BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
March 09 2026
Entry Point 50 - Cross Bay Lake
Cross Bay Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 45 miles. Access is thru the Cross River with two portages to Ham Lake and a 24-rod portage to Cross Bay Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1670 feet
Latitude: 48.0760
Longitude: -90.8222
Cross Bay Lake - 50
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1670 feet
Latitude: 48.0760
Longitude: -90.8222
Cross Bay Lake - 50
Saganaga-Cherry-Ottertrack-Saganaga
by stevekw
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 09, 2014
Entry Point:
Saganaga Lake Only
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
Just back from 7 day trip, gosh it was awesome.
Report
We used Voyager Outfitters, while they were awesome in most ways, I would double check each and every piece of equipment and food stuffs, as I feel a few errors were made (wet damp matches were included, none dry enough to use). This is not a review of Voyager, this is just a suggestion.
Towed to American Point, then set sail for Cherry Lake, did someone say the portage from Hanson to Cherry was rough? I would double down on that, that was work.
Had Cherry Lake to ourselves for the most part. What a beautiful spot. Caught so many small mouth it got boring. We left there and headed to Otterack. Had a beautiful campsite with again tremendous fishing.
It was a great trip, though the portages were hard (Saganaga-Ester, Hanson-Cherry). I would do it reverse next time and skip those two portages.
Saganaga Lake, Ester Lake, Hanson Lake, Cherry Lake, Topaz Lake, Amoeber Lake, South Arm Knife Lake, Ottertrack Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Saganaga Lake,
Ester Lake,
Hanson Lake,
Cherry Lake,
Topaz Lake,
Amoeber Lake,
South Arm Knife Lake,
Ottertrack Lake,
discuss this trip report (7 comments) - last post on August 24, 2014