Superior National Forest Forest Road 385 Crooked Lake Circuit

Forest Road 385 cuts deep into the Boundary Waters country where most folks only travel by canoe, threading between Crooked Lake and a maze of beaver ponds that’ll test your water crossing skills. The route splits off the Echo Trail near Fenske Lake, winding through old-growth red pine stands and granite ridges that haven’t seen logging since the 1930s. Watch for the unmarked spur to Devil’s Cascade around mile 7 — it’s worth the detour if your rig can handle the rock shelves.

This is solid intermediate terrain requiring high clearance and 4WD for the water crossings and loose granite sections. Best tackled May through October when the beaver dams are manageable, though early season means mud and mosquitoes thick enough to choke a moose. Stock up on fuel in Ely — there’s nothing out here but wilderness and the ghosts of old logging camps. You’ll earn every mile of this 18-mile loop through some of Minnesota’s most pristine backcountry.