ROUTES/PORTAGES FROM NORTH CONE LAKE:
To Cliff Lake: Walk the 145 rod portage
To Davis Lake: Walk the 185 rod portage
To Middle Cone Lake: Paddle In (As of 2023, this portage was not necessary. Beavers have raised the water levels in Middle Cone Lake allowing you to just paddle through)
North Cone Lake
Tofte Ranger District
The lake is sometimes referred to as Upper Cone Lake, especially before 1990.
Water flows into North Cone Lake through a small creek that flows in from Pup Lake in the northeast arm of the lake near the Cliff Lake portage. Water exits the lake to the south into Middle Cone Lake.
The portage to seldom visited Davis Lake is long, but not very difficult. The first 200 yards of the portage after leaving North Cone Lake climbs about 90 feet, but after that, the rest of the portage is mostly flat. As of 2023, the portage between North Cone Lake and Middle Cone Lake wasn't necessary. Beavers have raised the level of Middle Cone Lake, which makes it possible to just paddle between these lakes.
Logging operations occurred in this area from 1929 to 1931. A large forest fire, the Great Depression and heart rot (a tree disease)in the large white pines in the area brought an early end to these operations.
The lake supports a mediocre fishery of walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass.
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PADDLING FROM THE CLIFF LAKE PORTAGE TO THE DAVIS LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling westward down the northeast arm of North Cone Lake following the north shoreline. Portage to Davis Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE DAVIS LAKE PORTAGE TO MIDDLE CONE LAKE
A brief paddle from north to south across the lake, generally keeping to the west side of the lake. Paddle into Middle Cone Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for North Cone Lake
From North Cone Lake, you can portage to either Cliff Lake or Davis Lake. As of 2023, the portage into Middle Cone Lake is no longer necessary. The water levels were raised on Middle Cone Lake by a beaver dam at the outlet to South Cone Lake.
