Chippewa National Forest Forest Road 2114 Squaw Lake Loop

Forest Road 2114 follows the ghostly remains of a 1920s logging railroad grade around Squaw Lake, where rusted steel cables and rotting skidway timbers still mark the spots where white pine giants met their end. The sandy two-track winds through regenerated jack pine and aspen, hitting deep sand pockets that’ll bog down anything without momentum. The old Camp 7 site at mile 6 still shows concrete foundations and a collapsed commissary building slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

Moderate difficulty with a few tricky sand sections that require aired-down tires and confidence in loose surfaces. Stock high-clearance vehicles can make it with careful line choice, but 4WD helps in the sand. Open May through October, though spring can be muddy. Excellent dispersed camping along the lakeshore, and the fishing for walleye and northern pike is legendary. Bring bug spray—the mosquitoes here are vicious but the solitude is worth it.