BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 12 2025
Entry Point 30 - Lake One
Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
My son Remy and I, and my friend Keith and his son Charlie put our canoes into Lake one at 9:30 Monday morning after dropping off a car at the Snowbank Lake landing. Lake One can be tricky to navigate. On our way to Lake Two we turned East too early and ended up paddling about a mile out of our way into a dead-end bay before we realized our mistake. We blamed the fact that Lake One was split between Fisher Maps #10 and #4 for our error. If the entire lake had been visible at once on a single map, we would not have made the wrong turn. Once we got back on course we portaged the 30 rods into a pond and then portaged the 40 rods into Lake Two. The weather was nice, and there was a bit of a tail wind out of the West. We stopped for lunch on the shore of Lake Two. After lunch we canoed through the North end of Lake Three and into Lake Four. We stopped for the night at a campsite on the West shore of Lake Four, just North of the channel heading toward Hudson Lake. We had to battle swarms of mosquitoes as we set up the tents. We then had a nice refreshing swim. Because we had brought steaks along for the first night, we didn't go fishing. On Tuesday morning we had a bacon and eggs breakfast then packed up camp and headed out in our canoes. As we canoed past our campsite, we realized that Remy & I had left our hammocks pitched between trees. We landed again and quickly packed them up. Once again we had beautiful weather. We paddled East and completed 3 short portages before entering Hudson Lake. The 105 rod portage into Lake Insula was exhausting! Lake Insula is a large gorgeous lake broken up by multiple islands and penninsulas. We had lunch at a campsite on a large island just East of Hudson Lake. It felt like we had a tail wind as we were heading East, and then as we turned North it seemed like the wind shifted and was at our backs once again. We navigated Lake Insula flawlessly and camped for the night on the island just West of Williamson Island. After setting up the tents and a refreshing swim, Remy & I got back into the canoe and tried to catch some fish. We had no luck! At 9PM that night, just as we were going to bed, a thunderstorm rolled through. That night I was awakened several times by the loud croaking of bullfrogs from the shallows around our island. What noisy neighbors! By Wednesday morning the weather had cleared, but the wind was now coming from the Northwest, pretty much in our faces. We paddled to the North end of Lake Insula and tackled the largest portage of our trip. The 180 rod walk to Kiana Lake actually seemed easier than the 105 rod carry into Lake Insula. We headed onward into Thomas Lake where we really started feeling the headwind. We finally made it to the campsite just Northeast of the portage into Thomas Pond in time for lunch. After lunch we proceeded across Thomas Pond and into Thomas Creek after hiking across the famous Kekekabic Trail. We managed to easily run the rapids in Thomas Creek and avoid the 2 short portages. We camped for the night on Hatchet Lake at the northern campsite. It was cool and windy, so we didn't swim. There was lots of threatening weather going by to the North of us, but we stayed dry. After supper we canoed back to Thomas Creek to fish and look for moose. No luck on either count, but we did see a beaver swimmming. The weather was nice again Thursday morning, but the wind was out of the West which was the direction we were heading. We portaged into Ima Lake and canoed across it. Before portaging into Jordan Lake, we watched a bald eagle sitting in a tree get harrassed repeatedly by a seagull. The narrow channel leading into Jordan Lake is quite beautiful. It is narrow like a river with big rock outcroppings. We paddled across Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug Lakes. We found the Eastern campsite on Ahsub Lake taken, so we camped at the Western campsite which had a great place for swimming in front of it. There was a very brave loon in front of the campsite who didn't seem to mind if we got close to it. We tried our luck at fishing, but only caught 1 smallmouth which was too small to eat. Between 5:00 and 7:30 that evening we saw a number of canoes heading across Ahsub Lake from Disappointment Lake to Jitterbug Lake. We weren't sure where they were planning to camp, but it was getting late. On Friday we awoke again to good weather. We paddled the length of Disappointment Lake and portaged into to Parent Lake and then on to Snowbank Lake. It was July 4th, and as we entered Snowbank Lake the sounfd of firecrackers reminded us we weren't in the wilderness anaymore. After a brief splash war on our way across Snowbank, we made it to the landing and our car was still there. What a great trip!
Kawishiwi to Polly (rookie trip)
Entry Date:
May 25, 2012
Entry Point:
Kawishiwi Lake
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
2
After waiting for my roommate to finsh work and make a few last minute stops we arrived at Kawishiwi mid afternoon.Just befor we turned onto the road that lead to the campground we ran into a large black bear. I went for the camera,but the bear escaped befor I could snap a shot. We decided to wait until morning to attempt our entrance. So we set up camp, played a few games of cribbage, and watched some cave man tv. Between the loud campers and the adventure to come, it was tough to get any sleep.
We awoke at 5:30 am to a chilly but peaceful morning. I put on a coat and climbed out of the tent to an amazing view of the lake. 
It didn't take us long to pack up and head across Kawishiwi. Crossing the glass like surface quickly we began our departure down a narrow stream on our way to Square lake. I would say we were about half way there when we noticed a moose up ahead in the water. This time I got a few pictures before it wondered back up the shore and into the woods. 
As we approached Square lake the damage to the forest from the pokagami creek fire was everywhere. The shores were scattered with burnt trees and the forest looked bare. Once on Square, the shoreline was burnt almost all the way around. 
We stopped a for a few photos and continued our way to Kawaschong lake. The scenery did not change much, burnt forest all over. The water was high, leaving us with one 20 rod portage. The paddling continued across Kawasching to our longest portage of 189 rods. All of the forest along the portage into Townline was burnt as well. I got to be honest, I was looking forward to seeing fire damage but by now it was almost depressing to keep seeing more and more of the forest burnt. As we approached Townline lake it was more and more of the same. Townline is a small lake, maybe a five minute paddle to our last 95 rod portage into lake Polly. Upon reaching the shore of Polly the forest became more green than black. The first campsite we found on the southeast side of the lake was just perfect for us. It had one nice tent pad, a few good trees for the tarp and hammocks, and a great view. We set up camp and relaxed. 
That evening we managed to catch some walleye and explore the rest of the lake. The sky began to cloud up and we enjoyed a great sunset. 
Later that night I was awaken by the sound of rain and thunder. There was little lightning, but the rain poured down.
Upon awakening to more rain we decided that if we were able to find an open campsite on the way back that we could manage to stay until Monday. We were enjoying our BWCAW experience way too much, even in the rain. Because of the weather forecast we seen before we entered it was decided traveling back closer to Kawishiwi this morning to avoid paddling in any possible lightning was a good idea. I wouldn't have worried so much about the lightning, however there weren't very many trees left along the shores or portages to take cover. Heading back in the rain wasn't bad at all. Infarct, we made great time on our way back until we noticed our rain tarp was missing on the portage back into Kawaschong. I turned around and backtracked 189 rods to the shore of townline to discover it sitting right where we had set our bags. I guess we will call that one a rookie mistake. Along the way back we never found an open campsite until the campground on Kawishiwi at which which point we decided to call it a trip. Will I return to the BWCAW? Only every chance I get! 