which route

[Mr. Wizard]

We're headed to Baudette this week. Has anyone headed north gone a few miles east of Cass Lake and taken the forest road #39 north to Blackduck? We usually go that way but wonder what the road conditions are and how much time it will save us vs. going through Bemidji. We'll be driving in the dark.

[WingDing2]

IMO if your coming from Twin Cities...your going the long way. we run 169 to #2 to #46 to northome jockey on #71 to #72 up to Baudette. again IMO

[Cwolf]

Wizard, as of last friday the roads in that area were only ok. lots of black ice. Good luck with the walters on the big lake, we got into em pretty good but had to search a bit.

[Mr. Wizard]

Thanks Cw and welcome to fishing mn......we're south of St Cloud so go north from there not out of the cities

[Stcloudangler]

Head up 10 to Motley, take 64 to 200/turns into 71. Go around the loop of Bemidji, and continue on, turns into 72. Takes you practically to Baudette. Thats always the way I go up, from Cloudy town area.

[Red Cabin]

#39 won't be a good route, they started construction last spring and did'nt complete it. There are long stretches of washboard gravel.

[Raider4ever]

We just take Ma-Maw's and Pa-pa's Gulfstream to Baudette International then the limo takes us to the resort.

Sincerely,

Eden Prairie

Otherwise, Stcloudangler's way seems best from the Cloud.

[Beast26]

Head up 10 to Motley, take 64 to 200/turns into 71. Go around the loop of Bemidji, and continue on, turns into 72. Takes you practically to Baudette. Thats always the way I go up, from Cloudy town area.

This is the route that we always takes. The only iffy part of the drive depending on weather is 64 and then 72 between URL and Baudette

[fishhuntwork]

Also heading up to LOTW from the west metro. What is the fastest way to get up there. When I go to Bagley, I usually take 15 to St cloud to hwy 10 and 71 north to 200 and then hwy 2. I saw someone posted they take 169 to hwy 2 is that fast? I know I did 494 to 94 to 169 N this year for the first time to Mille Lacs and that was a lot faster than I usually go.

[bturck]

stcloudangler: I agree with your route, been using it for over 8 years now. Very few slow down required. Dec trip from St Cloud to River bend 4 hrs 10 minutes. Roads were great and no traffic. I used to use #371 but got tired of slowing down and going through Walker, Cass Lake etc......

[Mr. Wizard]

Thanks Red Cabin that was the question I needed answered about the shortcut vs. going through Bemidji. I'm surprised all these other map experts haven't found that road yet as it saves about 15 miles, I just always wonder about road conditions and wildlife on it.