Pike and Pine Lake Loop

Overview

The Pike and Pine Lake Loop begins and ends at Entry Point 62 on Clearwater Lake, along the Gunflint Trail. From the put-in, the route heads east through West Pike Lake to reach Pine Lake, a large, multi-armed lake near the middle of the loop, before turning south to close the circuit through Little Caribou and Caribou Lakes back to Clearwater.

Pine Lake is the centerpiece of this route, with enough open water to require careful navigation between its separate arms as the route crosses from the Pike Lake side toward Little Caribou Lake. The lakes on this loop are linked by a small number of longer portages rather than a steady string of short carries, giving the trip a different rhythm than routes with more frequent, shorter portages. Caribou Lake, on the return leg, offers a final stretch of open water before the last portage back into Clearwater Lake.

This loop suits paddlers comfortable with a handful of longer, more demanding portages, since the route trades portage frequency for portage length. Its moderate overall distance and small number of transitions make it a manageable multi-day trip for groups who don't mind a full day of portaging built into the itinerary.

Route Highlights

• Pine Lake's wide, multi-armed open water at the center of the loop
• A demanding portage linking West Pike Lake and Pine Lake
• Caribou Lake as the final stretch of open water before returning to Clearwater Lake