Since it is May/early June and the water levels will most likely be up, I like the Frost River. Not many visitors. It may be a bit rugged, that’s why it’s more isolated. Good fishing (that time of year will be GREAT fishing!). Lots of moose. There will be mosquitos just like anywhere else this time of year. You can do the Frost River many ways. 1) Enter at Sawbill Lake (#38), travel north to Cherokee and over to Frost Lake. Then down the river to Hub. From there you can either swing west for a LONG trip through the Lady Lakes Chain (Phoebe, Grace, Beth, ie the Phoebe River) or head south through Mesaba and Wine. Either way will take you back to Sawbill. 2) Enter from Ham/Cross Bay Lake (#51). Go south through Rib, Karl, Gordon to Frost Lake. Then the river to Hub. Then north through Mora, Little Sag, Gillis, Brandt and ending at Round Lake. Round Lake is a short walk from Ham. In fact, what I would do is unload at Ham and then drive to Round to park the car. It’s a bigger/better parking lot there.

You can make many variations from these routes. The Frost River is pretty much a do-it-all-in-one-day deal. There are no campsites along it (there is one campsite on a lake one portage away, half way down the river but I can’t remember it’s name -- and don’t count on it being open). It will take a full day to travel it. Lots of little, but rocky portages. Leave early in the morning from Frost Lake (with a good attitude).

Sawbill has a FS campground for the night before. Sawbill Outfitters is there and they have a store. No bunkhouse or cafe though. Round Lake has Tuscorora Outfitters where you can rent a bunkhouse the night before AND buy a nice breakfast the next morning!

Posted by Ken E. Brown on January 05, 2000 at 13:36