Activities

The fishing adventures that surround Facowie Lodge are limitless. There are a vast number of lakes along with countless rivers in proximity. Almost every species of fish that are known to Minnesota can be found up in this area to gratify all fishermen.

While Kabuftasa Lake is only accessible by a canoe, the other surrounding lakes make great adventures for daytime trips. One of the larger lakes in the area, Crane Lake, is approximately 8 miles from FacowieLodge. Crane Lake is a very large body of water at over 26,000 acres and is hooked into a chain of lakes that goes all the way along the border to International Falls. These other large bodies of water include Sandpoint, Namican, Kabetogoma and Rainy. It one of the most beautiful adventures one can take in Minnesota and the routes are carefully marked with buoys that connect all the waterways. All of these lakes are very well known for walleyes, northerns, lake trout, and even sturgeon. There is docking available at Haneberg’s Marine on Crane Lake and is right next to the public access.

There are many other smaller and larger lakes throughout the area that have great public accesses. Echo Lake is less than two miles from FacowieLodge and has a nice free public access. Echo is a beautiful cigar shaped lake with many species of fish in it.

All of these lakes listed have public accesses and are with in a half hour drive or so to FacowieLodge.

• Kabustasa Lake
• Echo Lake
• Crane Lake
• Sand Point Lake
• Namakan Lake
• Kabetogama Lake
• Rainy Lake
• Spring Lake
• Elephant Lake
• Black Duck Lake
• Ash Lake
• Myrtle Lake
• Pelican Lake
• Elbow Lake
• Vermilion Lake

The land surrounding FacowieLodge is bountiful with many different varieties of game for the hunting enthusiast.

The primary hunting adventures include: ruffed grouse, black bear, moose, a full array of ducks, many types of small game, and the obvious, the white tailed deer. The scenic beauty will completely enhance your hunting experience up in this wilderness land of treasures.

Use of land

There are thousands of acres of land open for hunting surrounding Facowie Lodge. The majority of the land is owned by federal, state and local paper milling companies. The forest is fairly dense and is covered with hills and valleys, ravines, and wetland areas throughout the entire region.

The vast land surrounding Facowie Lodge provides ample opportunity for exploration to search out suitable hunting areas. The white tailed deer season, which is the first full two weeks of November, is one of the most popular hunting periods in the fall. It is highly advisable to do some pre-season scouting prior to the deer hunt. There are also county plat books available outlining all the different territories and the ownership available.

Please respect the small number of posted areas. There is plenty land available for everyone and you will not be restricted to a small 10 acre parcel, as many people are accustomed to. Your deer hunting adventure could take you back many miles and hundreds of acres to find that ultimate deep woods big buck.

There are many miles of beautiful ATV trails in the forests between Cook, Lake Vermillion, Crane Lake, Elephant Lake, Myrtle Lake, Pelican Lake, and Orr. You can enjoy ATV riding through the woods on some of the top trails in the State.

The Voyageur Country ATV trail system uses a combination of forest roads, wooded trails and county road rights-of-way to connect the communities of Cook, Crane Lake, Buyck, Camp 5 township and Ely. The system also ties into the existing Prospectors Trail system, and it will tie into the Quad Cities trail system when it is built from Pfeiffer Lake to County Road 361. The Voyageur Country trail system passes through numerous land and forest types, with many overlooks and stops along the way including Vermilion Falls, Pelican River overlook and the new Vermilion River trail bridge.

The Prospectors Trail system uses a combination of forest roads, wooded trails and county road rights-of-way to connect the communities of Ely, Babbitt, Embarrass, Tower and Soudan. The system also ties into the existing Lake County and Cook County ATV trail systems. The trail passes through many different forest types and ecosystems, from the classic North Woods landscape with pine, aspen and ledge outcrops to lowlands, bogs and wetlands. Wildlife is abundant. OHMs are not allowed on County Public Works roads. ORVs are only permitted on certain segments – refer to the map for details.

There are many wonderful hiking opportunities within a short drive, with trails varying in length and difficulty.

Before you go, prepare! Tell someone where you are going, wear the proper footwear, bring insect repellant, rain gear, water and snacks, and also your binoculars. It is a good idea to take a picture of the map at the trailhead to help you navigate your way during the hike. Finally, remember to be respectful of wildlife and Leave No Trace.

• The Crane Lake Tourism Bureau has a list of trails and information

Visiting in winter?  Bring your snowshoes!  There are many beautiful remote wooded trails to explore on snowshoe, including:

• The Grouse Hunter Walking Trail off the Nelson Road (1.75-mile loop)
• The Statue Loop behind Pierre the Voyageur (< 1-mile loop)
• The Vermilion Gorge Trail at Voyagaire Lodge (1.5 miles one way)
• There are several more trails along the Vermilion Falls Hwy

There are many opportunities for canoeing in the abundance of lakes and rivers in the northland. Facowie Lodge is located on Kabustasa Lake, which is accessible only via canoe.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)

Here in Northern Minnesota, the famed BWCA and the Quetico Provincial Park of Ontario comprise the largest waterways wilderness in the world.  In the Crane Lake Area of the BWCA, there are a number of canoe routes to match your interests, ambitions, and skill level. There are over 1,000 clear water lakes in this million+ acre wilderness. It makes up the finest recreation canoeing area available.

Crane Lake is located at the western edge of the BWCAW and offers a unique way of entering the wilderness area. The canoe and camping outfitters in Crane Lake can cater to your every need for a comfortable and enjoyable trip into the wilderness.

• Crane Lake Outfitters

There are hundreds of miles of perfectly groomed snowmobile trails in this area termed “The undiscovered Yellowstone”.  Many trails connect to the Arrowhead Trail and have countless marked trails on large border lakes.

Best of all, one of the main trails crosses Facowie Lodge property so you can leave the lodge and be instantly discovering this wilderness! The trail blazes thru thousands of acres of wilderness and no farm fields to deal with, ditches to ride in, roads to continually jump.  It will be one your most unique and pleasurable riding experiences.

• Visit the Voyageurs Trail Society website for current trail conditions and maps

The Crane Lake Chain of Lakes is a waterpark wonderland, known for its boating and fishing. Three primary lakes, Crane Lake, Sand Point Lake, and Namakan Lake, comprise the main waterway of over 40,000 combined acres.

Several rivers and streams pour into and out of the system. Some even can be accessed by unique “mechanical portages.” These consist of a railway track and flatbed boat trailer that cradles a watercraft. Then, the trailer hauls it up and over a hill to deposit it on a completely different lake on the other side.

The scenic beauty of the Crane Lake Chain is unmatched. Glaciers sculpted masterpiece after masterpiece. The area is abundant with white and pink granite with large veins of white quartz running through. Evergreens meet crystal blue waters and the sunrises and sunsets present photographic backdrops. Grassy Bay Cliffs on the west end of Sand Point Lake present massive shear cliffs. The waters are deep enough to guide your boat up close for an impressive view. A quick excursion to Namakan Narrows offers a close up view of pictographs (ancient Indian paintings) permanently etched into the jagged rocks.

• Navigating the waterways – Voyageur National Park

Boat Rentals

Don’t have a boat?  We’ve got you covered!  Small watercraft rentals such as canoes and kayaks can be found in Crane Lake as well as a variety of sizes of fishing boats, and luxury houseboats. Whether you’re planning a solo fishing adventure, memorable family vacation, romantic getaway, summer girls weekend, or a yearly family reunion, Crane Lake has rentals to fit all your needs.

• Crane Lake Boat Rentals

The relaxing beauty of the surrounding area is the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway.  Escape to the northwoods to slow down, rediscover each other and rekindle the fire!

The romantic opportunities are endless!  Take a walk hand-in-hand through the woods, paddle in a kayak, snuggle up to a cozy fire under the stars, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, rent a houseboat for the day, play in the snow, enjoy your morning coffee or an evening drink on the expansive back deck.

• Crane Lake area restaurants
• Voyagaire Houseboats

Minnesota is located where western prairies meet boreal forest and southeastern river-valley ecology. These three major habitat types give Minnesota a significant and highly varied bird population. Northern and east-central Minnesota lie in a narrow forest belt that supports a higher diversity of breeding songbirds than anywhere else in the United States and southern Canada. Minnesota’s extensive forest region is considered by leading ornithologists as one of only four remaining areas in the United States where the long-term conservation of forest birds can be accomplished.

• Birding resources from the Crane Lake Tourism Bureau
• Birding and Wildlife in Voyageur Country of Northeastern Minnesota