BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
September 24 2025
Entry Point 1 - 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!
Mudro
by BigPaul
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 27, 2024
Entry Point:
Mudro Lake (restricted--no camping on Horse Lake)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
Drove up from Texas with remainder of our group flying into “the cities” and renting a car, we met up at Gordy’s in Cloquet. Blueberry milkshakes and cheese curds set the mood for this adventure.
Day 2 of 6
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 CCO have been our outfitter of choice for years and continue to please. After breakfast at Grand Ely Lodge (Britons was closed), we loaded up the van and headed to Mudro. Our group of four consists of two former collegiate athletes, an East Texas gentleman farmer, I represent the geriatric crowd. We’ve a five year hiatus since using this EP, water levels were lowest in memory. Lining and lift-overs prior to Mudro lake, smooth jive. Low levels persisted at the portage into Fourtown as none of us remembered walking on rocks for so long. Maybe we’re just getting older… We made our goal for the day, Gun, by 1430 and commenced looking for a site. Our preferred site is occupied so circled back and took the one directly across the portage from Fairy. Looked adequate with easy canoe exit, good hanging trees, decent kitchen, etc,… until making the discovery that gave this report a name. Piles of domesticated canine skat (dogshit) everywhere. Previous occupants must have had numerous pups, well fed pups too! Guessing they left their little plastic bags back in the cities? 
Day 4 of 6
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Nothing like bacon in the skillet and coffeve in the pot to start a great northwoods morning! Today we’re loading light, taking only fishing gear and a tarp and looking for another spot. Best site on Gun remains occupied so we headed to Gull. The beauty on Gull is occupied too. We’re going back to clean up “the ridge” and make a base. Readied the camp and ended up catching a few bass for tonight’s meal of bass and red beans and rice. Raging fire, couple whiskey drinks and we’re ready for the sack.
Day 7 of 6
Thursday, August 29, 2024 Overcast morning. We’ve adequate cell reception and the forecast calls for thunderstorms. We’re battening down and starting a little day drinking when the bottom falls out. Huddled under the kitchen tarp we see a group of two canoes come up around our point. Each holds a couple and they ask to take cover whilst the storm blows… of course y’all can stay! Rain finally abates and they’re on their wet way. Never left the camp today. Got another fire raging, had a couple more cocktails and hit the fart sacks early. 
Day 10 of 6
Friday, August 30, 0700/0730 we’re dropping out of our hammocks. It’s so nice sleeping up here in the woods. We need to catch some fish today. Plan is to scour the Gun and depending on success rate, maybe hit the two little ponds between Gun and MooseCamp. Happy we made the decision as the East Texas gentleman farmer and I both hauled PB smallies from the first pond. We’re eating good tonight! 
Day 12 of 6
Saturday, August 31, 2024 Woke today to tumultuous winds. Stand around the fire, sipping northwoods coffeve evaluate our options. Mother Nature made our decision and we spent the majority of the day under the yellow tarp, sipping… When all of a sudden, Crack, snap, Crash! Two trees about the size of a gymnast’s waist came falling down through our tarp! Luckily, the East Texas gentleman farmer gave the two former collegiate athletes and myself ample warning and we emerged unscathed. 
Day 17 of 6
Sunday, September 01, 2024 Loons and the big white swans are a great alarm clock. Woke to clear skies and bright sunshine. Fishing may be a bit tough after the front passed, it’s our last full day and we’re taking advantage of it… after coffeve. Fishing was a bust. Only catch was a minuscule bass caught by the two former collegiate athletes. Released to get bigger… Spent the remainder of the day readying for tomorrow’s exit… and sipping. Made it to the Mudro EP only 30 minutes late. CCO was most gracious with a cooler full of cold beverages. Time for the best shower of the year! We had a great time, made memories and are planning for next year’s adventure. It won’t be Mudro.
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