BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 03 2024
Entry Point 50 - Cross Bay Lake
Cross Bay Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 45 miles. Access is thru the Cross River with two portages to Ham Lake and a 24-rod portage to Cross Bay Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1670 feet
Latitude: 48.0760
Longitude: -90.8222
Cross Bay Lake - 50
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1670 feet
Latitude: 48.0760
Longitude: -90.8222
Cross Bay Lake - 50
Trout bums
by jeffish
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 13, 2008
Entry Point:
Ram Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
6
Trip Introduction:
I had done this entry portage about 10 years ago. Either my memory is bad or I'm not in the same shape I was ten years ago. I don't remember the portage being uphill for all but the last few rods. The portage is sometimes listed as short as 90 rods but I've seen it listed as quite a bit longer. I was able to portage the canoe back down the hill on the way out without stopping but the portage in required a few rest stops. There are certainly longer initial portages but this is one of the hardest I've done.
Report
We had Ram lake to ourselves, with the exception of a couple of canoes that came in to fish for the day. The fishing was not as fast as I would have liked and the lakers we caught were all fairly small. The rainbows we caught were nice sized but there were harder to catch. I regret not bringing my fly rod; the rainbows rose after dinner every night.
A couple of guys from our group paddled over to Little Trout one rainy day and just got one nice laker. I've read that there is a good population of lakers in that lake though. I've done the portage from Little Trout to Misquah, which is a killer. It goes up and down a few times and is really buddy in the summer.