Divide Lake: A Hike to One of Minnesota’s Highest Lakes

In today’s post, Katie Berg, author of North Shore Adventures: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Paddling from Duluth to Grand Portage, takes us on a short but beautiful hike around Divide Lake in the Superior National Forest.

While this is a decidedly shorter hike, it’s appealing because the hike is so easy and you get to visit one of the highest lakes in Minnesota. At a whopping 1,938 feet in altitude, this hike goes around Divide Lake, the headwaters of the Manitou River. It hugs the shore with occasional dips into the forest. Take the trail away from the parking lot and the campground. It’s a flat and easy loop hike that is well paved and well maintained. Less than a mile in, you’ll find a short spur trail on your left that leads down to a campsite right next to the lake. There’s a picnic table, fire pit, and latrine, which makes for a nice family picnic spot. Follow the trail around the rest of the lake and turn left onto Forest Road 172 to finish the last half-mile or so of your hike. When you get back to the parking lot right next to the lake, it’s easy to do some fishing after your hike!

GETTING THERE & PARKING From MN 61, take MN 1 inland towards the town of Finland. Keep going past Finland another 16 miles to the small town of Isabella, and turn right onto Forest Road 172 (Wanless Road). Drive another 5 miles until you find the Divide Lake Recreation Area on your right. The parking area is inside the Superior National Forest campground. Make sure that you park in the day-use-only spots.

TRAIL CONDITION Easy. Excellent for families and kids.

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