Just booked a trip for Lake 1 entry in late July. I know that the southern portion of Insula was hit hard a few years back by fire. Anyone swing through recently? how is it recovering? I presume all of the sites in the burn area are still out of commission?

I was there two and three seasons ago. A surprising number of sites on South end seemed to never been closed. The northern end is fine. We enjoyed our time there.

billconner: "I was there two and three seasons ago. A surprising number of sites on South end seemed to never been closed. The northern end is fine. We enjoyed our time there."

Same. We stayed on Wilson island on N end. I actually enjoyed paddling through the burn and then back out. It's pretty in its own way.

I was there last June for three nights. Yes, the southern section is burned, but I liked traveling through it as Grizzlyman said. I stayed on a peninsula campsite just north of the burn area and, because the lake has so many twists, turns, and islands, couldn't see anything of the burn -- or other groups for that matter. You can read my trip report... If I ever finish it.

I loved Insula so much that this year I'm headed back. Right about the same time as you, late July. I'll race ya to Williamson Island. hehe

;)

Wave hello if you see my silver Wenonah with the flying moose sticker. See ya on the water.

The burn area stretches from Lake One through the southern half of Insula. It was well overdue as the jackpine were dying of old age in that area and it was reforesting in scrubby balsam fir, aspen, and birch. After the burn it is reforesting with millions of jack pine that are growing fast and are close to 4 feet tall. In time the red and white pine will show up but the jackpine is first.

I was there in early July last year and the southern part is still a burn area. I did not see a campsite in the southern area to stay at. We did a quick stop at one and it was barren. The rest of the lake is fine and we enjoyed seeing the burn area. It's one of my favorite fishing lakes. I do not remember seeing a campsite worth staying at on Hudson.

A little old, but this map shows open and closed sites as well as the extent of the burn area as of 2013: Forest service closure map

Whether or not the open campsites are actually decent places to stay is probably open to debate.

A new birth.

geotramper: "A little old, but this map shows open and closed sites as well as the extent of the burn area as of 2013: Forest service closure map


Whether or not the open campsites are actually decent places to stay is probably open to debate. "

Yeah, a good history resource, for sure, but how is it that they can't create updated maps after these 6 1/2 years?...

Jazzywine: "I was there last June for three nights. Yes, the southern section is burned, but I liked traveling through it as Grizzlyman said. I stayed on a peninsula campsite just north of the burn area and, because the lake has so many twists, turns, and islands, couldn't see anything of the burn -- or other groups for that matter. You can read my trip report... If I ever finish it.


I loved Insula so much that this year I'm headed back. Right about the same time as you, late July. I'll race ya to Williamson Island. hehe


;)


Wave hello if you see my silver Wenonah with the flying moose sticker. See ya on the water."

Will do! It will be 2 couples in our trusty Alumacraft tanks!

We were also curious, so in 2016 we entered Lake One and did the trek in one day, camping in the far NE site of Insula, on the shore east and a little north of Williamson Island. Very nice windward site, few bugs in late June to early July, red pines for shade, and elevated tent sites. There used to be a resort just to the other side of the nearby channel, and there is a nice beach still in existence at that campsite.

I would agree with the other responders regarding the fire recovery. If you go, prepare yourself for the austere and widespread effects of the fire. It is hard to view it now, as I had made many trips thru here from 1985-2010 when it was majestic, notwithstanding the recent rich green undergrowth and new pines.

The north section of Insula is completely unaffected, and the fishing was epic, better than I ever remembered. Truly worthwhile.

OldRez: "We were also curious, so in 2016 we entered Lake One and did the trek in one day, camping in the far NE site of Insula, on the shore east and a little north of Williamson Island. Very nice windward site, few bugs in late June to early July, red pines for shade, and elevated tent sites. There used to be a resort just to the other side of the nearby channel, and there is a nice beach still in existence at that campsite.


I would agree with the other responders regarding the fire recovery. If you go, prepare yourself for the austere and widespread effects of the fire. It is hard to view it now, as I had made many trips thru here from 1985-2010 when it was majestic, notwithstanding the recent rich green undergrowth and new pines.


The north section of Insula is completely unaffected, and the fishing was epic, better than I ever remembered. Truly worthwhile."

That sounds really interesting. If I might ask, how long did it take to get there? I think that is the site I was going to target if it is open.

Approximately eight hours. Yes, I would head for either of those two NE sites near the channel . . . gives you access to so much good water. Be sure to fish below the falls on the way to Kawishiwi R and Fishdance Lake.

The NE site is/was an excellent site. I was there over the July 21, 2016 storm and the site experienced some blowdown mostly from the upper terrace on back. However, the group of pines in front of the fire pit were beginning to uproot as well. If the forest service cleaned it up since then it would still be a great option. Williamson island was minimally affected. The burn area was interesting to paddle through and is worth experiencing. Fishing was decent and took us 5.5 hours to arrive.

OldRez: "Approximately eight hours. Yes, I would head for either of those two NE sites near the channel . . . gives you access to so much good water. Be sure to fish below the falls on the way to Kawishiwi R and Fishdance Lake."

Fishing tips are always appreciated! A day trip to fishdance is definitely in the plans.

bignatec: "The NE site is/was an excellent site. I was there over the July 21, 2016 storm and the site experienced some blowdown mostly from the upper terrace on back. However, the group of pines in front of the fire pit were beginning to uproot as well. If the forest service cleaned it up since then it would still be a great option. Williamson island was minimally affected. The burn area was interesting to paddle through and is worth experiencing. Fishing was decent and took us 5.5 hours to arrive.
"

Holy cow. Were you in the tent during the storm? That is about as close of a call as one could possibly get.

RMinMN: "The burn area stretches from Lake One through the southern half of Insula. It was well overdue as the jackpine were dying of old age in that area and it was reforesting in scrubby balsam fir, aspen, and birch. After the burn it is reforesting with millions of jack pine that are growing fast and are close to 4 feet tall. In time the red and white pine will show up but the jackpine is first."

I was thru the Lake One loop last summer and found it to be a lot like RMinMN said. It's coming back fast, but it's on nature's time, not ours. Was able to watch two different groups of deer from the lake as I paddled thru, which was enjoyable. I think going there in consecutive years would be fun to watch how it all unfolds.

johnMN: "

RMinMN: "The burn area stretches from Lake One through the southern half of Insula. It was well overdue as the jackpine were dying of old age in that area and it was reforesting in scrubby balsam fir, aspen, and birch. After the burn it is reforesting with millions of jack pine that are growing fast and are close to 4 feet tall. In time the red and white pine will show up but the jackpine is first."

I was thru the Lake One loop last summer and found it to be a lot like RMinMN said. It's coming back fast, but it's on nature's time, not ours. Was able to watch two different groups of deer from the lake as I paddled thru, which was enjoyable. I think going there in consecutive years would be fun to watch how it all unfolds."

We've been going that way for over 40 years and one year noticed an island in Lake Two that was burned. I've been fascinated watching that island reforest over the years. There is another burn in South Kawishiwi that I've watched from time to time as it changes too.