Today, Tredhed and I set out on a hike to Iron Lake in the Ferris Lake Wild Forest. There is no marked trail to Iron Lake, but it's just a short bushwhack from the north shore of Jockeybush Lake. The well marked trailhead for Jockeybush Lake is on Rt. 10 in Arietta.
After signing into the woods, we followed the blue disked trail across a snowmobile trail and through some beautiful big woods. The trail soon crossed the Jockeybush outlet on some very slippery stones.
Shortly after crossing the stream, we were in for a nice surprise as the trail passed close to a 15' cascade.
The trail then led us through some very muddy areas as it climbed to the lake. Finally, we emerged from the mud wallows and came to the designated campsite at the outlet of Jockeybush Lake and the end of the marked trail.
While the view from the campsite here was nice, more sweeping vistas awaited us as we then followed a fisherman's path around the north shore. The path was in very good shape and we soon passed a great view of the shoulder of Ely Mt. from the second designated campsite.
Proceeding to the third designated campsite, the views continued to improve.
Continuing on, we set a compass course for Iron Lake. The wet woods were a little distracting, but we were able to follow a very faint blazed path up and over the saddle between the two ponds.
Expert compass work :rolling: soon brought us to the informal campsite on the south shore of Iron Lake.
After patting ourselves on the back for not getting lost, I decided to take the duty canoe out for a quick explore.
Iron Lake is a very complicated body of water with islands, rocky points and huge trees. My pictures cannot do it justice on this hazy fall day. Judging from the rocks on the shore, the water level must have been several feet higher than it was today. Beavers?
After scratching my nautical itch, we enjoyed our lunch before heading back over the ridge to Jockeybush. It was a quick walk back down the lake to the marked trail. We met another hiker on his way up to Jockeybush for his first visit to the lake. After exchanging pleasantries, we hoofed it back to Rt. 10, signing out of the woods five hours after we checked in.
I'd like to thank Tredhed for driving and donating a few of the pictures. We had a great time exploring these two charming lakes in the northwest corner of the Ferris Lake Wild Forest.
After signing into the woods, we followed the blue disked trail across a snowmobile trail and through some beautiful big woods. The trail soon crossed the Jockeybush outlet on some very slippery stones.
Shortly after crossing the stream, we were in for a nice surprise as the trail passed close to a 15' cascade.
The trail then led us through some very muddy areas as it climbed to the lake. Finally, we emerged from the mud wallows and came to the designated campsite at the outlet of Jockeybush Lake and the end of the marked trail.
While the view from the campsite here was nice, more sweeping vistas awaited us as we then followed a fisherman's path around the north shore. The path was in very good shape and we soon passed a great view of the shoulder of Ely Mt. from the second designated campsite.
Proceeding to the third designated campsite, the views continued to improve.
Continuing on, we set a compass course for Iron Lake. The wet woods were a little distracting, but we were able to follow a very faint blazed path up and over the saddle between the two ponds.
Expert compass work :rolling: soon brought us to the informal campsite on the south shore of Iron Lake.
After patting ourselves on the back for not getting lost, I decided to take the duty canoe out for a quick explore.
Iron Lake is a very complicated body of water with islands, rocky points and huge trees. My pictures cannot do it justice on this hazy fall day. Judging from the rocks on the shore, the water level must have been several feet higher than it was today. Beavers?
After scratching my nautical itch, we enjoyed our lunch before heading back over the ridge to Jockeybush. It was a quick walk back down the lake to the marked trail. We met another hiker on his way up to Jockeybush for his first visit to the lake. After exchanging pleasantries, we hoofed it back to Rt. 10, signing out of the woods five hours after we checked in.
I'd like to thank Tredhed for driving and donating a few of the pictures. We had a great time exploring these two charming lakes in the northwest corner of the Ferris Lake Wild Forest.
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