East Lake Pines

The East Lake Pines trail is a two mile loop trail located 12 miles east of Marcell, Minnesota in the Chippewa National Forest. The trail is only accessible by canoe. The trail travels through some glacier remains known as "Kettles"that formed 12,000 years ago. Kettle topography is the result of large chunks of ice left from the the glacier's retreat. They are very deep pits, 300 feet in diameter by 150 feet deep similiar to a strip mine, but covered by 200 year old pine trees. We stayed in a cabin and hiked to Clubhouse Lake. We left from the south shore after securing our packs and Jack Russell Terriers in the canoe. You would leave Clubhouse Lake from the National Forest Campground's boat ramp on the west shore. The trip started by crossing Clubhouse Lake with three pair of ears flapping in the wind. From the south shore we had veiwed a seven foot American Eagle's nest and had hope to view its occupants out over the lake. We were soon rewarded as a large Eagle soared above us for twenty minutes before pearching in a tree top on a pennisula that juted out into the lake. The JRT's were more interested in the flock of geese that swam in a group of eight to our right. Buzz has special interest in any type of water fowl. We crossed Clubhouse Lake to the river that zig-zagged out of the lake, riding the strong current down a half of a mile, through a steel tunnel and into a small still lake.

The river continued slowly moving through high thick areas of wild rice which slowed the canoe and made the Jack Russell Terriers curious. After about a mile of tuff going we reached East Lake and the East Lake Pines trail. We had canoed three miles, and the JRT's were ready for lunch and dry land. The trailhead was difficult to find, but after some time we followed it straight up 100 feet to the loop trail. We had a topo map and compass which saved our hide on several occasions that day. The trail is used by hunter and several crossing trails made the hike very confusing. Without our map and compass, we would have surely been lost in the middle of the Chippewa National Forest. Bear scat was everywhere, but the "Kettles" were quite impressive. The depth and width of the "Kettles" covered in old growth pines was daunting. We made our way back to the canoe and loaded up the packs and pups, heading back up stream. The return trip required paddling against the current, but allowed us to see the wild rice areas of the river in more detail. Snapping Turtles were out sunning around every bend in the river, plopping into the water as we approached to the Jack Russell Terriers' dismay. At the steel tunnel, the current was very strong, but a rope had been attached to both ends to assist you in pulling the canoe up the strong current. Without the rope, you would not have been able to get back up to Clubhouse Lake. The trip required three miles of hiking and six miles of canoeing. It allowed your mind to travel back in time to a place devasted by the power of glacier ice beneath the canopy of old growth pines. This was an excellent hike for Jack Russell Terriers even though becoming lost was always a concern. The trip was worth the risk, requiring five and one half hours to complete. Keeping your Jack Russell Terriers in the canoe was also quite challenging.