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Hogback Lake Area

Hogback ridges along trail offer beautiful vistas. • 5 miles of trail. • 4 ‘backcountry’ campsites. • 3 site rustic campground. • Day use picnic area. • Boat launch. • Hogback-Canal, Scarp, and Steer are stocked designated trout lakes. • Two trailheads for through hiking. • Other fishing and camping opportunities in area.

Boating - Motorized Info

A boat ramp on Hogback Lake provides easy access for motorboats.  Canal Lake is connected to Hogback by a small channel which is passable in high water, and is short enough to paddle across with your motor up in lower water.  The passage between Canal and Scarp is not navigable.

Boating - Non-Motorized Info

The lakes in the Hogback area are perfect for lazy paddling and exploring.  On a day when winds might make a big lake a challenge, these small jewels make an excellent choice.  There are not maintained portages between lakes, but the connections between Hogback, Canal, and Scarp are either navigable or portageable most of the time. 

Backpacking and Day Hikes

A six mile trail system provides several loops and access to six lakes.  The trail runs along a narrow hogback ridge which offers scenic views over the lakes.  One portion of the trail connects to a separate trailhead if you want to avoid retracing your steps.

The trail loops around Hogback Lake, Canal Lake, Lupus Lake, Scarp Lake, Mound Lake, and Steer Lake. Alger Lake is not on the trail system, but is not far off the trail.

Fishing

Three of the lakes accessed by the Hogback Trail System are designated trout lakes stocked with rainbow trout.  People fishing must have a trout stamp in addition to their fishing license.  There is an accessible fishing pier at Hogback Lake.

Dispersed Camping

Access to the 5 backcountry sites in the Hogback Lake area varies.  One is directly on Hogback Lake and is accessible by boat from the boat launch, and two more are accessible by canoe from Hogback Lake by portaging to adjacent lakes.  The remaining two are only accessible by foot via a hiking trail.  The hiking trail can also be used to access all the sites.  Please do not use or create additional non-designated campsites. 

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Site Open

Hogback Lake is a 40 acre lake with a depth of 43 feet. It's a great place for a quiet weekend fishing and hiking.

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Site Open

Lupus Lake is a 63 acre lake located southwest of Scarp Lake. This 7 foot deep lake has 3 miles of shoreline with one campsite. 

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Steer Lake is a small, 4.4 acre lake, with a maximum depth of 25 feet.

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Scarp Lake is a small, shallow lake at 39 acres and a maximum depth of 15 feet. It can be accessed by portaging from Hogback Lake.

Last updated March 31st, 2025