If your destination
is to my fish house then you will be heading to the eastern shore of
Mille Lacs Lake. You will need to go to Mac's
Twin Bay resort and pay a $8 lake access fee. I have two
seasonal passes, one which I will use and the other for the vehicle of
the lucky visitor.
There are a number of
ways to go
(A) I35 Method
1. From the
Twin Cities get on I35 heading north.
2. Travel 69
miles north from where 35E and 35W merge.
2(a) (optional)
Stop at Tobies in Hinckley and get some caramel rolls
3. Exit at the Finlayson/Banning Junction exit (the next one after Sandstone) and
take a left over the highway.
4. Turn right
at the T and travel north on Highway 61 for 1.5 miles.
5. Turn left on
Highway 18, in the direction of Finlayson.
6. Travel past
Finlayson, Giese, and Highway 65 for 32 miles until the road T's at
Mille Lacs Lake.
7. Turn left
(south) on Highway 47.
8. Travel 2.6
miles south. You will pass "Jack's on Mille Lacs" on your left
and you should take the next right on "Vista Road".
9. This turn
will immediately T and you will see a blue sign pointing you left that
says "Resorts, Mac's Twin Bay" Turn left. Do not
go up the hill to your right.
10. Follow
Vista road for 0.3 miles as it winds around. You will come to
another T and you should go right. You will see Mac's Twin Bay
right there. There is a sign there that says "Welcome to
Mac's Twin Bay", "Buzzies Bar and Restaurant".
11. Head into
the parking lot and check into the "Lake Office". If
you have my extra seasonal pass you can head right out on the road if
you know where you are going. Otherwise you must check in and
buy a pass for $8. Tell them you are coming to house 171 and
Kevin or Karen will show you how to get there. Buy a souvenir
from them, they are nice folks.
11(a) If you have a
cell phone call me and let me know you are on the way.
(B) Highway
65 Method--this is the shortest, mileage-wise.
1. Take 65
north out of the cities. Coming from Saint Paul take 94 West, to
280, and go north on 35W. North of 694 take Highway 10 West
and exit at 65 north.
2. Follow 65
north through Blaine,
Cambridge, and Mora and then turn west on 27 at
Woodlands.
3. Follow 27
for a while and then turn right on 47 just north of Isle and go up the
east shore of the lake.
4. Turn left
(west) before a bar called "Jack's on Mille Lacs", take the immediate left, and
follow it around to Mac's/Buzzies. There are at least 2 turns to
"Vista Road" so be sure to take the one just south of
"Jack's on Mille Lacs".
(C) Highway 169
Method--coming from the west side of the Twin Cities
1. Take 94 west
past the sprawl of Maple Grove and to Rogers.
2. Exit at
Rogers and take 101 north towards Elk River. Cross the river and
Highway 10 and the road turns into Highway 169.
3. Take 169
north through Elk River, Princeton, Milaca, and Onamia.
4. Turn right
(east) on 27 and follow the south side of the lake through Wahkon and
Isle.
5. Go north on
47 out of Isle and turn left (west) on the Vista Road just before
"Jack's on Mille Lacs" There are at least 2 left-hand turns on
"Vista Road" so be sure you turn on the one just before
"Jack's on Mille Lacs".
6. Take your
immediate left, and follow it around to Mac's/Buzzies.
Note: "Smokin' Hill
has been re-named "Jack's on Mille Lacs"
