many bays, islands, and pristine shorelines.
We had a cabin on Poplar Lake for many years. To me Poplar Lake is Heaven. I would move there in a heart beat and anyone who does not stop at Poplar Lake for their vacation is a fool. It is the place to me. I give Poplar Lake a 10+.
We have friends that live on Poplar Lake and we visit them every year and have stayed at their home there. Lots of fish to catch, great for canoeing or swimming. Lots of peace and quiet. It is about 35 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais. Huge, beautiful pines and fresh smelling northern air!
We entered the BWCAW from here, and its a beautiful lake. Because of its very irregular shape and many islands, its hard to find the Lizz portage, but you'll get there eventually!
This lake has it all, enter into the BWCAW from here. Good fishing, resorts to stay at, like Trail Center Lodge, with bed/breakfest places and camp grounds with in the area. public landing to the lake with large parking lot.
Nice place to go fishing. There are bunches of Small Mouth Bass and Lake Trout as well as Walleye. All of them are so delicious. Afford a fish license ! And go for it!
I have been up to Poplar Lake 3 times, stayed at Old Northwoods Lodge. Everything is great. The dogs run out to meet you, no doors are locked, in fact they don't even have locks, the sauna is open and warm, just take a canoe if you want one. The other side of the spectrum from red tape and frustration. The lake itself is a gem. Take a canoe out for sure. There are large open areas, there are tons of little islands and bays where you can just glide through on your canoe. I even saw a loon "fly" under my canoe. I also saw a bald eagle try to catch a duck, wow. There is decent fishing, I caught a Northern Pike and a Small Mouth Bass. Also provides access to the BWCA. The BWCA is truly, truly, truly, a gift of a place. Go there and respect it.You can also go to Grand Marais (eat at Sven & Ole's), go running, hiking, biking, berry picking, cross country skiing, or sightseeing (check out Honeymoon Bluff). There are great things to do all around Poplar Lake and the Grand Marais / Gunflint Trail area.( I have also stayed at Loon Lake Lodge, Bearksin Lodge, and Gunflint Pines, loved them all, they are on lakes close to Poplar)
Poplar Lake is about thirty miles up the Gunflint Trail, a national scenic highway. If you're looking for a beautiful drive through some of the last wilderness area in the state, the Gunflint trail takes you deep into the hear of the BWCA. The lake sports several fine resorts, a public access and four portages into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. Early morning or late afternoon travelers are more likely to encounter the wildlife in the area, like bear, wolves, moose, and fox.
Not weedy, very clean water. Small mouth and Northern were biting on a variety of bait. Canoe friendly, hardly any boat traffic on a holiday week-end. LOONS. DUCKS.