BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
September 20 2024
Entry Point 39 - Baker Lake
Baker Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Tofte, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 26 miles. Access is a boat landing at Baker Lake with a 10-rod portage into Peterson Lake to reach first campsite. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Vern with the boys
by preacherdave
Trip Report
Entry Date:
September 08, 2024
Entry Point:
Homer Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
3
Trip Introduction:
Scheduled a fall trip with my two sons who have been on several occasions and took my son-in-law to introduce him to the boundary waters
Day 1 of 5
Sunday, September 08, 2024 Actually planned to go into Homer on Saturday and stay at one of the two campsites outside the bwca. Last minute my youngest son had to back out because of a new job he started. My buddy Carl bailed us out by bringing a Wenonah Wilderness solo along with the Champlain that I had bought off him. By the time we drove up from Illinois and got the boats it was starting to get dark. We loaded up the canoes and set off for the campsites. Alas, I should have listened to the advice of this board. Both sites were full! We contemplated pushing on to the third site which is in the park but our conscience wouldn't allow it since our permit was for Sunday, not Saturday. We paddled back to the entry point in the dark, drug our canoes up, unloaded and spent a few hours trying to sleep in the van. Not a very restful evening! 6:00 a.m. we are up bright and early and set of in search of a campsite. Arriving at the third campsite on the lake, we indeed find that it was open. Not knowing what our day held we chose to unload and establish a camp in case nothing ese was open. My wife gave me stern instructions that I was to return with a photo we could make into a canvas to sit next to the one we had made from a photo that Gary Hamer graciously allowed me to use. Ten minutes after landing, my son-in-law (Paul) said he thought he had the picture. Ended up taking a beautiful picture of the sunrise on Homer. After dumping our gear we set off to see what we might find in way of other places to camp. Unloaded, we took the few short portages into the Pipe/ Vern area. I remember from years past that this route was to be preferred over the route through Whack lake. We met a couple of couples coming out of Pipe and had a nice chat with them. One of the fellows heard of our plans and warned us about the last portage into Vern. His advice was to keep right and be careful, that it had become a muddy slog. I thought he had confused this portage with the ones going through Whack. Sadly, he had not. We found the final portage nothing but a mud bog and it looked like it could go on for several hundred yards. We abandoned the pursuit and set out to return to Homer. Upon arriving back on Homer I suggested o the boys that I return to camp and that they take a quick peek at the Whack route and if passable, to check the sites on Vern. An hour later and they were back with reports that The way was doable and that the far site on Vern was open. With this news in hand, we quickly packed up and headed to Vern to claim the site that would be home for a few days. The site on Vern is a great site. Probably a 4 1/2 if not for the absolutely awful canoe landing. Lots of shade for the afternoon, plenty of places to hang a hammock, and a couple good tent pads. It was getting late so after we set up camp we decided to fix dinner. I sliced up the frozen steak we had brought, through in some onions and peppers I had prepared and ate with shredded cheese and sour cream on fajita shells. Awesome first dinner in the boundary waters. After dinner we went out fishing until dark and then retired exhausted from a long 24 hours. 
Day 2 of 5
Monday, September 09, 2024 Up early for breakfast. The boys can sure eat! A dozen dehydrated eggs and a stack of bacon all tucked in a fajita shell. Hits the spot but I have no chance of keeping up with the boys when it comes to eating. Three meals and constant snacking prevent me from ever being hungry. After breakfast we head out fishing. The bite is tough but we end up catching a couple walleyes we can have for lunch. Eric ties on his favorite perch colored shad rap and Paul and I fish soft swimbaits. The fish fry is when it hits us that we have left a major item at home - paper towels. Who knew this were so integral to a trip. How do you degrease the fish and potatoes and onions without them? Naps in the afternoon, supper , and then to the Vern River for our evening fishing. Don't know if its the season, low water, or what but we are largely disappointed with the evening. Several hammer handle pike and a few smallies was all to show for the evenings activities.
Day 3 of 5
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 Up early for another big breakfast and then on the water in pursuit of more fish. There is a very heavy fog and dew this morning and there are fishing jumping everywhere but few seem interested in our offerings. We snag a couple of walleyes for dinner and return to our camp. The wind picks up in the afternoon and so we stay on shore until it dies in the evening. Scouting around we come up with several mushrooms but aren't sure what they are. The boys seem unwilling to throw them in with the evening meal and it remains about the only thing they don't eat on the trip. Would love to know what kind of mushrooms they were. 
Day 4 of 5
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 Fishing has been slower than we like but we give it the old college try and end up landing several smallies and a few small pike. Talking, we discuss whether to move on through Juno and come out through Brule on Friday. Both the boys have three kids heavily involved in sports and there are games on Friday and Saturday so we make the decision to return to Homer. We will take the open campsite there, fish one more day and then come out early. We end up setting up camp about noon and then spend the rest of the day fishing. The fishing is surprisingly good on Homer. We caught all the smallies and walleye that we could ask for. The boys hauled them in on crankbaits and I did most of my damage on dragging a ned rig. Awesome last day of fishing to say the least! We return to camp in the evening and eat a combination of chilimac and beef stroganoff dehydrated meals. Tonight the ruffed grouse that greeted us at the campsite on Monday entertain us throughout the night scrounging around on the edges of our camp. 
Day 5 of 5
Thursday, September 12, 2024 As we arise early to head out our friendly grouse are perched on our canoes and if bidding us a final goodbye. We load up and paddle out on perfectly calm glass-like lake. A perfect ending to a great trip. Paul and Eric both had a great time and hopefully one day we will return together to this beautiful park. 
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