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BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 28 2024

Entry Point 1 - Trout Lake

Trout Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). This entry point is supported by La Croix Ranger Station near the city of Cook, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 30 miles. Access from LakeVermilion via 60-rod canoe portage or 180-rod portage that allows the use of portage wheels. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 12
Elevation: 1381 feet
Latitude: 47.9144
Longitude: -92.3220
Trout Lake - 1

EP 37 Solo Canoe Trip, pictographs and swimming moose.

by Ajoutdoors
Trip Report

Entry Date: September 08, 2018
Entry Point: Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 1

Trip Introduction:
I had just recently purchased my own canoe, a Sawyer Autumn Mist. My schedule worked out where I had a stretch of days off so I decided to take a quick trip to the see the pictographs. I also decided to leave the tent behind and go hammock style. It turned out to be an excellent trip.

Day 1 of 4


Saturday, September 08, 2018 I started out at Sawbill to pick up my permit and a new map. After the drive over to Kawishiwi, I was on the water by 930. I had a nice southerly wind pushing me all the way to my goal of Malberg. Paddling through the river and the burn area was a neat paddle. The portage’s were all dry so that made them really easy. Almost all of these portage’s were nice and flat. I made it Malberg in about 6.5 hours double portaging. I really wish I had a lighter canoe. It weighs close to 50 lbs so single portaging wasn’t happening. I checked out a couple campsites and made the second one from the south my home for the next two nights. 

 



Day 2 of 4


Sunday, September 09, 2018 I was on the water by 10 with the goal of getting to the Fishdance pictographs. I reached the portage on the northwest end of Malberg and finally had my first challenging portage. There was water in the middle of the portage that I had to walk through. Then, at the end the landing was a muddy swamp. Luckily, someone had a made a path farther up the river and I was able to put in without slogging through the mud. Once I turned south, I knew I was in trouble. The wind was whipping from the south. It was a very difficult paddle. I made it to the Fishdance portage and tried my luck fishing the rapids. Right away I caught a small northern. I pressed on a made it to the pictographs after about 3.5 hours. I had estimated a two hour paddle. The pictographs were cool to see and I’m glad I got to see them.  On the way back, I stopped to fish at the rapids and caught a small walleye. I took it to a nearby campsite and cooked it up. I pressed on and made it back to camp after a long 8 hour day. While sitting at camp I saw something swimming across the water. It turned out to be a bull moose! He even shook off like a dog when he exited the water. I had a small fire and off to bed I went.

 



Day 3 of 4


Monday, September 10, 2018 I awoke this morning to rain and more rain. I hung out in my hammock drinking two pots of coffee till around 11am. Having a hammock turned out to be a great advantage. Otherwise I would of been huddled in my tent for hours. With the hammock I could just relax and look out at the rain. Very relaxing.  I was finally on the water around noon and made my way down to Polly. I ended up taking the camp site closest to the portage. It was a great campsite. The only downsides were the landings. They were very slippery.  Later on at night it got very calm so I went out to fish. I heard some noise and saw a canoe coming down the portage trail. I went around the bend to fish some more. When I came back to the other side I couldn’t see their canoe. Then I saw it. A huge bull moose. I wasn’t looking at a canoe, I was seeing his antlers. I think he was even grunting. It sounded like a loud bull frog.  I had a nice fire and retired to bed.

 



Day 4 of 4


Tuesday, September 11, 2018 I awoke around 6am to fog on the lake. I watched a beautiful sunrise from my hammock. Again, another huge advantage for the hammock. I packed up, fought a south wind again and made it back to civilization. [paragraph break] A couple thoughts on the trip. I absolutely loved the canoe. I paddled with a 280cm kayak paddle and it handled great. I only wish I had a lighter version. Hammock camping is the way to go. My tent will be gathering dust. Doing an out and back was originally a disappointment but it turned out to be great. Everything looks different coming the opposite direction. Lol.  I also posted some videos https://youtu.be/lLD2Db2dFuI

 


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