looking for a cabin…

I love the Aitkin, MN area…

2hr drive from the twin cities and you’re “Up North” with lots of great fishing lakes, clean water and you’re away from Millacs and Brainerd lakes area craziness…

Eelpoutguy wrote:

We looked for over a year, never thought it would be that difficult to find a cabin. Went thru 3 realtors, finally used my realtor from the cities

My father and his wife ended up doing same thing. Worked out much better and stuff actually started to happen.

muskie-tim wrote:

Parts of Lac Courte Oreilles, and Grindstone have a lot of break-ins.

Yup. Adjacent to the rez there.
Pills and meth are really bad right now in many rural areas, but especially on the rez.

I’ll 2nd, 3rd, and 4th the Webb Lake / Spooner area. I’m right between Mike K and Suzuki, on Deer Lake. I picked the area after being invited to Suzuki’s place multiple times. Short drive from the cities, not crowded, good fishing, great up north feel, and we got a ton for our money. There is a great place available on Deer lake right now. Here’s the link.
https://www.edinarealty.com/homes-for-sale/n8626-scenic-drive-spooner-wi-54801-1507423#/

Also Wis is both sled and quad friendly. Mn quading doesn’t even compare.

suzuki wrote:

Also Wis is both sled and quad friendly. Mn quading doesn’t even compare.

I agree, but I think you’ll see a huge shift in this for MN soon, they are losing out on tons of $$ and will get pressure from the legislator to open up access to get at those $$ to fill their funding gaps vs the state giving them more $$…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
Also Wis is both sled and quad friendly. Mn quading doesn’t even compare.

I agree, but I think you’ll see a huge shift in this for MN soon, they are losing out on tons of $$ and will get pressure from the legislator to open up access to get at those $$ to fill their funding gaps vs the state giving them more $$…

Makes sense. I have been wondering about that for years. Northern Sconny is WIDE OPEN for ATV’s with most side roads legal and even stretches of hwy legal to close small gaps. I can ride all I want from my cabin and not even get dusty if I dont want to. And of course a huge network of marked dirt trails not much smaller than their snowmobile network. The number of groups traveling up there to ride is astounding. We go on 1-2 sanctioned ride events every year. I always advertise them in the ATV forum.

I think the only issue I’ve read about is confusion with what to do with UTV’s, they typically have a wider wheelbase so they can’t use the same ruts the ATV’s and Sleds use so there was concern with ripping up the land more quickly?…It seems more and more folks are going to UTV’s for the passenger capability and added storage so something has to give…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I think the only issue I’ve read about is confusion with what to do with UTV’s, they typically have a wider wheelbase so they can’t use the same ruts the ATV’s and Sleds use so there was concern with ripping up the land more quickly?…It seems more and more folks are going to UTV’s for the passenger capability and added storage so something has to give…

You would be surprised. I have ridden with a LOT of UTV’s and every one has fit through the smallish gates protecting the ATV trails. I havent seen rutting as an issue around there either but its mostly sand so that is probably why. My wife is ready to be miss daisy and driven around in a UTV but I keep putting my foot down and telling her she’s a DRIVER. One of these days I will lose.
So to sum things up, get a cabin in Wis if you like 4-wheeling.

We had an undeveloped lot on upper Webb lake when I was a kid…..sold it when we moved out of state but it was a great area. Whole family wishes we have kept it. I was back up in that area a few years ago and it really hasn’t changed.

mxskeeter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>muskie-tim wrote:</div>
Wisconsin taxes drove us to buy in MN. We were looking in WI but between cabin prices, crime rates and taxes we settled on MN. Make sure to check crime reports on the lakes you are considering. Parts of Lac Courte Oreilles, and Grindstone have a lot of break-ins.

I vacationed on Leech 20 years ago. Met a retired policeman. He told me breakins were pretty common on cabins with absentee ownership even then in that area.

Off topic but this reminds me of the book “Stranger in the Woods.” It’s the true story of this guy who unplugged and walked into the woods in Maine and didn’t talk to another human for 27 years. He survived almost solely off food and necessities stolen from various cabins around one lake.

OP, don’t move to that lake!

Crossingeyes.. that’s a nice looking place and price doesn’t seem that bad for lakefront. Wish I had 200k laying around.

Suzuki..I went 4 wheelin on the trails in the Birchwood area quit a few years ago and man that was a blast! Great trail system.

X4 on the WI ATV trails, not to get this thread too off track…I log around 1,500 miles a summer on my quads and maybe 1-200 is in MN…

FWIW, I grew up with a cabin east of Mankato and my parents recently retired to it. I would love the up-north feel, but I’ll settle for the hog farm smell and Iowa residents…

crossin_eyes wrote:

I’ll 2nd, 3rd, and 4th the Webb Lake / Spooner area. I’m right between Mike K and Suzuki, on Deer Lake. I picked the area after being invited to Suzuki’s place multiple times. Short drive from the cities, not crowded, good fishing, great up north feel, and we got a ton for our money. There is a great place available on Deer lake right now. Here’s the link.
https://www.edinarealty.com/homes-for-sale/n8626-scenic-drive-spooner-wi-54801-1507423#/

That place looks great…..I didn’t realize I was in the market for a cabin!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I love the Aitkin, MN area…

2hr drive from the twin cities and you’re “Up North” with lots of great fishing lakes, clean water and you’re away from Millacs and Brainerd lakes area craziness…

Agree, it’s a nice central location to Grand Rapids, Leech Lake, etc. And I like the fact that it’s close enough to Duluth for taking a day trip over there.

I have also thought that McGregor is a perfect sleeper location because it’s a straight shot up 65 which avoids all of the traffic up the heavy 10/169/35W cabin getaway routes.

If you live in Rochester I’d really recommend 3 mnareas. Save on taxes and avoid packer fans.
1. Alexandria great town great fishing kind of hot in summer.
2. Fairbault close drive good fishing.
3. Annandale, Watkins, paynesville area. Clean livinggood fishing good people.
4. Wasn’t going to put this one since I’m in area but princeton/milaca area your up north people are good and millelacs isn’t far away

slipbob_nick wrote:

3. Annandale, Watkins, paynesville area. Clean livinggood fishing good people.

I would scratch that area. AIS rules in the near future may put a hamper on fishing and fun. I would not like a cabin in an area where you have to go out of your way to get your boat inspected before putting in the water.