Boundary Waters, Routes, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Parkwww.BWCA.com Trip Reports - Messageboard, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park
Boundary Waters Route Blog
    Trip Reports
      Trip Report - Four to Explore
 
  Last Visit: 03/29/2024 05:31AM

Entry Point 45 - Morgan Lake

Morgan 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 26 miles. Access is a 320-rod portage to Morgan Lake. No campsites on Morgan Lake—short portages to further lakes for campsites. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 1
Elevation: 1845 feet
Latitude: 48.0008
Longitude: -90.4098
Author Message Text
danhawk
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/05/2011 05:47PM
 
New Trip Report posted by danhawk

Trip Name: Four to Explore.

Entry Point: 47

Click Here to View Trip Report

Lets Roll!
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next
SunCatcher
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/05/2011 06:53PM
 
Nice report, sounds like you had fun in spite of the weather and fishing. As far as learning, we never stop doing that.
Thanks for sharing.
SunCatcher

"WWJD"
ducks
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/05/2011 07:41PM
 
danhawk,
Great report and thanks for sharing. 2 years ago we entered at Lizz and base camped on Gaskin. Loved that area. We have used the bunkhouse at Rockwood each of the last 2 years. Mike and Lin are great people and I truly enjoy chatting with them. We didn't have much luck fishing when we were there either.


We had the complete opposite happen to us at the put in at Poplar on our way out. When I was coming down to the lake w/canoe and a pack a dad and his 2 young boys (around 10) had just touched land. As you stated there really is only one good place to land the canoe without having to crawl around big rocks. The dad and the boys paddled back out about 30 feet and gave me room to put the canoe in the water. My wife was right behind me with her 2 packs and we quickly loaded up and got out of their way. They didn't "have" to do that but it was greatly appreciated. It was great seeing a father modeling common courtesy for his kids.

Ride EZ
Mongo65
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/05/2011 09:47PM
 
Nice report. Thanks for sharing. We were going to basecamp on Winchell but I may think twice now.

Sit back, relax, have a home brew.
danhawk
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/09/2011 04:02PM
 
If you can get a spot on the east end you would have options to easily take side trips to the east and north. If you have a spot near the midpoint of the lake and there is some wind it would make travel tougher. It is such a long lake oriented east/west without many spots to shield to wind while traveling.

Lets Roll!
danhawk
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/09/2011 04:13PM
 
I liked Gaskin a lot too. The bottom depth structure is very diverse - I love to fish this type of a lake. The lake shape and islands make it scenic.

Lets Roll!
Zulu
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/10/2011 08:43AM
 

Dan - Thank you for the Trip Report. I really enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos. I liked the photo you took where you held the camera over the side of the canoe at the waterline.


It was the first Trip Report where I read of anyone bringing cots. I couldn't help but think how hard they would be to portage but it doesn't sound like it was a problem. I don't sleep that well on un-level surfaces and the cots would certainly remedy that!


The uncourteous people at the landing are a good reminder that not everyone understands portage etiquette enough to wait and let others go first when possible.


I am glad you had a great trip.


Did you put more scratches than you thought in the new canoe or did it look pretty good when you brought it back?
danhawk
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/10/2011 10:30AM
 
Thanks Zulu - the Beyer of Maine cot probably is unusual for the BWCA. It fits into my pack alongside of the tent, however, so it wasn't a big deal to carry. It is a "luxury" item but good sleep is an important factor for a successful trip! Small tents might not have enough room. We were able to fit two cots in a have space for clothes packs and essentials.


The canoe was perfect for us. I would love to buy that type. No amount of babying of that canoe would prevent some scratches. Luckily the marks were minor and we were not charged extra! After the trip we thought the comment "you own every scratch" was just Mike trying to be funny. It must be tough for outfitters to see nice equipment abused which happens a lot!




Lets Roll!
SevenofNine
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/11/2011 01:56PM
 
Thanks Dan for posting a nice trip report.




The best part of this journey here is further knowing yourself - Alan Kay
nojobro
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/17/2011 07:29AM
 
Nice! I was pleasantly surprised to open this report and discover it's about the same area that we are going to in June. I also really liked that picture of the side of the canoe while you're paddling. I will steal that idea. ;-)
wawasee
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/17/2011 09:05AM
 
Nice trip report to bad the fishing wasn't better!
danhawk
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/22/2011 02:30PM
 
Thanks Nojobro - I have seen photos from that angle before (your not stealing my idea!) I took some other good pics but only posted a few since they took so long to download here. Maybe I could edit my report and add more. Have fun there this summer! If you stay on Gaskin I would check out site #634 or the site we stayed at #632. They are off the main routes if you want more seclusion.

Lets Roll!
BearBrown
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/23/2011 03:05AM
 
Thanks for the report, I enjoyed reading it and taking a look at the photographs.


I've been through all of the lakes on your travel route (horsehoe, gaskin, lizz, caribou, poplar) and I've camped on gaskin, horseshoe and caribou in the past. I have personally never experienced great fishing on any of those lakes, but my effort was marginal at best. Sorry you had a similar experience.


Gaskin is a very pretty lake. I wish my girlfriend and I would have pushed on to one of the nicer campsites on the lake because there are several nice sites. The one we stayed at near the portages north toward meeds lake isn't the best site on the lake. When we paddled across gaskin the next day, we had a good look at some of the nicer sites. Very enjoyable paddle on that lake except for when I broke my fishing rod trying to yank out a snag. Tough break...


Wish I would have made it out to winchell lake just to see it, but I'll just have to do that some other time. That overlook is something I want to see.

Richard "Bear" Brown
WhereRwe
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
04/16/2011 03:11PM
 
Thanks for the trip report. We are going to this area in July this year. Our group hopes to make it to Winchell, but may take your advice and camp on Gaskin. Hopefully the fishing will be better for us!
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next