BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
November 01 2026
Entry Point 7 - From Big Lake
Big Lake 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 28 miles. Access La Pond Lake with a 160-rod portage from outside the BWCAW on Big Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1161 feet
Latitude: 48.0651
Longitude: -92.0188
From Big Lake - 7
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1161 feet
Latitude: 48.0651
Longitude: -92.0188
From Big Lake - 7
Moose R. North to Iron/LLC. First as a trip "leader"
by cyclones30
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 30, 2015
Entry Point:
Moose/Portage River (north)
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
5
Trip Introduction:
After taking my wife on her first trip last year, we
immediately began planning our next trip. We knew we wanted
to take a first-timer or two and fishing was the main goal
so we didn't plan a big loop like last year's trip.
Day 1 of 7
Sunday, May 31, 2015 - We never set an alarm, but were almost always up around or before 6 it seemed every day. We headed north and took the 2 portages into Boulder Bay, passing the scenic little falls between the two and noting it as a fishing spot for later. Today’s goal was Iron lake and specifically to see Curtain Falls at some point. The wind wasn’t bad and we crossed the Bottle Portage and stopped at the western site on Three Island for lunch. It wasn’t the nicest one we’d seen before, so we split up and looked for a site where we’d spend the next 2 nights. Some of the ones we checked were taken, but the site closest to the falls was open and we gladly took it. More fishing was done and fish caught in the immediate area. 
Day 4 of 7
Sunday, May 31, 2015 - We never set an alarm, but were almost always up around or before 6 it seemed every day. We headed north and took the 2 portages into Boulder Bay, passing the scenic little falls between the two and noting it as a fishing spot for later. Today’s goal was Iron lake and specifically to see Curtain Falls at some point. The wind wasn’t bad and we crossed the Bottle Portage and stopped at the western site on Three Island for lunch. It wasn’t the nicest one we’d seen before, so we split up and looked for a site where we’d spend the next 2 nights. Some of the ones we checked were taken, but the site closest to the falls was open and we gladly took it. More fishing was done and fish caught in the immediate area.
Day 7 of 7
Monday, June 01, 2015 - Since we knew we were staying another day/night at this site, we made pancakes instead of our usual no-cook breakfasts. Goal of the day was Curtain Falls and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We paddled the short distance to the portage, left the canoes and carried our fishing gear to the top. After taking it all in for a while and taking pictures, we started back down the trail and fished some of the better looking spots. I caught a nice walleye and the smallies were hitting like crazy. I think we had 6 fish on 6 casts at one point. Farther down the rapids I caught my personal best smallie (22”) and after a quick picture it went back in. 
Day 9 of 7
Tuesday, June 02, 2015 - Today’s goal was somewhere on LLC in the Tiger/Boulder/Never Fail Bay areas. We split up again to check sites and were hoping to take one in Never Fail. It was open, but almost nowhere for a tent and we reluctantly left what looked to be a very fishy area. The 2 sites in Tiger Bay were open, we took the eastern one and setup for another 2 nights. It rained off and on during the evening and thunderstorms rolled through overnight. Plenty of beavers swam past on their way to and from a small stream flowing into the south end of the bay. No fish were caught in Tiger Bay so we moved elsewhere to get our fishing fix while staying here. 
Day 11 of 7
Wednesday, June 03, 2015 - We wanted to see where the Boulder River flowed into Boulder Bay (and maybe move camp toward better fishing). We caught plenty of fish in the area but didn’t move camp due to the inclement weather in the area. Fish for dinner again with a couple walleye and a nice crappie.
Day 13 of 7
Thursday, June 04, 2015 - We wanted to get closer to the entry point today so we could get back to Ely at a good time on Friday. Forecast said we’d have clear skies and a north wind and they were right about the wind, wrong on the blue skies. It rained until about 11 am. We had a nice easy paddle down Boulder Bay and portaged into the pool below the small falls. Caught a couple nice fish (all went back) and proceeded across Agnes. She was rolling pretty good by the time we got to the south end of the lake. The whole time we were looking for a site to at least have lunch. We could only find one open site and it was very sub-par from what we’d been spoiled with on our first three. We ate a quick lunch and decided continuing to Nina Moose was a better idea (or gamble). We passed no less than 8 canoes going back north on the river between Nina Moose and Agnes, only to have most of the sites taken and some nice rollers headed their way when they hit the lake. We checked a couple sites on Nina Moose and decided on a nice one with the breeze and south facing point to help dry out all our wet gear. Blue skies finally arrived and we had a nice relaxing time drying stuff out and setting up camp. We tried to catch some fish in the afternoon, but only one northern wanted to play and it was right from the campsite.
Day 17 of 7
Friday, June 05, 2015 - I woke up before 5 to get one last fishing trip in before packing up and heading out. 2 of us went to where the Portage River flows into Nina Moose (you could hear rushing water from our site) and threw jitterbugs. We ended up catching more than 10 northerns on top waters which is always fun. The fog kept getting thicker while fishing and we had to take an educated guess on where our site was for a little while. We stopped by the overlook rock along the Moose River that I’d seen others’ pictures from and it didn’t disappoint! Everyone survived and had a good time (or so they tell me) and it sounds like we'll have to plan another trip sometime soon.
We had a great trip and things went very well for how inexperienced (and young) our group averaged compared to many others. My Chota Hippies and OTB boots worked like a charm and my wife’s NRS Boundary Shoes did as well. Looks like we’ve found some good options for dry-footing trips. We checked off many “firsts” for a few group members so that was always nice to add to their list. We caught northerns, walleyes, crappies, and smallies. I'll add more pictures and campsite numbers when I have access to faster internet.
discuss this trip report (6 comments) - last post on June 27, 2015