- 3 days
- Duration
- Challenging
- Difficulty
- 28 mi
- Total distance
- 19 mi
- Paddling
- 20
- Portages · 2,749 rods
About this route
Stuart Lake to Iron Lake
Overview
The Stuart Lake to Iron Lake route begins and ends at Entry Point 19 on the Stuart River, offering a middle-length alternative between the entry point's short river trip and its full loop out to Lac La Croix. From the put-in, the route follows the Stuart River to Stuart Lake, then continues through Rush and Dark Lakes to reach Iron Lake before returning the same way.
Iron Lake is larger than the lakes that precede it, with room to explore multiple campsites before the return trip. Reaching Iron Lake without continuing on to Lac La Croix keeps the border-crossing portage and its exposed water out of the itinerary, making this a good middle option for groups who want more than the shortest river trip but less than the full multi-day loop.
This route suits paddlers with solid portaging experience looking for a flexible, mid-length trip out of the Stuart River entry point. Its combination of river travel and open lake paddling on Iron Lake gives it a varied feel.
Route Highlights
- The narrow, granite-lined Stuart River corridor
- Rush and Dark Lakes as a connected chain leading to Iron Lake
- Iron Lake's open water and multiple campsite options
Updated September 14, 2026
Suggested itinerary
3 days at a steady pace.
Stuart River → Stuart Lake
Travel the Stuart River corridor to Stuart Lake for the first camp.
Stuart Lake → Iron Lake
Continue through Rush and Dark Lakes to reach Iron Lake.
Iron Lake → Stuart River
Retrace the route back through Stuart Lake and the Stuart River corridor to the Entry Point 19 landing.
The portages
20 carries, 2,749 rods total.
| Portage | Rods | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 1 of 6 difficult | 445 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 6 of 6 difficult | 445 | — |
| Iron Lake → Lac La Croix difficult | 327 | +174 ft |
| Stuart Lake → Fox Lake difficult | 280 | +158 ft |
| Lac La Croix → Stuart Lakecarry 1 of 2 difficult | 175 | +82 ft |
| Lac La Croix → Stuart Lakecarry 2 of 2 difficult | 120 | +152 ft |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 2 of 6 moderate | 100 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 5 of 6 moderate | 100 | — |
| Dark Lake → Iron Lake moderate | 90 | +22 ft |
| Lac La Croix → Lac La Croix moderate | 79 | +111 ft |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 6 of 6 moderate | 77 | +0 ft |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 1 of 6 moderate | 77 | +52 ft |
| Rush Lake → Dark Lake moderate | 71 | +20 ft |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 4 of 6 moderate | 70 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 3 of 6 moderate | 70 | — |
| Fox Lake → Rush Lake moderate | 65 | +46 ft |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 3 of 6 moderate | 59 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 4 of 6 moderate | 59 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 5 of 6 easy | 20 | — |
| Stuart Lake portagecarry 2 of 6 easy | 20 | — |
Lakes on this route
6 lakes, 102 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.
| Lake | Depth | Size | Campsites | Fish species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart Lake | 40 ft | 776 ac | 7 | northern piketullibee (cisco)walleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Fox Lake | — | 29 ac | 1 | — |
| Rush Lake | 10 ft | 115 ac | 1 | — |
| Dark Lake | 10 ft | 34 ac | 1 | — |
| Iron Lake | 64 ft | 1,962 ac | 10 | black crappiecisco specieslake whitefishnorthern pikerock basssaugerwalleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Lac La Croix | 168 ft | 29,597 ac | 82 | burbotlake troutlake whitefishnorthern pikerainbow smeltrock basssaugersmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
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