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.
First Trip For My Wife
by SWB
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 26, 2005
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
After planning this was a textbook trip. It worked without any real problems and great memories were created!
Report
First Trip For My Wife!
We left late on Wednesday Night after making our last store run for some the stakes, around 11PM. Her parents watched our children for the time we were gone. She dozed off and on until we arrived at the Tofte Ranger Station around 4AM. There was rain off and on all night. I climbed into the back seat and dozed until 6AM when they open.
Day1 – After getting out the hot coffee we went inside and got our permit. Couldn't believe it but the video was already running and another group was watching when we walked in.
The drive down the Sawbill Trail was fun. We were greeted by a small moose on our way in and had to stop and remove a tree that had fell across the road. Once at the landing (Kawishiwi Lake EP#37) we prepared and left. There was a cold North wind with intermittent rain all day. Aimee was a real trooper and didn't say anything and we worked are way across the lake. Reading the map I missed the entry to the river that headed up to Square lake, not by much and made the quick correction. Once in the river the wind calmed down and it was pleasant paddling. The portage into the river headed to Kawasachong went very well. We stopped at the other end for some bagel and cream cheese.
After arriving on Kawasachong we scooped out the campsites. One was already taken and the other campsite on the E. side of lake didn't appeal to us because of the wind. So we took site on the NW. side of the lake. It felt good to arrive after driving through the night and paddling in the rain. We sat up camp (had to clean up glass & cans out of the fire pit) did the chores and took a nap.
It was great to be there. After collecting firewood we spent time just talking and getting ready for supper. Stake & potatoes – It was a great first day.
Day2 – This day spent reading and relaxing. I took off and did some exploring on the lake and the bay right behind our campsite. There was a lot of beaver activity. The night before we saw a beaver swim right by us and the next morning he was headed somewhere else. Each day/night we saw him swimming.
Day 3 – Another day of relaxing. Both this morning and yesterday we slept in, drank coffee and spent time together enjoying the sights, sounds, and scenery around us. It was so good to enjoy our time and being in the BWCAW was a real treat over any other place we could have chosen. Today we hiked the portage trail over to Townline Lake. This is the main route on the way to Lake Polly and eventually the “Lady Chain Lakes to Sawbill”. In the afternoon while talking I created a new item to eat while tending to the fire. Chopped up onion, grilled it and then diced up some summer sausage and added to the mix. Scraped this out of the pan and put it on an English muffin added cheese and placed back on the pan, covered it for about 3mins. The cheese was melted and the muffin on the bottom was toasted. It made a great lunch. In the evening after supper we sat and watched a magnificent thunderstorm roll in from the south. Lighting and eventually the rain, we kept dry under the tarp.
Day 4 – Woke up and got out of the tent about 5:30AM. The Fog was really thick and couldn't see anything in the lake. Started coffee and hot water and began to pack up camp. Once I had everything pretty much done except the tent I woke up my wife and we had breakfast together. The fog started to lift as we loaded up and was ready to head away. The paddling was great on smooth water with no wind. Everything was very quiet. There is a loss knowing we were heading out, yet we had created some great memories. About 10 mins from the boat launch we were intercepted the canoe police (forestry service personal), they were checking permits and just spending the day paddling. It is great to know they are they. I had my permit in my day bag. Afterwards I thought that maybe the permit should be placed in the map pouch. At 5:30PM we were arriving home, so close, yet worlds apart.
I'm now counting the days until my next permit is valid, later in the summer.
My wife is really looking forward to heading up again when it works for both of us.
We left late on Wednesday Night after making our last store run for some the stakes, around 11PM. Her parents watched our children for the time we were gone. She dozed off and on until we arrived at the Tofte Ranger Station around 4AM. There was rain off and on all night. I climbed into the back seat and dozed until 6AM when they open.
Day1 – After getting out the hot coffee we went inside and got our permit. Couldn't believe it but the video was already running and another group was watching when we walked in.
The drive down the Sawbill Trail was fun. We were greeted by a small moose on our way in and had to stop and remove a tree that had fell across the road. Once at the landing (Kawishiwi Lake EP#37) we prepared and left. There was a cold North wind with intermittent rain all day. Aimee was a real trooper and didn't say anything and we worked are way across the lake. Reading the map I missed the entry to the river that headed up to Square lake, not by much and made the quick correction. Once in the river the wind calmed down and it was pleasant paddling. The portage into the river headed to Kawasachong went very well. We stopped at the other end for some bagel and cream cheese.
After arriving on Kawasachong we scooped out the campsites. One was already taken and the other campsite on the E. side of lake didn't appeal to us because of the wind. So we took site on the NW. side of the lake. It felt good to arrive after driving through the night and paddling in the rain. We sat up camp (had to clean up glass & cans out of the fire pit) did the chores and took a nap.
It was great to be there. After collecting firewood we spent time just talking and getting ready for supper. Stake & potatoes – It was a great first day.
Day2 – This day spent reading and relaxing. I took off and did some exploring on the lake and the bay right behind our campsite. There was a lot of beaver activity. The night before we saw a beaver swim right by us and the next morning he was headed somewhere else. Each day/night we saw him swimming.
Day 3 – Another day of relaxing. Both this morning and yesterday we slept in, drank coffee and spent time together enjoying the sights, sounds, and scenery around us. It was so good to enjoy our time and being in the BWCAW was a real treat over any other place we could have chosen. Today we hiked the portage trail over to Townline Lake. This is the main route on the way to Lake Polly and eventually the “Lady Chain Lakes to Sawbill”. In the afternoon while talking I created a new item to eat while tending to the fire. Chopped up onion, grilled it and then diced up some summer sausage and added to the mix. Scraped this out of the pan and put it on an English muffin added cheese and placed back on the pan, covered it for about 3mins. The cheese was melted and the muffin on the bottom was toasted. It made a great lunch. In the evening after supper we sat and watched a magnificent thunderstorm roll in from the south. Lighting and eventually the rain, we kept dry under the tarp.
Day 4 – Woke up and got out of the tent about 5:30AM. The Fog was really thick and couldn't see anything in the lake. Started coffee and hot water and began to pack up camp. Once I had everything pretty much done except the tent I woke up my wife and we had breakfast together. The fog started to lift as we loaded up and was ready to head away. The paddling was great on smooth water with no wind. Everything was very quiet. There is a loss knowing we were heading out, yet we had created some great memories. About 10 mins from the boat launch we were intercepted the canoe police (forestry service personal), they were checking permits and just spending the day paddling. It is great to know they are they. I had my permit in my day bag. Afterwards I thought that maybe the permit should be placed in the map pouch. At 5:30PM we were arriving home, so close, yet worlds apart.
I'm now counting the days until my next permit is valid, later in the summer.
My wife is really looking forward to heading up again when it works for both of us.