Last Visited: June 19, 2022;
Previous Visit(s): May 27, 2021, August 22, 2015
Maps: Fisher F-6, F-12; McKenzie #21 or #3
Daily Quota: 2
Fire History:
Nearest Ranger Station: Tofte Ranger Station, Tofte, MN along Hwy. 61 on the North Shore
Portage Length from Parking Lot: 0 rods
Restroom at Entry Point: Yes
Entry Point 40 - Homer Lake
Tofte Ranger District
In Lutsen, turn off of Minnesota Highway 61 onto County 4 (Caribou Trail). Follow the Caribou Trail for 17 miles (first 7 miles are paved) until you reach The Grade (aka Forest Road 153). Take a left here and go 1.5 miles west to Brule Lake Road (Forest road 326). Turn right. It is 4 miles to the Homer Lake entry point (5 miles to the Brule Lake entry point).
The access to this lake is on its very eastern end. You can back your car or truck right up to the edge of the lake to unload your canoes and gear. The eastern two-thirds of this lake lies outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), therefore motorboats are sometimes seen. They use the same boat landing. The landing is cement, sand and gravel and smooth as butter.
The entry point for Homer Lake is just up the road from the Brule Lake entry point (#41). A nice little loop route would be to go from the Homer Lake entry point to the Brule Lake entry point. It is just a short walk down the road (about a mile and a half) from Brule Lake back to the entry point here on Homer Lake. Between the Homer Lake entry point and the Brule Lake entry point is the Brule Lake Trail (#78) entry point. You see the start of the trail (on your right) about 1/4 mile before reaching the Brule Lake parking lot.
The actual entry into the BWCA is about two-thirds of the way across Homer Lake to the west. There is a single campsite in the BWCA-portion of Homer Lake near the Whack Lake portage. The other two campsites on Homer Lake do not require a permit since they are just outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Exploring the Entry Point
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The usual sign that promises that you have nearly arrived. About a mile or so down the road on the right is the start of the the Brule Lake Trail. Another quarter mile past that is the Brule Lake entry point (#41) (May 27, 2021).
Same sign from several years before (August 22, 2015).
Sauntering around the entry point parking area (June 19, 2022).
View due west across Homer Lake from the boat landing (June 19, 2022).
Roughly the same view as above, but from about seven years earlier (August 22, 2015).
From the boat landing, this is your view to the left into the small bay south of the entry point (May 27, 2021).
Similar view as above, but different season and several years before (August 22, 2015).
The Homer Lake biffy. The last restroom with a door and a T.P. roller you will probably see for a while (August 22, 2015).
The Homer Lake parking lot with the restroom in the background (May 27, 2021).
View of the parking area and roundabout from a vantage point near the restroom building (June 19, 2022).
The bulletin board. If you need a day trip permit, it is in that box to the left. Fill it out and carry it with you (May 27, 2021).
The previous bulletin board (August 22, 2015).
Now that you've reached the shore of the lake, visit:HOMER LAKE
