Moose Lake

Moose Lake sits directly on the US-Canada border in the far northeastern corner of the Gunflint district, part of a short chain of border lakes strung between Vaseux Lake and North Fowl Lake. The carries in are long and rated difficult on both ends, and few routes run this deep into the border chain, so the lake stays quiet compared to water closer to the entry points.

At 1,026 acres it's one of the larger lakes along this stretch of border, and it runs deep for its size: 113 feet at its deepest, averaging around 50 feet, with clear water you can see down through more than 14 feet. Its shoreline stretches almost 17 miles, folding the lake into enough bays and points that there's usually a sheltered stretch out of the wind.

That depth and clarity have made it one of the better lake trout lakes in the area, though numbers have fallen off in recent years. Smallmouth bass have moved in and become common instead, walleye turn up in modest numbers, and burbot, whitefish, and cisco fill out the cold water below.

Five campsites are spread around Moose Lake's shoreline, enough room that groups usually find a site without stacking up on top of each other, even with only a handful to choose from.

Moose Lake suits paddlers willing to work for a border-water camp: a deep, clear lake with a real lake trout history and light traffic, reached only by carries demanding enough to keep casual trips away.