BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
November 01 2026
Entry Point 39 - Baker Lake
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.
October night raid on Sawbill
Entry Date:
October 01, 2026
Entry Point:
Sawbill Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
2
I arrived at Phil's home at 2pm, threw gear into his truck and we were off for Sawbill, an entry neither of us had done before. Our plan, weather permitting, and with the assistance of a Garmin in reach 2 enter around 7-8PM. Plan B was to dirtbag it in the parking lot and enter early on Oct 2.
Conversation on the way up was great and we decided we each needed one more cigar as we were entering Duluth. We found a seedy smoke shop and paid way too much for dried up Cohiba's and then a quick stop in two harbors for Culver's, which was another bad choice. The full parking lot full of classic cars and Coach bus should have told us to go up 61 a little more but we didn't. 45 minutes later we were on the road again. We arrived at the Sawbill entry point at about 830. After checking the conditions, we went full "Leroy Jenkins!" We were off just after 9 PM. My Garmin was mounted to the thwart in front of me and I kept us on the line to the north end of Sawbill where all the 4 stars were. All were occupied until getting into a little back bay where site 917 was and unoccupied.
We unloaded and set up our hammocks before enjoying a fire, cigar and whiskey. After staying up entirely too late, we shut things down at 1230.~Sawbill Lake 
Nautical dawn came early and I began packing up as Phil still slumbered. After everything was packed, I tossed a Rappela into the small bay and quickly produced a skinny Northern, well at least I'm on the board I thought. After a quick breakfast of english muffins with sausage and scrambled egg we were off! The first Portage was easy enough and on through Ada Creek. The second portage into Ada Lake was pretty mucky due to recent rains. After Ada Lake, we were pleasantly surprised that the 90ish rod portage was now passible after a lift over beaver dam #1. Near Skoop lake there is a very small portage. At that end I noticed some used TP... where there's TP there's usually a duce. Yup, right there, on the portage, was human feces. Come on guys, this is Bush league, I guarantee this was not none by a lady. Right next to the pile was the remnants of a campfire. Beaver dam #2 was discovered on Cherokee creek, again it was not too bad.
Moving on, we found our site on Cherokee #888 the large island on the South end of Cherokee. On this website it is rated a 3 but I believe it is a low 4. Lots of trees for hammocks and tarps. plenty of trees for the food hang. Just before supper I caught my personal best Northern (i'm a semi casual angler). 
~Sawbill Lake, Ada Lake, Skoop Lake, Cherokee Lake
After sleeping in, we had a brunch of pancakes with butter and bourbon barrel aged maple syrup. We knew weather was approaching so we set up a tarp before napping to the rain falling. We eventually played some cards and made dinner before turning in early. 
We woke early, packed and on the water headed back by 8am. The skies were clearing from the day before, but the wind was gusty and either against us or broadside through the day of paddling. Occasionally it would cease for a small period but then pick up. The last 30 minutes, before coming to the dock at the entry point, the wind kicked up tremendously making it difficult to navigate. I could only rudder while Phil paddled. What a great trip in the books, an entry point to check off. We started home and decided to stop off at my Niece's new apt in Duluth. She is a newly licensed Nurse at one of the hospitals there and was a little homesick. Back on the road and in the Cities just before 8. it was great to be back home to see my wife and children.
I checked the stats on the Garmin, our best paddle speed was 3.7mph where it was sheltered. We only slowed to 3.1 through all the gusts and sustained winds. 