We are originally from the Twin Cities (Minneapolis & St Paul). We purchased this cabin in 2016 with the intent of using it as our weekend getaway for our family. When the pandemic hit, we decided to retreat to our little cabin and never returned. We love this area so much for its recreation and beauty that we decided to make it our permanent home. We lived in this cabin for three summers while we built our home and transitioned to the North woods.

JJ our oldest son is an avid outdoorsman who loves to fish. He spent every summer honing his casting skills from our dock to various success. As is the story of fishing. There would be days he would only catch little perch. There were numerous times I would be jolted by screaming from the dock where I would find that he had picked up a sizeable smallmouth from the reeds or a musky off the boat mooring.

Our daughter Izzy is a free spirit who loves all animals (including unicorns) and would often spend her afternoons feeding the ducks. Every season the news must have traveled between the flock because most days they would be perched on the paddleboard waiting for her to come out. She also loves the water which makes this location ideal, as the sugar sand bar extends for hundreds of feet before you hit the drop-off.

The benefits to the Moose Pad are many but I will name the few that I find most valuable:

On the Water – Being a part of the old Bluehaven Resort, the cabin is right on the water. You can sit in the cabin living room and not even see the shore, just the lake. Sitting on the deck and feeling the breeze come off the lake, or the waves breaking just a few feet away as you lay in bed is something that is rare.

Sunsets – I try never to miss one because no two are alike. I made it a tradition to start a bonfire each night, sit in an Adirondack chair and watch the sun go down. This would give way to some of the most breath-taking stargazing further emphasizing how far from the city you are.

Sand Bar – I am not kidding when I say that this property is located on one of the nicest sandbars in Itasca County. No more than 50 off the end of the dock you will find sugar sand in waste deep water. One of our favorite things to do was to moor up a boat, lillypad or paddle board and just sit while the kids played and wore themselves out. The bar (as seen on google maps) goes all the way up the shore and is good for a little stroll if you are so inclined.

Camper Site – This lot has a sight for a camper. We have often invited guests to join us for the week/weekend. They were able to park and plug in easily so they could enjoy the lake but not feel like they had to cram in the cabin. This is an excellent amenity if you have others that want to join for your full, or just partial part of your stay.

Chippewa National Forrest – The cabin is situated at the south end of the Chippewa National Forrest and the Suomi Hills. There are numerous hiking trails if you feel like getting some exercise and seeing what the forest has to offer. One of our favorite hikes is up the Trout Lake Trailhead to the Joyce Estates where you can experience a little local history as well as see the stunning blue waters of Trout Lake.