Mr_PeteBurnsville
This is the first major lake that you will come to on your trip 'up' the Gunflint Trail. With four resorts on the lake you can usually find an accommodation. The lake is about 3.5 miles long and a mile wide with many many bays, islands, and pristine shorelines.
rachelr735
Not weedy, very clean water. Small mouth and Northern were biting on a variety of bait. Canoe friendly, hardly any boat traffic on a holiday week-end. LOONS. DUCKS.
Mr_PeteBurnsville
Poplar Lake is about thirty miles up the Gunflint Trail, a national scenic highway. If you're looking for a beautiful drive through some of the last wilderness area in the state, the Gunflint trail takes you deep into the hear of the BWCA. The lake sports several fine resorts, a public access and four portages into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. Early morning or late afternoon travelers are more likely to encounter the wildlife in the area, like bear, wolves, moose, and fox.
129shannonw
We have friends that live on Poplar Lake and we visit them every year and have stayed at their home there. Lots of fish to catch, great for canoeing or swimming. Lots of peace and quiet. It is about 35 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais. Huge, beautiful pines and fresh smelling northern air!
Rachel_Zhang18
Nice place to go fishing. There are bunches of Small Mouth Bass and Lake Trout as well as Walleye. All of them are so delicious. Afford a fish license ! And go for it!
mercere
This lake has it all, enter into the BWCAW from here. Good fishing, resorts to stay at, like Trail Center Lodge, with bed/breakfest places and camp grounds with in the area. public landing to the lake with large parking lot.
ProfandPres
We entered the BWCAW from here, and its a beautiful lake. Because of its very irregular shape and many islands, its hard to find the Lizz portage, but you'll get there eventually!
mcmousee
thank goodness this was the last stop on our trip. we (rented from an outfitter) kayaked this gorgeous lake for two days. It is oddly shaped with about 20 islands, creating beautiful nooks and crannies and vistas every which way you look. We saw a few canoeists and although the lake allows motors, it was quiet and peaceful during our stay.beautiful lake and loon song is all I ask from a vacation. They have canoes to rent as well as a pontoon boat.If you go, stay at the Norwester cabins!
UF_RX_1999
My wife and I did a two week tour of several cities in Minnesota, including Grand Marais, Duluth & Hibbing. We were up there to escape the Florida heat and didn't really know what we were going to do, but turned out to have a really great vacation. Please see my other posts regarding lodging, meals, etc. if you are interested in a similar trip.We spent a few days at the Poplar Creek B&B. Perfect area to hike, mountain bike, canoe, snow shoe, XC ski, etc. Just get up there and explore.
gdcmr
My wife and I have vacationed at the Norwester on Popular Lake for five years and are going back this summer for a 10 day stay.The Norwester and the lake are a great place to watch, listen, and just be, plus spend as much time as you want tekking about, ghosting along the lake, or exploring the back roads.I have only seen one jetski and that was for an hour or so over a couple of days, so the lake is peaceful.A good spot to get recentered.If you are a family of mixed ideas of what it take to vacation the nearby village of Grand Marais offers plenty or eats, places to shop, and places to park with a cup of great coffee while the spouse lingers in the stores.Grand Marais is a little piece of Cape Cod in MN.G & D R.
cntwt4smr
I have been up to Poplar Lake 3 times, stayed at Old Northwoods Lodge. Everything is great. The dogs run out to meet you, no doors are locked, in fact they don't even have locks, the sauna is open and warm, just take a canoe if you want one. The other side of the spectrum from red tape and frustration. The lake itself is a gem. Take a canoe out for sure. There are large open areas, there are tons of little islands and bays where you can just glide through on your canoe. I even saw a loon "fly" under my canoe. I also saw a bald eagle try to catch a duck, wow. There is decent fishing, I caught a Northern Pike and a Small Mouth Bass. Also provides access to the BWCA. The BWCA is truly, truly, truly, a gift of a place. Go there and respect it.You can also go to Grand Marais (eat at Sven & Ole's), go running, hiking, biking, berry picking, cross country skiing, or sightseeing (check out Honeymoon Bluff). There are great things to do all around Poplar Lake and the Grand Marais / Gunflint Trail area.( I have also stayed at Loon Lake Lodge, Bearksin Lodge, and Gunflint Pines, loved them all, they are on lakes close to Poplar)
missthecabin
We had a cabin on Poplar Lake for many years. To me Poplar Lake is Heaven. I would move there in a heart beat and anyone who does not stop at Poplar Lake for their vacation is a fool. It is the place to me. I give Poplar Lake a 10+.