LITTLE TROUT LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#2016): On island by Rum Lake portage Campsite 2 (#776): East end of lake on point Campsite 3 (#777): Just east of Misquah Lake portage
The lake is aptly named as it does have lots of modest sized lake trout swimming in it. That is the only species of game fish in harvestable numbers existing in the lake.
Little Trout Lake has a small outlet in its southeast corner. This little creek flows south to Slough Lake. That drainage extends to the South Brule River.
There are three campsites on this lake. None of them are bad. There is a campsite on one of the lakes three islands. It's subjective, but the campsite on the point in the east of of the lake may be the most desirable.
Both portages into Little Trout Lake require a high degree of effort. In the case of the portage to Misquah Lake, you will need to summon all of your energy reserves to make it over that one as it is one of the hardest portages in the BWCA. The trail is very rocky, somewhat overgrown and crosses over two hills.
The area around this lake may have been subjected to a prescribed burn in September/October of 2016. You can see evidence of this if you camp at the campsite near to the Misquah Lake portage. If you walk from the lake shore up to the campsites latrine, you will pass into the burned area. The intentional ignition was performed to reduce fuel created by the July 4, 1999 windstorm. The burn area extends from Dugout Lake and Iota Lake on the east to about the middle of a north/south line extended through Lac Lake on the west. The burn area starts about 1/2 mile south of the South Brule River and goes north up to nearly Little Trout Lake. Another burn area extends from the west end of Little Trout Lake up along the west side of Misquah Lake which seems to be be an unrelated burn, not related to this prescribed burn. See Lux Lake Prescribed Burn.
Gaskin Mountain is visible to the northeast from many parts of Little Trout Lake. You are looking at its south slopes as viewed from Little Trout Lake. It's summit lies about 1/2 mile north/northeast of the lake. The Gaskin Mountain summit is the fifth highest point in the state of Minnesota.
References:
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 286, 287.
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PADDLING FROM THE RUM LAKE PORTAGE TO THE ISLAND CAMPSITE
The small island just right of the center of your field of vision is the location of the lakes island campsite. The canoe landing for that campsite faces the Rum Lake portage landing. There is another similarly sized island just to its left and beyond (barely visible).
Brief paddle from the Rum Lake portage to the island campsite.
PADDLING FROM THE ISLAND CAMPSITE TO THE CAMPSITE ON THE POINT IN EAST END OF LAKE
Paddling toward the north along the east shore of Little Trout Lake. The hill shaded by a passing cloud just to the right of the middle of your view is Gaskin Mountain.
A leisurely paddle that takes you from the lakes' island campsite into the eastern bay of Little Trout Lake. After making a lazy turn to the left paddling through the bay, canoe over to the campsite on the sharp point near the bays western entrance.
