BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
January 07 2025
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.
Fire lake solo
by Armored
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 22, 2013
Entry Point:
Lake One
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
1
Trip Introduction:
Day 1 of 6
Saturday, June 22, 2013 Left mom and dads at 5:30 am . Got to the ranger station at 8:30 am. Filled with gas and headed to EP 30. On the water by 9:30 am. Got turned around heading north but found the river in about 20 min. No wind till the first portage and bucked it on lake 2,3,4 . Got very disorientated on the second half of lake 4. Had to stop at a site to check the crapper (#1498) with my gps . It is very hard judging distance with so many bays and islands . The portage from lake 4 was so bad with bugs I might need a transfusion . Got to 1372 at 4:30 pm! Great site , flat rocks good trees for my hammock and tarps . Ate chicken and rice , cleaned up camp and in the hammock by 7:00 pm LONG DAY. 10 1/3 miles , 4 double portages , 3 eagles, many loons , and wolf scat on #3 portage and a beaver on fire lake. Site 47*55.576N 91*21.473W
Day 3 of 6
Sunday, June 23, 2013 Woke up at 5:00am with the sun. Layer in my hammock till 7:00am . Took a leak some time durning the night by rolling over and unzipping my bug net and letting it fly .( note to self put your sandles under the hammock so I don't pee on them again ) made coffee and bannock for breakfast got camp cleaned up and it started raining heavy at 9 :00 am for a half hour osprey and a loon playing right in front of camp. Only birds as friends ( that is good). Reading... A little fishing , one sunfish .lost a rapala on a rock, snagged a turtle by accident got off right a way .. That would have been a fight. 2 shots of rain so far one was really heavy all gear and myself stayed dry. NOAA said clear into tonight .. We will see. Listened to WELY this morning (dog mushers) now the twins game . Gathered some wood to the SE and made a bench for under my tarp. Got a fire going at 3:00pm. Just relaxing and reading . 1 pine squirrel behind camp that is not happy I'm here . Beef stroganoff for dinner with tang. Turned in at 8:00 pm read till 9:00 pm
Day 5 of 6
Monday, June 24, 2013 Up at 5:30 am laid around till 7:00 am moon was still up WOW very bright. Bannock and coffee with some trail mix for breakfast . Checked out the crapper and cleaned up . Went fishing around the island to the SE , no luck lots of wind . Found an active beaver lodge around the corner .... Later ;) paddled up the creek to drag lake . Found out why they call it drag lake. If you don't drag the canoe over a beaver dam you will tip over . Well got my bath for the day . Headed back to camp to change and relax. It wasn't deep but an eye opener. Noon now going to read till the wind dies down . Saw a canoe , first one since I left lake 4 . Took a 2 hour nap . Got up and made chicken teriyaki . Sent a spot ok message . Brushed my teeth and read till bed .
Day 6 of 6
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 Woke up late. Read until almost 10:00pm in my hammock. I can't remember the last time I slept until 9:00am. Some breakfast, bannock and coffee. Did a little fishing with some (special) bait. Got snagged on a large rock and lost the only leader I had. No worries. Very hot today. Radio said mid 80s. Little clouds, light breeze. Finished my book "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle. Very moving. even though I was never in combat, the things he went through after he got out were many of the same things I did. Rolling his truck stands out in my mind and always will. Just to back up, last night there were two loons fighting out in front of my hammock. I have never heard them so loud before. Listening to the weather, I think I will paddle out Thursday. Wednesday, rain, and Friday. And I miss Thor. I will tear down camp tomorrow after dinner, except hammock, sleeping tarp, and get on the water early. Fishing is not good here. Better chance at mom and dad's and I am just too lazy. Back is really sore. Beef stew for dinner with sea salt and garlic with tang. Clear night. Listening to the Twins. Bedtime soon.
Day 8 of 6
Thursday, June 27, 2013 Woke up at 3am to sprinkles, maybe 10 minutes. Fell back asleep and alarm went off at 4:30. Up and at 'em took a quick leak, wrapped up poncho liner, hammock and tarp, last picture, and on the water at 5:30. Sent last spot message and headed for the first two portages. Not one person on Fire Lake. Made the portage in 30 minutes. Bugs still bad. Second portage I blew out the sole of my Keens. Little or no wind on the north arm of Lake 4. First canoe on Lake 4. Took pictures of large rocks entering Lake 3. Bigger than my first apartment. Found a paddle on the south shore of Lake 2. Nothing special. Lots of full campsites. Got to the last 2 portages and met a guy that was leading an Outward Bound group that had been out 20 days. Talked with him for 20 minutes and thanked me for my military service. Never got his name but he looked like he'd been out for 20 years. Very nice guy. Made it to the landing by 11am. 5 1/2 hour paddle, better than going in. Made it to the ranger station by noon. Dropped off garbage and went to DQ for chili dogs. Mom and dad's by 3:30pm.
Day 10 of 6
Thursday, June 27, 2013 Woke up at 3am to sprinkles, maybe 10 minutes. Fell back asleep and alarm went off at 4:30. Up and at 'em took a quick leak, wrapped up poncho liner, hammock and tarp, last picture, and on the water at 5:30. Sent last spot message and headed for the first two portages. Not one person on Fire Lake. Made the portage in 30 minutes. Bugs still bad. Second portage I blew out the sole of my Keens. Little or no wind on the north arm of Lake 4. First canoe on Lake 4. Took pictures of large rocks entering Lake 3. Bigger than my first apartment. Found a paddle on the south shore of Lake 2. Nothing special. Lots of full campsites. Got to the last 2 portages and met a guy that was leading an Outward Bound group that had been out 20 days. Talked with him for 20 minutes and thanked me for my military service. Never got his name but he looked like he'd been out for 20 years. Very nice guy. Made it to the landing by 11am. 5 1/2 hour paddle, better than going in. Made it to the ranger station by noon. Dropped off garbage and went to DQ for chili dogs. Mom and dad's by 3:30pm.
discuss this trip report (8 comments) - last post on March 06, 2014