Bass Lake
Photo: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- 9.9 mi
- round trip
- 1,358 ft
- climb
- 1,525 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Aug–Sep
- best months
Is Bass Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Bass Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.
Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026
Agency closure covering Superior National Forest · Order 09-09-00-26-11 · USFS · Superior National Forest
Forest Road Improvement Projects
Agency alert covering Superior National Forest · USFS · Superior National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bass Lake is a 9.9-mile out-and-back hike in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The Forest Service manages the land, which also falls within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Mining Protection Area Mineral Reserve Area. The trail is a gravel path with a high point of 1,525 feet and a low of 1,356 feet, and it is rated hard. The climb is steepest around the third mile, with a 12% grade. The most comfortable time to go is summer. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show July highs around 79°F and lows near 53°F. Winters are severe, with January highs around 15°F and lows below zero. The trail is open year-round. Other hikes start close by, including Dry Lake about half a mile away and the BASS LAKE TRAIL at 0.6 miles. Paddlers can reach the Circle Route within about a mile and a half.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Dry LakeHikingPhoto: Abnormally Weird, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.5 mi- BASS LAKE TRAILHikingPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)0.6 mi
- HoboHikingPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)0.6 mi
- Hobo-BassHiking0.8 mi
- Circle RouteCanoeing1.4 mi
Fenske Lake CampgroundPier fishingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.5 mi
Fall LakeCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7 mi- Science BoulderRock climbing8.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Dry LakeHiking · Next doorPhoto: Abnormally Weird, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- BASS LAKE TRAILHiking · Next doorPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- ProspectorHiking · ~7 min drive
- Hidden Valley Birch HighlandsHiking · ~7 min drive
- HoboHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- Northwest PassageHiking · ~9 min drive
- NORTH ARM TRAILHiking · ~10 min drive
Everett-FenskiHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- SLIM LAKE LOOPHiking · ~10 min drive
- Troll's WayHiking · ~10 min drive
Best time to visit Bass Lake
Best months: August–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
15° / -7°
11 wet
Feb
23° / -5°
9 wet
Mar
36° / 10°
9 wet
Apr
51° / 25°
10 wet
May
65° / 38°
13 wet
Jun
75° / 49°
14 wet
Jul
79° / 53°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 52°
12 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
12 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
14 wet
Nov
34° / 19°
11 wet
Dec
21° / 3°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ely, MN, 2.2 mi away at 1,382 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Superior National Forest · Order dated July 12, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Aug 25, 2026 · Forest Service
