BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 09 2024
Entry Point 39 - Baker Lake
Baker Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Tofte, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 26 miles. Access is a boat landing at Baker Lake with a 10-rod portage into Peterson Lake to reach first campsite. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Memorial Day '04
by katcircle
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 29, 2004
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days:
2
Group Size:
9
Trip Introduction:
My third
Report
Kawishiwi Lake, Square Lake, Kawasachong Lake
We left the Twin Cities w/ a group of 9 at 4am. A steady rain tempered our enthusiasm this year. We drove into Duluth, though, & saw clearing skies up 61. Full spring sunshine greeted us at the Tofte Ranger station. We drove up the Sawbill Trail sharing made-up "dumbest questions asked of the Ranger station staff" ("Are there sharks in the Boundary Waters?", "You said I can't have more than 9 people, but I have a dog-farm; can I bring my 15 dogs?" ...I guess you had to be there [and I guess you had to have 4 nephews along that needed entertainment]). Our 3 canoes were very fully loaded & were low in the waves of Kawishiwi Lake. We made it over the Kawishiwi beaver dam into Square Lake. We had thought that we could make the 2 short portages into Kawasachong Lake. Even though we had camp chairs, too much clothing, and two of most every supply, we were confident. Until we saw the 2nd campsite on Square, that is. A beautifully secluded site which made us feel as if we were scores of miles into the Wilderness. Setting up camp occupied most of our Saturday. The fish weren't biting off the point so we swam instead. WHEW! May waters chill to the bone! Steaks over the fire made it easy to forget a cold swim. Sunday gave us a windy morning as we sat around the fire & shared "church" together. The wind gave me an idea of God's presence. Many people are absent-minded about the wind. They don't care about it; they don't think about it; they don't even know it's really there. Others are annoyed with the wind. They complain that it's too windy; they are irritated when it blows campfire smoke in their eyes; they are upset when it ruins their plans. Still others accept the wind. They acknowledge that they cannot do anything to start or stop the wind; they tap into the wind to fulfill a need in their life; they enjoy it by sailing or flying a kite! I found a parallel in that to God's presence. Later that day, we planned a 2-canoe day-trip to Malberg. Our 2 small portages brought us into a steady rain, though, & the smallest day-trippers gave up ("Daddy, I wanna go home!"). Thus, a return to camp for the rest of the day included staring at the ceiling of our tent, resting, eating, resting, eating some more, & resting some more. Sunday night, the fish started biting off the point. We enjoyed a late night snack of pike & popcorn. Interesting combo, but very tasty nonetheless! Monday was Memorial Day. We recalled the heroes of generations past that served in the military. From a twenty-something in the south Pacific to a young Vietnam Chaplain, several of our family made it possible for us to enjoy such a weekend. We sang several patriotic songs & prayed for our leaders. For such a small group of 9 in such a secluded place, it did, however, feel as it we were gathered en masse by a nation of believers. Our trip home saw several of us enduring the rain yet again & pining for dry clothes (wool clothes rule, by the way! Never leave home w/o them!).
We left the Twin Cities w/ a group of 9 at 4am. A steady rain tempered our enthusiasm this year. We drove into Duluth, though, & saw clearing skies up 61. Full spring sunshine greeted us at the Tofte Ranger station. We drove up the Sawbill Trail sharing made-up "dumbest questions asked of the Ranger station staff" ("Are there sharks in the Boundary Waters?", "You said I can't have more than 9 people, but I have a dog-farm; can I bring my 15 dogs?" ...I guess you had to be there [and I guess you had to have 4 nephews along that needed entertainment]). Our 3 canoes were very fully loaded & were low in the waves of Kawishiwi Lake. We made it over the Kawishiwi beaver dam into Square Lake. We had thought that we could make the 2 short portages into Kawasachong Lake. Even though we had camp chairs, too much clothing, and two of most every supply, we were confident. Until we saw the 2nd campsite on Square, that is. A beautifully secluded site which made us feel as if we were scores of miles into the Wilderness. Setting up camp occupied most of our Saturday. The fish weren't biting off the point so we swam instead. WHEW! May waters chill to the bone! Steaks over the fire made it easy to forget a cold swim. Sunday gave us a windy morning as we sat around the fire & shared "church" together. The wind gave me an idea of God's presence. Many people are absent-minded about the wind. They don't care about it; they don't think about it; they don't even know it's really there. Others are annoyed with the wind. They complain that it's too windy; they are irritated when it blows campfire smoke in their eyes; they are upset when it ruins their plans. Still others accept the wind. They acknowledge that they cannot do anything to start or stop the wind; they tap into the wind to fulfill a need in their life; they enjoy it by sailing or flying a kite! I found a parallel in that to God's presence. Later that day, we planned a 2-canoe day-trip to Malberg. Our 2 small portages brought us into a steady rain, though, & the smallest day-trippers gave up ("Daddy, I wanna go home!"). Thus, a return to camp for the rest of the day included staring at the ceiling of our tent, resting, eating, resting, eating some more, & resting some more. Sunday night, the fish started biting off the point. We enjoyed a late night snack of pike & popcorn. Interesting combo, but very tasty nonetheless! Monday was Memorial Day. We recalled the heroes of generations past that served in the military. From a twenty-something in the south Pacific to a young Vietnam Chaplain, several of our family made it possible for us to enjoy such a weekend. We sang several patriotic songs & prayed for our leaders. For such a small group of 9 in such a secluded place, it did, however, feel as it we were gathered en masse by a nation of believers. Our trip home saw several of us enduring the rain yet again & pining for dry clothes (wool clothes rule, by the way! Never leave home w/o them!).
Lakes Traveled:
Kawishiwi Lake,
Square Lake,
Kawasachong Lake,