Little North Lake Peak
Posted by Derek on Jan 15, 2010
Little North Lake Peak from Gunflint Lake (Courtesy of isawtman)
Height: 2126 feet / 326 m
Lat/Lon: N48 08.381 W90 35.165
Line Parent: Prelate Lake Peak
Key Col: N48 11.169 W90 22.162 (1706ft / 520m)
Clean Prominence: 420ft / 128m
Date Summited: N/A
Overview:
Rising above Little North, North and Gunflint Lakes, Little North Lake Peak lies at the southwestern end of a range of hills west of Thunder Bay. Situated just 2 km north of the (Minnesota-Ontario) border, Little North Lake Peak is perhaps the most remote peak of the group of 6 2100 footers in the region.
Proposed Route::
As the Peak is located approximately 1.5 km north of an abandoned railway that follows the north coastlines of North, Little North Lake and Gunflint Lakes, there a possibility of an overland route to this peak. To get to the start of the trek from Thunder Bay, proceed west on Highway 11, and about 4 km before Kakabeka Falls, turn left onto 588 to Stanley. Follow 588 for 75 km through Stanley, Nolalu and Suomi, until reaching Addie Lake Road. Turn southwest onto Addie Lake Road and follow it for 9.3 km where it ends at a private lodge with cottages on the northeast shore of North Lake. Be careful not to trespass on the private land — parking may not be available here.
As Addie Lake Road follows the old railway bed in, the beginning of the hike to Little North Peak begins where the road ends. It may be possible to bike along the railway bed, however at 5.0 km from end of Addie Lake Road, the railway line crosses a small bay where a trestle bridge once stood. Bikers will most likely have to leave their bikes here and bushwhack 1.4 km around the bay, or find a way to cross the water here. 3.0 km beyond the bay crossing, the abandoned rail bed reaches the north shore of Little North Lake and the beginning of the 1.5 km bushwhack to Little North Lake Peak. (N48 07.589 W90 34.847). The US National Coast Survey – North Lake map indicates there may be a trail that follows a col up to Little North Lake Peak. This could potentially shorten the bushwhack trek to the peak.
Alternatively, one could access the abandoned railway line from the west. To get to this point, continue on Route 588 for 20 km beyond the turnoff to Addie Lake Road, and then turn south at Northern Lights Lake and continue along logging/dirt roads for 30 km until reaching the north shore of Gunflint Lake. It is a 10.7 km trek along the railway bed to the beginning of the bushwhack on Little North Lake.
View a larger version of the map
US National Coast Survey - North Lake
Little North Lake Peak GPS Route (.gpx format)
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