I have posted on here a few times about old BW entry point numbers figuring out the history of entry points and which ones have vanished or moved with time. There's been a post which resurfaced not long ago about the old LLC trail which the forest service closed down. I headed out to Mule for a quick day hike yesterday and on my way back was thinking about such things as old trails and roads and portages as well as routes which don't exist anymore (or perhaps never existed) and it got me dreaming.

So, for amusement, not controversy, imagine you had the power for a single day to add one entry point to the Boundary Waters, anywhere in the Boundary Waters, where would you add it? There was big discussion in the 90s as some of the visitation controversy was heating up about removing entry points (only Four Mile portage lost its status), but this isn't about that. Perhaps there's an old trail you always wanted to see open? Maybe there's a chain of lakes you could visit? Or perhaps you would like a new back door to your favorite area? In any case, it's up to your imagining! Where would you put a new entry point if you had the power?

As for me, I go round and round. I get the locals sentiments, but I personally would have loved the veggie chain included into the BW and acted as an entry point. I also would love something like Ball Club to act as a paddle route jump off around the Eagle Mountain area. But as for me, I know it's a PMA now and it burned, but I would love to have the eastern PowWow intact alongside the west. That whole area is so uniquely remote and quiet now and isolated from canoe routes.

Great post idea, TreeBear! I like your Ball Club area idea. I have thought about Meander Lake or Meander Creek as a potentially fun backdoor route into Ramshead. I know there is a trail or road to Meander Creek and have meant to check it out but haven't yet. There's already road access to Meander Lake. I may try to do a day trip into Meander Creek one of these trips.

KawnipiKid: "Great post idea, TreeBear! I like your Ball Club area idea. I have thought about Meander Lake or Meander Creek as a potentially fun backdoor route into Ramshead. I know there is a trail or road to Meander Creek and have meant to check it out but haven't yet. There's already road access to Meander Lake. I may try to do a day trip into Meander Creek one of these trips."

That's a neat idea for canoeing and hiking! I always thought that if the LLC trail were to be reopened it should wrap around Stuart and then be built south to connect into Blandin trail which always felt like it needed a bigger purpose.

I glanced around and I think the entry points are good. I don't think I would introduce any more as it would take away from some of the harder lakes to get to and turn them into entry base camp lakes.

A trail though... I have almost zero clue on what there is for trails in the BWCA outside of the one that runs east to west... I do believe.

Is there one that runs south to north? If not something like starting between EP 38 and EP 39 walking north to east side of Seagull could be neat.

The Caribou Rock Trail runs north and south. Definitely a difficult direction to hike in that part of the woods.

Soledad: "The Caribou Rock Trail runs north and south. Definitely a difficult direction to hike in that part of the woods."

Ah good to know! Thanks!

Oriniack Lake is an interesting entry. Not sure what the official status is but in the 90's you could drive to within a mile or so of the lake (a small portion is outside of the BWCA) and portage in. Not sure what's going on with that these days.

Another way to the lake is by paddling up Hilda creek from the bridge on Forest Road 200. My wife and I did that one 4th of July during high water after a big thunderstorm. It was a nice trip and if I remember right, there was even a faint portage around the rapids just before the lake. I don't recall now if I just got a permit for Trout or what, but it sure beat traveling from Moccasin Point on Vermilion.

That's a neat idea for canoeing and hiking! I always thought that if the LLC trail were to be reopened it should wrap around Stuart and then be built south to connect into Blandin trail which always felt like it needed a bigger purpose. "

+1

The only thing I would change/add is to legitimize Topper Lake as an official entry point.

I saw one of the most amazing sights heading to Ball Club Lake. It was a beautiful sunny day and I came around the corner into a gigantic swarm of yellow monarch butterflies. I will never forget that sight. I am a fan of the Veggie Chain, I chase Brook Trout around that area in the fall. So I will nominate unnamed lake in the Veggie Chain !

I guess it already has a hiking trail in the area but, maybe Echo Lake/river at the western end of the Echo Trail into Baylis, Herriman & Knute lakes area. Don't know if that would be a realistic paddle SE to hook up with the Loon River???

Kinogami Lake

I’ve never been but always found it interesting that the border was drawn around it, yet there is no way to access it from an entry point. So, how does one legally visit it?

Basspro69: "I saw one of the most amazing sights heading to Ball Club Lake. It was a beautiful sunny day and I came around the corner into a gigantic swarm of yellow monarch butterflies. !"

That would be a tiger swallowtail and they are indeed beautiful! They often gather in groups. Part of the reason they are a common butterfly is the large variety of plants the caterpillar eats. Monarchs only eat milkweed .




Tom