BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
November 01 2026
Entry Point 12 - Little Vermilion Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1150 feet
Latitude: 48.2995
Longitude: -92.4268
Little Vermilion Lake - 12
College Camping Trip
Entry Date:
June 01, 2019
Entry Point:
Mudro Lake
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
6
The start of our trip was twists and turns from the parking lot, along the creek into Mudro Lake. It was a rocky start for the whole group. Most of the time it was pushing off of the marsh to keep the canoe on course. Was a greater refresher for experienced paddlers and a test for the future with the first timers. 
Us getting ready for our first portage. Being the leader of the trip I of course fell down while trying to portage the first canoe for the trip. 
The river run and portage between Mudro into Fourtown felt like a Billy Goat. Parts brought you 100 feet above the rapid creek with a pack and canoe on your shoulders to keep things interesting. Everyone in the group learned quickly to lift with the right technique while portaging. 
The paddle across Fourtown was directly into the wind making our time to camp very long, making it at 6:15 PM. Our time fighting the current also made it difficult to determine our spot on the map for most of the time on the newly found lake. 
Logan and I preparing the dinner for the night... "Taco" Mac and Cheese 
Willy and I admiring the bear bag set up in the dark. ~Mudro Lake, Fourtown Lake
Leaving early from Fourtown we made our way through Boot Lake, loosing our locker of bait along the way. This would foreshadow our groups success of fishing for the trip. In spite of all the lost lures (Sorry Willy) there was no fish to be caught the entire time we were up in the north country. 
Willy is implementing our makeshift depth finder from rock and rope. We measured fifteen feet which we though was sufficient for the 30+ foot jump (sorry mom). Everyone during Rose, Bud and Thorns all said that the cliff jump was their favorite part of the day. 
Traversing through the portages and controversy along Gun Lake with high winds and getting momentarily lost. Found the entrance to the mile long portage. 
With a needed break we gained a second wind with sights set on making it to the border along Crooked Lake. This proved difficult. The goal was to make it to Chippewa in hopes of getting the closest site and relax for the rest of the day. With one more portage ahead, we went over the beaver dam. Now we can all say that we have traversed the shortest portage in the Boundary Waters being one rod in length. One of the many milestones a trophy and plaque laden mantle would contain. 
The beaver dam was a cool sight. Making it to the campsite was a calm transition, leaving us space with our own lake. Some spent time attempting to fish while others enjoyed the breeze that the lake brought to the site. 
Leaving later in the morning at 9 am our group set sail for the trip to border along Crooked Lake, entering from Papoose Lake onto Friday Bay. Above is a look at our campsite from the night before on Chippewa. It was nice with a breeze and had the lake to ourselves. Other than the burrowing hornet nests near the stove it was a great campsite. 
A muddy portage from Papoose Lake to Friday Bay along Crooked Lake entered us into the border waters. With some stuck group members it was crucial to lift with every step out of the mud, so not to fall over. As we entered Friday Bay there was a change to the environment, mirroring a great expanse. The water was smooth with minimal to no wind. 
Making it to the island 5 star campsite with a full day left was a celebratory achievement. We had the whole day to relax and unwind until the storms started to roll in on the site. There was a lot of last minute checks and getting gear under canoes to help from the water destroying the gear. 
This was one of the many images that showed or organizational skills before the impending storms.
A globe-trotter’s retreat to the Boundary Waters
Robert Keeler knew what his 2020 work schedule was supposed to look like as early as last September. He had 42 weeks of travel planned across the U.S. and from Europe to Australia. Once the pandemic escalated in spring, those trips evaporated, to be replaced with hours of back-to-back phone calls.
“It definitely makes for a longer day, not going to lie,” said Mr. Keeler, a 52-year-old resident of Chaska, Minn., who works in sales for a consumer electronics trade association.
Trying to get in touch with clients via email amid conflicting schedules means it’s common for Friday work hours to stretch into the evenings. “You have to be much more patient and understand that things might take a little longer to get done,” he said.
Robert Keeler, right, and his son, Ryan, went to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota.
PHOTO: RYAN KEELER
Of all the travel spots on his list, Mr. Keeler looked forward to Australia the most, especially since his work obligations would’ve been a half-hour away from family members who live there. That kind of quality time is hard to come by for a self-identified workaholic, but the pandemic made an alternative possible closer to home.
Mr. Keeler and his 23-year-old son, Ryan, went to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, just south of the Canadian border, in June and August. They were miles away from civilization with little cell service. The barrage of emails and phone calls halted.
He stayed unplugged for five days, not turning his phone on until after they returned home.
The two of them spent four to five hours paddling in their canoe each day, trying (and failing) to catch lake trout and spotting bald eagles, coyotes and other wildlife around them. They went days without seeing people in June, but in August, there were plenty. The two of them had to keep paddling until they found an open campsite because most were taken.
The best moments were the nights when they sat in chairs overlooking the lake and stayed up late talking under the starry sky. Mr. Keeler loved listening to his son share details about what was happening in his life, from navigating work after being furloughed to picking out a new tattoo. “You free yourself from all those distractions, and the conversations tend to be a lot deeper, a lot more genuine,” Mr. Keeler said.
Ryan Keeler in his canoe during the trip.
PHOTO: RYAN KEELER
“It’s funny how all the crap that’s going on with Covid is probably our favorite summer,” Mr. Keeler said.
He and his wife are already planning their next getaway before they reach Minnesota winter, dusting out the mothballs in their 20-year-old travel trailer and giving it a much-needed makeover. He’s not sure where they’ll go in the next couple of weeks, but staying in Minnesota for Split Rock Lighthouse State Park or Gooseberry Falls State Park are possibilities.
“Wherever I’m at, I’m working. It’s easy for me to be in L.A. and overlook the ocean and work still,” Mr. Keeler said. “I see some pretty cool places, but you’re still grinding away and it’s just nice to escape.”
—Cordilia James
After navigating through the river we were met with cold and damp conditions for the rest of the day. The majority wanted to reach a campsite soon to get a fire going and warm up. 
The group and I had a long journey and were exhausted from the closing of our trips loop. Once the sun came down we made it to the tents and woke up with excitement to make our way back to civilization.
Our day began with a fog filled paddle across Tin Can Mike Lake. It was a serene dawn with calm waters. The portage to Sandpit Lake was marked and had a beach to offload onto. There were boards that kept us out of the bog and above the mud. Making our way through Sandpit we could see the campsite just waking up and starting their breakfast. It was funny to see their demeanor as relaxed, while our goal was to sprint through the trips finish line. The last portage of the trip was the toughest in my mind. It was a complete climb for at least 40 rods. Then as with any great portage someone left equipment at the entry so a second climb up the trail was necessary. It was finished with an easy paddle back to our entry point on Mudro Lake. [paragraph break] TRIP DETAILS: Paddle Length: 40 miles # of Portages: 18 Portage Length Total: 1378 rods [paragraph break] A takeaway from each group member:[paragraph break] Willy- "Cool to be up here, nice to know places like this still exist. Feels nice to reset"[paragraph break] Logan- "Gotta learn quickly. Put things in perspective"[paragraph break] Jack- "Be more patient in life. Don't have to worry as much anymore"[paragraph break] Zach- "Appreciate the little things; my pillow, bed, clean water"[paragraph break] Sam- "Realizing how important places like this are to us for peace and quiet"[paragraph break] Adam- "Hope everyone can look back on this as an enjoyable experience"