New Trip Report posted by alpine525

Trip Name: A Bucket List Trip to Cherokee Lake.

Entry Point: 38

Click Here to View Trip Report

Nice report, Cherokee is also on my list.
CB

Thanks for the nice trip report.
I, too, experienced the beauty of Cherokee for the first time this Summer. July, to be more specific.
I also came up from Sawbill, and have been a customer at Sawbill Outfitters a number of times and have always been treated very well by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The portages you mention in your report are very challenging, but it sure is rewarding when you dip your paddle in to Cherokee Creek and paddle up to that beautiful lake.
Happy paddling!

thanks, Barb! your photos show a lovely lake and now i want to camp at that campsite. this area is also my list for someday. you and Frank haven't changed a bit. hope to cross paths again someday.

Wow, that's one huge rock in your last picture. Glad to hear you made it to your goal!

Beautiful territory. Glad you had a good time.

Thanks for the report and pictures. I'm glad you finally made it to Cherokee. I hope to make it there one of these days.

quote boonie: "Thanks for the report and pictures. I'm glad you finally made it to Cherokee. I hope to make it there one of these days."

Same here. Thanks for sharing.

I, too, enjoyed your trip report and the beautiful photos. You even had sunshine on your lake! (We were at Clearwater the week before and never saw the sun the entire week.)

Cherokee is, indeed, a special place. It was nice to return there, even just vicariously, through your eyes in story and photos. Thanks.

quote Mocha: "thanks, Barb! your photos show a lovely lake and now i want to camp at that campsite. this area is also my list for someday. you and Frank haven't changed a bit. hope to cross paths again someday."

Hi Sheryl! Cherokee is right down the road - practically in your backyard. It's beautiful - especially Cherokee Creek - you should try to make it there.

If we ever get back to the Gunflint Trail, we will stop by to see you. Franks sends his best to you. Say hi to Bonnie for us too!

Great report... thanks for posting! So glad you made it to Cherokee this summer. It is indeed an incredibly beautiful lake. We ended up spending several days there on two of our trips this summer, one out of Sawbill and one out of Missing Link. Reading your report is a good reminder for me to get my trips written up before the memories fade away entirely.

The muddy creek area without a maintained portage is where we had trouble in July and had to line/drag the canoe on our way out, after paddling all the way through on our way in four days earlier. Folks at Sawbill told us after our exit that the Forest Service is considering re-creating the 100+ rod portage along there. There are remnants of old boardwalk that I used sporadically as my spouse was dragging the canoe through the boggy creek but it certainly was a challenge.

Which campsite did you end up on? We visited most of them during our July trip but don't recognize that one. When we returned in August, the lake was full so we didn't get to check out the campsites we missed in July.

quote Twins87: "Great report... thanks for posting! So glad you made it to Cherokee this summer. It is indeed an incredibly beautiful lake. We ended up spending several days there on two of our trips this summer, one out of Sawbill and one out of Missing Link. Reading your report is a good reminder for me to get my trips written up before the memories fade away entirely.


The muddy creek area without a maintained portage is where we had trouble in July and had to line/drag the canoe on our way out, after paddling all the way through on our way in four days earlier. Folks at Sawbill told us after our exit that the Forest Service is considering re-creating the 100+ rod portage along there. There are remnants of old boardwalk that I used sporadically as my spouse was dragging the canoe through the boggy creek but it certainly was a challenge.


Which campsite did you end up on? We visited most of them during our July trip but don't recognize that one. When we returned in August, the lake was full so we didn't get to check out the campsites we missed in July. "

Hi Twins87!

Yes - that trip up the muddy creek was horrible. Little did we know, but the Forest Service had created a path around it. We didn't see it at first - but about mid way through the creek, after lining the canoe for a while, we found it. On the way out-we took this newly created portage the entire way. We actually saw someone sink into the mud in the creek up to his thighs. We were so glad that didn't happen to us.

We stayed at site #886 which is the fourth site on the western shore (coming out of Cherokee Creek). It wasn't our first choice, but we ended up loving it because it was on a peninsula and had a view to the east - and a view towards the west. It was great for keeping the mosquitoes away. Also - very easy canoe access. Thanks for your help pre-trip!

View of campsite from the lake:





There were a couple of large boulders scattered around the site:

Am glad you finally made it to Cherokee Lake, one of my favorites. From Cherokee to Sawbill lakes was a neat part of the trip for us. We encountered a large moose, and the beaver dams kept the water level high enough to shorten our portages. There are some huge campsites on Cherokee as I recall when we explored around it.

AWESOME!

Thanks for taking the time to share your story & photos.