BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
October 02 2026
Entry Point 6 - Slim Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1210 feet
Latitude: 47.9958
Longitude: -91.9599
Slim Lake - 6
2023 LIS North (14) - Moose River North (16)
Entry Date:
July 07, 2023
Entry Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north)
Exit Point:
Moose/Portage River (north) (16)
Number of Days:
9
Group Size:
8
Up at 5:00, it's a little drizzly and windy, I drove to the landing loaded the canoe up, then took the suburban to the lot, and the water around 5:30 and headed to the 1st 30rd portage to Alton, 
through Alton and on to a 140rd portage to Beth, I started to head where I thought the portage was, but realized I had to go further west, when I was just about to turn west I seen a moose and calf, so I watch them for about 20 minutes. (pretty cool, not even 3 hours into my trip), 
then on to my longest portage of the trip a 285rd, 
then to Grace, then 4 more portages, this falls was on one of these portages, 
then through Phoebe to Knight where I spent my 1st night, nice campsite out of the flow of traffic, by now the sun has come out and it's a really a nice evening, I arrived at camp around 4:00pm. 
[paragraph break]I setup camp and start drying wet cloths from mist and sweat, this was one of the 1st things I did when I got to camp just about every day, water adds weight, a good supper and get everything reorganized and to bed by 8:30 to 9:00.
We wake up today to a nice sunny day! Angelina and Dakota have the fire going, and coffee made by the time I wake up. After coffee and breakfast, we break camp and prepare to paddle north, hoping to make it up to Sandbar Island, or Snow Bay. 
As we paddle north from camp, I see a bald eagle fly over. Onward to Beatty Portage. Beatty Portage is very well maintained by the folks who portage motor boats with their rail system. It's an easy sandy landing on both the north and south ends of the portage. This is an easy portage gradually uphill most of the way, then flattens off near the north end of the portage. 
Once across Beatty Portage, we paddle north. We paddled close to the eastern shore, which is pretty rocky. We noticed what we thought were pictographs... 
On a small island south east of Sandbar Island, we saw a border reference marker, but didn't stop for photos since we wanted to make progress and find a campsite for the night. It has been fun talking with Levi and Dad while paddling today. It's nice to be able to spend the time with three generations of our family, enjoying the wilderness. Levi spent most of the day trolling a copper and orange spoon. Not too far south of campsite #9 he caught a northern pike. 
The sites on Sandbar Island didn't look that appealing as we paddled by, so we make our way to Snow Bay. We split up to investigate the area, and found several of the sites were already occupied. Lucky for us, we found a very nice site (#10) on an island in Snow Bay. Today was a pretty good day of paddling for us so we decide to make sure everyone hydrates before setting up camp. 
Joel, Noah and I talk about how this year isn't the same without Colman being in our group. Hopefully he'll be fully recovered from his knee surgery, and able to return next year. He would have loved this campsite. It's on a island, has a great place to swim, and the fishing is very good near by. We like this site so much, we decide to stay for a layover day. 
Christopher and I, and Noah and Joel go fishing. We've had a couple of pretty long days of paddling for us, so we are pretty tired, and looking forward to a good dinner, and a good nights sleep tonight. We decide pretty early this afternoon to stay at this site for two days and relax and recover a bit before moving on. 
We make camp pizza for dinner tonight. It's a favorite with our group. I think Dad got the idea from a hiking magizine a few years ago. It's a great morale booster, the younger generation loves it!! Levi wasn't feeling well and said he was cold, so we made him some hot chocolate from some protien powder. Noah gave him his hooded sweatshirt, and he's wearing my jacket to sleep in so he could stay warmer. 
We used my new solo stove that Ky got me for Christmas this afternoon. It's a really cool little stove. We used it to cook dinner, then we just kept the fire burning and hung out talking and lauging around the fire until bedtime. The boys boiled some water to make Chai Tea, yum!! We were pretty tired this evening, so we all hit the sack pretty early.
After lunch, Joel, Christopher and I go fishing most of the afternoon. We catch 2 northern pike, and 2 small mouth bass. The winds changed directions very abruptly while we were fishing in bay in the southeast corner of Snow Bay. The wind almost pushed us west out of the bay! Then the rain came, and we heard thunder north of us most of the afternoon. It didn't storm where we were, but it sounded pretty rowdy to the north of us. At camp it would rain for a few minutes, then sun, then rain for a few minutes again, off and on for most of the afternoon. For some reason, everyone goes to sleep pretty early tonight. I think I'm the last one awake, and it's still daylight. We're all alseep so early, we didn't even make dinner... We did have a little squirrel visit camp. 
It felt like we were getting a late start as we paddled into the wind in a northwesterly direction out of Snow Bay. We saw a U.S. Border Reference Marker on the point southwest of campsite #16 and stopped to take some photos. 
Once we turn north, then back to the east, the wind is at our back. Paddling seems very easy today since the wind is helping us along!! I forgot how big Lac La Croix seems like paddling smaller lakes when you're paddling through all the islands. It's neat how such a large lake can feel so small at times. I also forgot how many buildings are on the Canadian side. We stopped at a site we stayed at on a previous trip, site #135, but we decided not to stay. 
Site #135 has a rocky landing, and with the wind out of the west, we thought it might be a bit buggy, so we push on. Once we left site #135, the wind picked up quite a bit. We took our paddles and a trash bag and made sails and the wind pushed us across the big part of LLC. 
We stopped at site #137, and found a nice sandy beach site, but the firegrate was almost covered up with driftwood from a time when the water level was much higher, or maybe ice pushed the driftwood up that far? 
We thought we might call this site home for the night, but the wind coming across the big part of LLC was just too much for us. While we were there, we tried to clean up the firegrate area a bit. I hope this isn't seen as a violation of LNT, but rather trying to make a campsite nicer than we found it for the next group. 
It was pretty wavy as we loaded up our gear to trek onward. Since the wind was pushing the lake in our direction, it made for an interesting time dealing with the waves in the shallow water. Once under way, we set our sights on an island campsite not far away, #140. Site #140 has 2 good tent pads, and several hammock hangs. The landing is a little tricky, but well worth the work. This site is elevated about 30 feet above the water, with great views to the south. We found blueberries, and the fishing near by was great! We've been very fortunate this trip so far with awesome sites!! Are there really any bad ones though? 
Christopher and Joel spend the afternoon fishing and catch several small mourh bass, and a walleye. Joel was so excited to have caught his first walleye. We'll eat well tonight!! 
Joel and I cleaned the fish. Noah tends the fire. Christopher cooked dinner. Levi talked about missing home. Angelina and Dakota hung out. Dad went to bed early, trying to nurse his hands into feeling better. I know he hasn't been sleeping well since his hands have been hurting. He describes it as a nerve pain that just won't go away. I hope he gets feeling better soon!! After dinner, Christopher, Noah, Joel, Levi and I hung out by the fire. Christopher and I smoked cigars. After cigars Noah, Levi and Christopher cashed it in for the night. Joel and I stayed up and made tea with the solo stove, and talked for a long while. We looked at the stars and talked about many different things. We even got to see the milky way in all it's splendor and a few satilites move across the night sky. We hoped for some northern lights, but they didn't show. Nothing could have ended this day better than spending time talking with Joel. He doesn't open up and talk about things very often, what a great place to have quality father son time to discuss anything that comes to mind. 
Praise the Lord for days like this, life doesn't get much better...
After breakfast we break camp and paddle south towards Tiger Bay. We are lucky to have the wind at our back again today. After a short paddle, we decide to stop for a shore lunch at the island site just east of Fish Stake Narrows. After some chicken noodle soup, with some rice added in, and some Cajun 2 Step seasoning, we decide that we like the site so much, we'd just stay for the night. This Island site #167 is a real gem. It is one of my top 5 sites I've had the pleasure to stay at so far. It has a nice sandy beach landing to load/unload gear, a large grassy area large enough for several tents, unlimited hammock hangs, trails to hike, great fishing, sun and shade, blueberries, old artifacts from years gone by, and a couple of really cool large rocks that are split in half. This site truely has it all! 
After Lunch we set up camp, and then went fishing. Fishing here is outstanding!! Noah caught a nice small mouth bass and northern pike. Joel caught a nice northern pike, a small mouth bass and a small northern pike. Levi hung out with Dad around camp. Levi ended up catching a nice small mouth bass later in the day. A group of paddlers caught a walleye near the rocks west of camp. We didn't find the walleye, even though we tried!! I love this place! 
After dinner, we watched a beautiful sunset and took some photos.
Dad woke up with some pain in his hip this morning. I can tell he's uncomfortable. We decided to take a layover day to give everyone some time to relax. Dad hangs around camp most of the day. We found some more blueberries, and had blueberry pancakes for breakfast. 
After breakfast, I had the boys take some photos with one of the big rocks that is split in half. We took photos here a few years ago on a different trip. It's amazing how much they have grown since then!!! 
We spend the rest of the day relaxing, fishing, swimming and enjoying the wilderness. It's funny how layover days are so busy having fun, that I don't remember much to write about them... I guess I should take better notes in my journel. 
Once past the muddy part, it's easy peasy. We paddle from the portage head down the east shoreline of Agnes. Site #1808 has 2 good tent pads, and endless hammock hangs. The firegrate is a nice area with a large rock to lean against or climb to the top and sit on. There are several hammock hangs right next to the shoreline, with a great view of the lake! We worked hard today, set up camp, made vegetable soup for lunch and some of us took naps in the afternoon. Noah, Angelina, and Dakota all took naps. Levi and I played cards in the tent. Dad, Christopher, Noah, Joel, Levi, and I talked about past trips, and future trips and hung out around the firegrate. Levi and Joel are getting along really well today and hang out after everyone else goes to bed. It's really cool to see them getting along so well! Everyone is pretty tired today, time for bed and it's only 7 pm... I read a few chapters of Jack London's "Call of the Wild" and drift off to sleep. Levi and Joel took some photos with my camera...
We woke up this morning and had oatmeal and pancakes for breakfast. Last year the boys complained, to mom after we returned home, about being hungary most of the trip... This year we packed more food and we have plenty. After breakfast we break camp and paddle towards Nina Moose Lake. We paddle out of Agnes and into the Nina Moose River. The river starts out with a nice channel. 
As we paddle upstream the wild rice, grass, and lilly pads choke the channel down quite a bit in spots. 
Noah and Joel were travelling pretty light with only their packs and their canoe. They could paddle and portage much faster than the rest of our group so once we were across the first 95r portage, we sent them ahead to find a site on Nina Moose. The 95r portage was flat and easy. Last time we came through here, there was a water fall near the portage, but this year the water levels are low enough, there is not much water moving over the falls. The 70r portage is also easy and well maintained. Once on Nina Moose we meet up with Noah and Joel at Site #1786. As a dad, I'm proud that Noah (16 year old) and Joel (14 year old) were able to work together to navigate to the campsite on their own. They have been trekking in the BWCA since they were young, but I've never had them go out on their own out of my sight before. I was a little nervous, but also confident that they would persevere. To say I am proud of their wilderness, canoe, and land navigation skills would be an understatement. Site #1786 is a great site! It is large with mutiple tent pads, as well as endless hammock hangs. It is set up almost like it has different "rooms." The grassy point out front is a great place to relax in the sun. Past the firegrate there are multiple places that are sectioned off for tents and/or hammocks. A very cool site indeed. We set up camp, ate pizza for dinner, and relaxed for the afternoon. Joel and I paddled over to Site #1787 to check out that site since we had stayed there on a previous trip. There was another group paddling up to that site as we were, so we asked if we could check out the site for a few minutes. They were very pollite and let us take a few photos of Joel on the big rock at the site, before we paddled back to our site for the evening. 
Dad smoked our last cigar, and we squared away our gear as much as possible so we could get an early start to the day tomorrow. Everyone is excited to have breakfast at Brittons... 
