BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
September 18 2024
Entry Point 27 - Snowbank Lake
Snowbank Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 24 miles. Access is a boat landing or canoe launch at Snowbank Lake. Many trip options for paddlers. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 8
Elevation: 1191 feet
Latitude: 47.9716
Longitude: -91.4326
Snowbank Lake - 27
Number of Permits per Day: 8
Elevation: 1191 feet
Latitude: 47.9716
Longitude: -91.4326
Snowbank Lake - 27
Snowbank/Disappointment/Ahsub/Parent
by birdonbats
Trip Report
Entry Date:
September 08, 2024
Entry Point:
Snowbank Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
4 guys on a fall fishing trip
Report
Heard about the difficulty crossing Snowbank with high winds and big waves, but we lucked out and had no issue. We got to our preferred campsite on Disappointment in about 2 hours. Could have been faster but there was a jam at the portage. Our preferred campsite was on the island (#1382) but there were few shade trees and the forecast was calling for unusually warm days, so we went to campsite #1380 and were much happier. I'd give a higher rating to #1380. Fishing was very difficult. Our best fisherman of the bunch got up and started shore fishing at 630am and brought in 3 fish just big enough to keep for dinner. Good thing as he only added 1 more keeper the rest of the day. We mostly caught small small mouth and a few northern. One good sized largemouth. Very windy which made the fishing even more difficult. Second full day and again we caught just enough for dinner, but it was slow going. 4 guys fishing hard for 2 and a half days and not a single walleye. Yikes. My son and I did a little exploring and went and checked out Ahsub Lake. The portage exit from Disappointment is very rocky and steep. The Forestry Department was there working on improving the hiking trail. Ahsub was a very clear lake and supposedly has brook trout, but we did not have a nibble. We went to the far end and walked the portage over to Jitterbug Lake. The entrance to the portage is a long, winding water trail. On our exit the morning of our 4th day, we decided to be different and come back via Parent Lake. Fished for about 30 minutes before we headed home. We did bump into Department of Fishery guys and they were just completing a gill net survey of the lake. They said the fish were all in the North and and they found very little on the east side ( where we had stopped to fish....figures). Always a good time. No mosquitos and no rain and beautiful wilderness.
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