BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
December 04 2025
Entry Point 30 - Lake One
Lake One entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 21 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Lake One.
Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
My son Remy and I, and my friend Keith and his son Charlie put our canoes into Lake one at 9:30 Monday morning after dropping off a car at the Snowbank Lake landing. Lake One can be tricky to navigate. On our way to Lake Two we turned East too early and ended up paddling about a mile out of our way into a dead-end bay before we realized our mistake. We blamed the fact that Lake One was split between Fisher Maps #10 and #4 for our error. If the entire lake had been visible at once on a single map, we would not have made the wrong turn. Once we got back on course we portaged the 30 rods into a pond and then portaged the 40 rods into Lake Two. The weather was nice, and there was a bit of a tail wind out of the West. We stopped for lunch on the shore of Lake Two. After lunch we canoed through the North end of Lake Three and into Lake Four. We stopped for the night at a campsite on the West shore of Lake Four, just North of the channel heading toward Hudson Lake. We had to battle swarms of mosquitoes as we set up the tents. We then had a nice refreshing swim. Because we had brought steaks along for the first night, we didn't go fishing.
On Tuesday morning we had a bacon and eggs breakfast then packed up camp and headed out in our canoes. As we canoed past our campsite, we realized that Remy & I had left our hammocks pitched between trees. We landed again and quickly packed them up. Once again we had beautiful weather. We paddled East and completed 3 short portages before entering Hudson Lake. The 105 rod portage into Lake Insula was exhausting! Lake Insula is a large gorgeous lake broken up by multiple islands and penninsulas. We had lunch at a campsite on a large island just East of Hudson Lake. It felt like we had a tail wind as we were heading East, and then as we turned North it seemed like the wind shifted and was at our backs once again. We navigated Lake Insula flawlessly and camped for the night on the island just West of Williamson Island. After setting up the tents and a refreshing swim, Remy & I got back into the canoe and tried to catch some fish. We had no luck! At 9PM that night, just as we were going to bed, a thunderstorm rolled through. That night I was awakened several times by the loud croaking of bullfrogs from the shallows around our island. What noisy neighbors!
By Wednesday morning the weather had cleared, but the wind was now coming from the Northwest, pretty much in our faces. We paddled to the North end of Lake Insula and tackled the largest portage of our trip. The 180 rod walk to Kiana Lake actually seemed easier than the 105 rod carry into Lake Insula. We headed onward into Thomas Lake where we really started feeling the headwind. We finally made it to the campsite just Northeast of the portage into Thomas Pond in time for lunch. After lunch we proceeded across Thomas Pond and into Thomas Creek after hiking across the famous Kekekabic Trail. We managed to easily run the rapids in Thomas Creek and avoid the 2 short portages. We camped for the night on Hatchet Lake at the northern campsite. It was cool and windy, so we didn't swim. There was lots of threatening weather going by to the North of us, but we stayed dry. After supper we canoed back to Thomas Creek to fish and look for moose. No luck on either count, but we did see a beaver swimmming.
The weather was nice again Thursday morning, but the wind was out of the West which was the direction we were heading. We portaged into Ima Lake and canoed across it. Before portaging into Jordan Lake, we watched a bald eagle sitting in a tree get harrassed repeatedly by a seagull. The narrow channel leading into Jordan Lake is quite beautiful. It is narrow like a river with big rock outcroppings. We paddled across Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug Lakes. We found the Eastern campsite on Ahsub Lake taken, so we camped at the Western campsite which had a great place for swimming in front of it. There was a very brave loon in front of the campsite who didn't seem to mind if we got close to it. We tried our luck at fishing, but only caught 1 smallmouth which was too small to eat. Between 5:00 and 7:30 that evening we saw a number of canoes heading across Ahsub Lake from Disappointment Lake to Jitterbug Lake. We weren't sure where they were planning to camp, but it was getting late.
On Friday we awoke again to good weather. We paddled the length of Disappointment Lake and portaged into to Parent Lake and then on to Snowbank Lake. It was July 4th, and as we entered Snowbank Lake the sounfd of firecrackers reminded us we weren't in the wilderness anaymore. After a brief splash war on our way across Snowbank, we made it to the landing and our car was still there. What a great trip!
Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
My son Remy and I, and my friend Keith and his son Charlie put our canoes into Lake one at 9:30 Monday morning after dropping off a car at the Snowbank Lake landing. Lake One can be tricky to navigate. On our way to Lake Two we turned East too early and ended up paddling about a mile out of our way into a dead-end bay before we realized our mistake. We blamed the fact that Lake One was split between Fisher Maps #10 and #4 for our error. If the entire lake had been visible at once on a single map, we would not have made the wrong turn. Once we got back on course we portaged the 30 rods into a pond and then portaged the 40 rods into Lake Two. The weather was nice, and there was a bit of a tail wind out of the West. We stopped for lunch on the shore of Lake Two. After lunch we canoed through the North end of Lake Three and into Lake Four. We stopped for the night at a campsite on the West shore of Lake Four, just North of the channel heading toward Hudson Lake. We had to battle swarms of mosquitoes as we set up the tents. We then had a nice refreshing swim. Because we had brought steaks along for the first night, we didn't go fishing.
On Tuesday morning we had a bacon and eggs breakfast then packed up camp and headed out in our canoes. As we canoed past our campsite, we realized that Remy & I had left our hammocks pitched between trees. We landed again and quickly packed them up. Once again we had beautiful weather. We paddled East and completed 3 short portages before entering Hudson Lake. The 105 rod portage into Lake Insula was exhausting! Lake Insula is a large gorgeous lake broken up by multiple islands and penninsulas. We had lunch at a campsite on a large island just East of Hudson Lake. It felt like we had a tail wind as we were heading East, and then as we turned North it seemed like the wind shifted and was at our backs once again. We navigated Lake Insula flawlessly and camped for the night on the island just West of Williamson Island. After setting up the tents and a refreshing swim, Remy & I got back into the canoe and tried to catch some fish. We had no luck! At 9PM that night, just as we were going to bed, a thunderstorm rolled through. That night I was awakened several times by the loud croaking of bullfrogs from the shallows around our island. What noisy neighbors!
By Wednesday morning the weather had cleared, but the wind was now coming from the Northwest, pretty much in our faces. We paddled to the North end of Lake Insula and tackled the largest portage of our trip. The 180 rod walk to Kiana Lake actually seemed easier than the 105 rod carry into Lake Insula. We headed onward into Thomas Lake where we really started feeling the headwind. We finally made it to the campsite just Northeast of the portage into Thomas Pond in time for lunch. After lunch we proceeded across Thomas Pond and into Thomas Creek after hiking across the famous Kekekabic Trail. We managed to easily run the rapids in Thomas Creek and avoid the 2 short portages. We camped for the night on Hatchet Lake at the northern campsite. It was cool and windy, so we didn't swim. There was lots of threatening weather going by to the North of us, but we stayed dry. After supper we canoed back to Thomas Creek to fish and look for moose. No luck on either count, but we did see a beaver swimmming.
The weather was nice again Thursday morning, but the wind was out of the West which was the direction we were heading. We portaged into Ima Lake and canoed across it. Before portaging into Jordan Lake, we watched a bald eagle sitting in a tree get harrassed repeatedly by a seagull. The narrow channel leading into Jordan Lake is quite beautiful. It is narrow like a river with big rock outcroppings. We paddled across Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug Lakes. We found the Eastern campsite on Ahsub Lake taken, so we camped at the Western campsite which had a great place for swimming in front of it. There was a very brave loon in front of the campsite who didn't seem to mind if we got close to it. We tried our luck at fishing, but only caught 1 smallmouth which was too small to eat. Between 5:00 and 7:30 that evening we saw a number of canoes heading across Ahsub Lake from Disappointment Lake to Jitterbug Lake. We weren't sure where they were planning to camp, but it was getting late.
On Friday we awoke again to good weather. We paddled the length of Disappointment Lake and portaged into to Parent Lake and then on to Snowbank Lake. It was July 4th, and as we entered Snowbank Lake the sounfd of firecrackers reminded us we weren't in the wilderness anaymore. After a brief splash war on our way across Snowbank, we made it to the landing and our car was still there. What a great trip!
The Path to Slowfoot Lake
by jkangler514
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 21, 2025
Entry Point:
Lake One
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
We set out with a goal to reach Slowfoot Lake and answer the following questions. How deep is this lake? Is there Fish? Is there evidence of people being there?
Our trip plan was centered around finding out.
Report
After finally discovering just how much I love being in the BWCA going to everyday, common lakes was not going to be enough for our next trip out. Both former source to sea paddlers on the Mississippi River my friend and I committed to reaching a back water, PMA lake on this trip. I was curious about this lake and after scouring the internet I could only find a single picture from a paddler who hiked to the lake. I made contact with this individual and asked about how he reached the lake and what other info he had. No other info on the lake so it became a mystery that kept my attention through the month of January, when I usually plan my paddling trips. I was curious how deep this lake was and if there was a thriving and cut off fish population inhabiting the lake. I also wanted to see what evidence I could find of others being there. Our trip started at Kawishiwi Outfitters where we picked up our canoe. After paddling to Lake Four we set up camp for the night. Next morning we made our way north of Lake Four to a narrow lake runs north west to Bridge Lake. From there we head north/north east up a small creek to a tough portage that will bypass some rapids and bring you to Delta Lake. This portage was tricky due to the elevation change but over all it was not terrible. Truth is a log blocking the channel in the middle of the grass land gave us more trouble as it was tricky to get around the log. Once on the peaceful Delta lake we made camp at the one and only campsite on the lake near the north end. You really get the feel of isolation out here and aside from another youtube video maker I often watch who works this area (My book of Memories) I dont think many come out here. We took a quick look at the creek that leads to Slowfoot Lake and before 100 feet of travel we come across a fallen tree. The plan is to try again in the morning so we have more time. Moring of day 3 and we are ready to reach our goal so we head out with minimal gear knowing that we will be dragging the boat quite a ways on this journey. We paddle into the small creek and often use the grass on either side of us to pull along. We climb out and over the fallen tree where we stopped the night before. From now on its a combination of beaver dams and maze like channels. We make the first corner going from south to a eastern direction of travel. From here we are a couple hundred feet short of a half mile to the lake but we can't even see it from here. Its a good deal of paddling trying to stay in the channel but ultimately we exit the canoe and decide to try and pull the boat along as we walk. The grass land bog is tricky as you often sink unexpectedly so a careful step is advised. When we slide off the grass bog into the channel it is neck deep or more in places. Incredible how this small creek that I can step over can be this deep! We reach several land marks as seen from satellite view, some beaver dams, wide spots in the creek (created from the beaver dams) and some trees and boulders that let us know we are still on the right track. The father we go and the more beaver dams we cross the better the paddling gets and finally we reach one dam that seems to be holding back much more than just a small creek. Its holding back the lake itself! An opening ahead and some twists and turns in the creek we finally reached Slowfoot lake! It was a beautiful sight and quite rewarding to reach the lake. We set out right away fishing and getting the depth finder going to get a basic chart of the lake. The entry side of the lake has high rock cliffs, maybe 30ish feet off the water (from memory). In the middle of the lake is a long peninsula. In the photo of the lake from online this peninsula hid the back side of the lake so it was quite exciting to finally reveal the rest of the lake! Paddling around the peninsula the lake opens up into a good size lake. Its not huge but plenty of area to enjoy especially knowing you are likely going to be the only ones out here. We continued fishing and charting the lake depths (max I found was 17 ft). We did finally see some evidence of people being here in the past by discovering some cut branches and logs. It looked like an ideal camping spot right on the water. I never thought people wouldn't have been here but it was fun to search for evidence that someone has. Fishing was not great only a northern was actually caught but there was clearly many fish as we could hear them feeding topwater insects all over. Storm clouds could be seen on the horizon and with only minimal gear we set up the tarp near the entrance to the lake to see if the weather would hit directly or pass us by. Didn't want to be in a huge wetland if a storm hit. While sitting under the tarp I managed to find a tent stake on the ground. It wasn't covered over by pine needles so I assume it was from this year or last, hard to know for sure. Storm clouds passed and we left Slowfoot and headed back to Delta lake and camp. We thought it would be easy to follow our trail out but it was completely indistinguishable from the rest of the area so we just took the creek as much as we could. In the end it took about 1 hr 15 mins to make the journey through the bog each way. Honestly a lot of effort but not terrible considering you can have a private, seldomly used lake to yourself. I made a video to document this trip called The Path to Slowfoot and can be found on my channel Escape with Jay. If you found this trip report and make it to my channel leave a comment letting me know! It will be fun to see if it actually gets read! After we made it back to Delta we stayed the night and left the next morning ending the day in Fire Lake where we rode out storms. Fishing the whole trip was pretty bad including Lake Four where we ended our trip after Fire Lake. Talked to the Outfitter at the end and he said fishing reports have been terrible all week! So maybe, just maybe it wasn't just us! If you go for Slowfoot get a PMA permit and have fun! So many great places in the BWCA that people don't care to make the effort to reach. As for me, I now spend my time looking at other cut off lakes and cant help but wonder, how deep are they? Are there fish? Is there evidence of people being there? The adventure never ends!
discuss this trip report (1 comments) - last post on December 04, 2025