Our Lake County, Minnesota Highpointing Page

Stony Tower Hill -- 2080 feet

 

Introduction

Lake County's Highest Point is located in Section 11 of an unnamed township. It holds Minnesota's second highest county, after Cook. I visited Stony Tower Hill on May 29, the morning after I completed Koochiching County.

 

Approaches to the Stony Tower Hill Trailhead

I came from Duluth on State Highway 61.
About 34 miles northeast of Two Harbors, I turned left onto S.H. 1. It gains elevation fast as it rises above the Lake Superior basin.
I drove northwest on S.H. 1 for 23.5 miles, and turned left onto Stony Loop (Forest Road 103).

F.R. 103 is marked as unsuitable for passenger cars, but, with care, I was able to drive all the way to the access path for the hill in my Ford Escort.
At 1.8 miles on F.R. 103, I met two ATV drivers joining the road from a trail.
At 1.9 miles, I saw another trail going left, and at 2.6 miles, another trail to the left.
I kept driving past the right-bound trail, not seeing it at first, but it is at 2.79 miles, and I parked on the road, hoping noone would need to get by.

 

The Trail

The trail is the one shown on the topographic map, well-maintained, except for one large, fallen evergreen tree. The trail is about 0.1 mile long. I arrived there in 6 minutes.

 

The Summit

The Geological marker is directly in the middle of the lookout tower corners.

I thought that the highest natural ground was next to the northwest tower support. I enjoyed this summit the most on this trip, also it was the highest of this trip.

When I got back to my car, three ATV drivers came from the west. They were able to get around my car.


The Route Out

I returned to S.H. 1, and turned left, on my way to Saint Louis County.

 

Our Progress

Family Member Count
Mark 167

 

Other Ascents and Trip Reports

Fred Lobdell, John Mitchler, David Olson and FNU Paterson claim first ascent on July 28, 1996.
Bob Packard
Dick Ellsworth
Bob Schwab
Richard L. Carey (June 24, 2001)
Michael Schwartz (Oct. 19, 2001).

 

Bibliography

.

http://www.topozone.com

Minnesota Atlas & Gazeteer by Delorme, 3rd Edition, 2001.

 

File Name:
Written by: Mark Ness
Last Revised by:  Mark Ness
on: