Dent Lake

Dent Lake covers about 100 acres in the Tofte district, tucked into a stretch of terrain that holds some of the highest elevations in Minnesota. It's reached only after a run of steep, rugged portages off the Sawbill Trail corridor, which keeps it lightly visited compared to lakes closer to entry points.

Small as it is, Dent Lake runs surprisingly deep, dropping past 70 feet, in contrast to neighboring Bug Lake, which stays only a few feet down and thick with minnows. The portages around it cut through exposed bedrock, some of the oldest rock in the world, so expect open, weathered ledges underfoot rather than soft ground.

Lake trout are rumored to hold in Dent Lake's cold depths, though no state survey has ever confirmed it.

Two campsites sit on the lake, enough for a single small group rather than a crowd. Reaching them means already being well into a demanding trip, which keeps Dent Lake among the less-traveled water in this part of the wilderness.

Dent Lake suits paddlers after a quiet, physically demanding stretch of wilderness rather than an easy add-on lake, its depth and remote position setting it apart from the shallower, more heavily used water closer to entry points.