vermilion camping question

[bigshow]

Looks like we may end up with a nice pontoon boat that has a full enclosure, etc...I'm wondering if its legal/ok to 'camp' on the water or beached on non-private land? or if there are designated areas for such a thing?

thanks in advance for any information.....

[guideman]

Hey Bigshow,

There are lots of places for you to park your new pontoon. Most of them however are on islands, you should be able to fine the locations on some of the better maps of the lake. Hot's spots has all the DNR sites for camping, or just parking your boat on public land.

There is a real nice spot, right behind the DNR shorelunch spot north of Pine island, it's got a sandy beach however with the low water, I don't know if it will be accessable when you come for your trip.

"Ace"

[bigshow]

Oh, OK great. Do any of the islands have any type of outhouse available to your knowledge? I'm relatively knew to camping, and i dont want to breach any etiquette as far as 'nature calling' is concerned.

[jkrash]

Yes

All the primative island camp sites have outhouses.

[Silver Scale]

The ones I'm familiar with only have wilderness latrines, no buildings. Not sure about the ones on Hindsdale Island though.

[jkrash]

I guess outhouse might be a fancy term for a bench with a hole in it, Silverscale is right there wilderness latrines. Man people are technical today.

[guideman]

There are facilities on the lake that are public so if you park close by you can use them. We have some very nice campgrounds on the lake that are very reasonable, if you're not into the hole in the ground life style.

Mckinley Park campground.

HooDoo point campground.

Moccasin point campground.

Moosebirds.

Just to name a few.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

There is another great spot with a sandy beach East of the Trout Lake Portage on the North side of Pine Island.

Cliff

[JBMasterAngler]

Speaking of trout lake, what is the motor limit on trout? Also, this might be a dumb question...that portage has tracks for a trailer to push your boat there, right? How does that system work...meaning, if I want to go to trout from vermillion, do I have to walk to trout first and retrieve the trailer and bring it back to vermillion to put my boat on? Like I said, could be a dumb question, but I've never been there and am interested in how that works for future reference. Thanks ahead of time for any info.

[Silver Scale]

The portage from Vermilion to Trout Lk is run by someone under contract with the US Forest Service. I think they have a four wheeler with a trailer and charge $25 or $30. If you're going into Trout Lake you will also need a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permit. The motor horse power limit is 25 hp. I would contatct the US Forest Service office in Cook, MN or look on the Superior National Forest web page for more information.

[JBMasterAngler]

Hmmm...$25 to $30 huh? Yep, there's plenty of fishing to be had on vermillion. I'll save that money for all the lures and tackle I'd probably lose during the duration of the trip.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

If you have had to pull your boat over the portage by hand on portage wheels like we had to do for a couple of years, you would be very happy to pay the $30.00 fee!

I know I sure am the few time I manage to get over there! It seems like it is up hill all the way going in and all the way comming out!

Trout is a beautiful Canadian Shield type of lake.

Great fishing and well worth the effort.

You would not regret making the trip other then you would not be able to get back there as often as you would want to!

Cliff

[gators06]

A group of us have been camping up at the casino the last few years over Memorial weekend and are looking to see what else is out there and fish different locations. Any place we'd consider would have to have available boat slips (with power outlets) that come with the paid campsites and be close to a resort that offers bait, gas, ect. We don't need a quiet place, we'll be the ones staying up around the campfire late into the night:) Any suggestions would be great.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

You could try HooDoo Point Campground or McKinley Park Campground in Tower, But there is a 10:00pm cerfew on partying at both and they inforce it too.

Cliff

[shamrock7]

About the only place that I can think of that fits those stringent requirements would be Moccasin Point.

[gators06]

Thanks, I'll look into those suggestions. Nothing wrong with the casino camping, just looking to branch out to some different areas.