The Most Remote Beaches In Minnesota Are A Must-Visit This Summer
By Trent Jonas|Published July 13, 2023
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Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and a MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. With more than a decade of freelance writing experience under his belt, Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods, lakes, and trails. Rhubarb pie is his weakness, so discovering new diners is also a passion.
If you’re looking to cool off this summer at a beach in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you quite literally have thousands of options. Your options are narrower, though, if you want to get away from crowds. So, where do you go? How about one of the most remote beaches in Minnesota!
Let me start off by saying that this article is not going to urge you to go to the most remote beach in Minnesota this summer.
The recreation area is an island that, as the crow flies, is located in Lake of the Woods, about 15 miles off the mainland of Minnesota. You can't get closer to it without entering Canada.
Garden Island State Recreation Area, 3684 54th Ave NW, Williams, MN 56686, USA
Regardless, it's only accessible by boat or seaplane. So, although it's an awesome spot to explore, it's not the most practical for an afternoon at the beach.
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The next candidate would be somewhere in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
For example, Knife Lake is probably the the most remote lake in Minnesota. But it's shoreline is pretty rocky, so I'm guessing - I've never been - that it's not very beachy.
Combine the physical effort with the need for permits and reservations, and it may be even harder to reach than Garden Island. It's definitely another candidate for "most remote" in the North Star State.
Then, of course, there's Seagull Lake, another Boundary Waters entry point.
Trails End Campground, Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604, USA
To get there, you drive to Grand Marais - past all the lovely and accessible Lake Superior Beaches - then turn left and head another 52 miles or so until you reach Sea Gull Lake Access Road on the left (at the Seagull Lake Community Center). There, you can splash around at the sandy beach next to the canoe launch. Easier to get to? Definitely yes. Still remote? Also yes. But it's also not a great beach.
I think you'll find the best combination of remoteness and accessibility with a decent beach at the Echo Lake Campground.
Echo Lake is on a on gravel road 20 miles east of Orr, 30 miles north of Cook, and 40 miles northwest of Ely. It's remote, but you can get there in a car, and the beach is not bad. Not bad at all.
So, if you’re looking for a beach without a crowd, these are our picks. If you’re a beach lover, though, you may want to maximize your beach day in a less remote spot. No matter where you go – don’t forget your sun protection!
Have you visited any of this beaches? Would you want to? Let us know your thoughts on – and picks for – the most remote beaches in Minnesota.
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