I would like to do some exploring this weekend and I've been running through the Lakefinder and Alden Lake seems worth a trip. My question is how do you get on it? The DNR site says you have to use the Cloquet. Is this the only access?

Yep. Cloquet river the only access.

The Cloquet is probably not safe to travel on yet either. Where do you get on the Cloquet the plat book doesn't show much for access to the Cloquet in the area either.

Travel on it is always risky and I won't travel it anymore. I wouldn't even dream about trying it yet.
You get on at the mouth of Island Lake or off the snowmobile trail that crosses the river North of Pequawn(sp)lake. Theres a good gradient from Island lake up river. Open water and thin ice most of the winter.

If you want to fish those lakes, it is best to check with one of the land owners on the lake and see if you can cross their property to get there. Most likely they won't have problem with it. That way you aren't running the risk of crossing the river and you won't have too far of a walk either.

I was thinking about trying that. Thanks tearin' lips.

I might just head up there and look for someone outside there house near the lake and ask.

You'll find the road posted as "Private" and gated so you can't get near the lake or home and cabin owners. Even if you could from my personal observation they wouldn't give you permission.

Due to the gate, you would have to worry about getting trapped in if it was locked. We used wheelers to go up the river last year in the middle of the season. My wheeler ended up breaking through in a spot where the current caused the ice to be only a couple of inches thick. I had a rope attached and it only went through to the undercarriage so we winched it out. pretty much decided to stay off of the river after that. You can float the river in the summer right to the lake, but the winter poses more of a hassle.

last winter there was a thread here talking about Alden. I think that they were also towing vehicles that were parked on the roads marked "Private".

My grand parents use to live on little alden, and that is where i still deer hunt. I was told this deer season that certain people on the lake will have strangers vehicles towed.

This is my first post but i have been browsing the site for a while now.

Welcome aboard John.
I've found most there like their privacy and rightfully so. Hint, posted private roads maintained by themselves and gated.
So you've got to know someone or own a lot to fish it in the winter. There is a place for sale on Alden for whats its worth.