Bent Trout Lake Campground

Spend a day getting active in Jay Cooke State Park, which is around 20 minutes’ drive northeast of the Bent Trout Lake Campground and protects the lower reaches of the St. Louis River. It was once a vital link that connected the Mississippi waterways with the Great Lakes, with Native Americans and early Europeans utilizing the Grand Portage of the St. Louis River when traveling by canoe. You can explore the park along the Rushing Rapids Parkway and stop to admire its rustic-style historic buildings that were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you want to get active, there are more than 50 miles of hiking trails (including part of the North Country National Scenic Trail) that offer magnificent views overlooking the snaking waterway. Naturalist-led outreach programs are also held throughout the year, including guided nature walks, snowshoeing lessons, and evening campfire discussions. Another natural destination not to miss in the region is the Savanna Portage State Park, which sprawls across 16,000 acres to the northwest of the Bent Trout Lake Campground. It was established in 1961 to preserve a historic portage trail used by Native Americans, European explorers, and early fur traders, with the portage now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among its recreational pursuits, the Savanna Portage State Park encompasses picturesque hiking trails and cycling trails, as well as several swimming beaches on the edge of the park’s sparkling lakes. While exploring the park, keep your eyes peeled for moose, black bears, and wood turtles, as well as warblers, trumpeter swans, and bald eagles that can often be seen in the skies above. Slightly closer to the campsites at Bent Trout Lake Campground is the Fond du Lac Cross Country Ski Trail, which lies within the Fond du Lac State Forest. Its coniferous boreal forest, lowland bogs, and lake-filled landscapes make it an ideal destination for skiing, although mountain bikers and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts will find plenty of trails to access during the warmer months.