BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 09 2025
Entry Point 30 - Lake One
Lake One entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 21 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Lake One.
Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
Trout Lake - 1
Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
Trout Lake - 1
Father Daughter trip
by twistertail
Trip Report
Entry Date:
July 07, 2019
Entry Point:
Snowbank Lake
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
This is my first time doing a trip report so not sure how well this will turn out but since I got so much information from the fine folks on this site I wanted to share the great experience I had with my daughter. I've done 2 trips about 15 years ago and this was my 14 year old daughters first trip.
Day 3 of 6
Friday, July 05, 2019 
Our first portage of the trip went great, was loaded up and leaving central Ohio at 6:00am. We are about 14.5 hours from Ely so we decided to split it up and stay in Rice Lake Wisconsin the first night. Driving was great, no rain, no delays other than a few slow downs through Chicago and we got to the Super 8 in Rice Lake about 6:00pm, which was really 5:00 with the time change. We ate at the Mandarin which looked like a dump but was delicious. Funny note about the Mandarin, the bathroom is in the basement and it looks like you are in the basement of the Fratellis hangout in the Goonies, I was fully expecting to hear Sloth down there. Really though if you like Chinese food and dont mind a rough looking place check out the Mandarin in Rice Lake.
Our first portage of the trip went great, was loaded up and leaving central Ohio at 6:00am. We are about 14.5 hours from Ely so we decided to split it up and stay in Rice Lake Wisconsin the first night. Driving was great, no rain, no delays other than a few slow downs through Chicago and we got to the Super 8 in Rice Lake about 6:00pm, which was really 5:00 with the time change. We ate at the Mandarin which looked like a dump but was delicious. Funny note about the Mandarin, the bathroom is in the basement and it looks like you are in the basement of the Fratellis hangout in the Goonies, I was fully expecting to hear Sloth down there. Really though if you like Chinese food and dont mind a rough looking place check out the Mandarin in Rice Lake.
Day 6 of 6
Saturday, July 06, 2019 With just about 3.5 hours to get to Ely we had plenty of time to make some stops along the way. The first was at Hensons Country foods in Minong for some jerky. Even though it was a good deal we didnt think we needed the 10lb bag of beef jerky 
We did get a 1 pound bag that was around $8 which is still a good deal and also some Jack Links breakfast sausages which I had not seen before and were really good. Along the way we made stops at Bettys Pies and a few spots along the north shore. 
We made it to Ely in time to stop at the International Wolf center, which I thought was pretty disappointing and we only spent about 15 minutes there. Checked in the Motel Ely then walked around town a bit and ate at the Boathouse Brewpub, decent food and beer but nothing special really. Back to the motel and early to bed so we can get an early start for the wilderness Sunday morning.
We did get a 1 pound bag that was around $8 which is still a good deal and also some Jack Links breakfast sausages which I had not seen before and were really good. Along the way we made stops at Bettys Pies and a few spots along the north shore. We made it to Ely in time to stop at the International Wolf center, which I thought was pretty disappointing and we only spent about 15 minutes there. Checked in the Motel Ely then walked around town a bit and ate at the Boathouse Brewpub, decent food and beer but nothing special really. Back to the motel and early to bed so we can get an early start for the wilderness Sunday morning.
Day 4 of 6
Friday, July 05, 2019 Our first portage of the trip went great, was loaded up and leaving central Ohio at 6:00am. We are about 14.5 hours from Ely so we decided to split it up and stay in Rice Lake Wisconsin the first night. Driving was great, no rain, no delays other than a few slow downs through Chicago and we got to the Super 8 in Rice Lake about 6:00pm, which was really 5:00 with the time change. We ate at the Mandarin which looked like a dump but was delicious. Funny note about the Mandarin, the bathroom is in the basement and it looks like you are in the basement of the Fratellis hangout in the Goonies, I was fully expecting to hear Sloth down there. Really though if you like Chinese food and dont mind a rough looking place check out the Mandarin in Rice Lake.
Our first portage of the trip went great, was loaded up and leaving central Ohio at 6:00am. We are about 14.5 hours from Ely so we decided to split it up and stay in Rice Lake Wisconsin the first night. Driving was great, no rain, no delays other than a few slow downs through Chicago and we got to the Super 8 in Rice Lake about 6:00pm, which was really 5:00 with the time change. We ate at the Mandarin which looked like a dump but was delicious. Funny note about the Mandarin, the bathroom is in the basement and it looks like you are in the basement of the Fratellis hangout in the Goonies, I was fully expecting to hear Sloth down there. Really though if you like Chinese food and dont mind a rough looking place check out the Mandarin in Rice Lake.
Day 9 of 6
Monday, July 8, 2019 I was up early, about 5:00, let Ashley sleep in and fished from shore around camp again with no luck. Ashley was up about 8:00 so we had some breakfast then went out fishing. We fished all around the islands on the west side of the lake and even took the portage back to Jordan and fished where the small stream dumps in and then down the narrows and again no fish at all. Back to camp in the afternoon for some lunch and naps. 
We had planned on heading to Hatchet lake in the evening to fish but the winds picked up and the waves were just to big to try it, so we just hung at camp and fished from shore the rest of the evening.
Day 14 of 6
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Was hoping the wind and waves would settle down over night, and it did but not much. Was afraid if it got worse we'd not be able to leave the next day like we had planned so we decided to pack up and spend a few night on Disappointment lake in hopes that we'd have some better fishing. It was a tough paddle across Ima and I was a little nervous at times but Ashley did great and is a strong paddler so we made it across with no problems. The only other lake that was a little difficult was Jordan but it was'nt that bad compared to Ima. We made a stop at Cattyman falls along the way. 
Found a nice campsite on the west end of Disappointment set up camp and did some fishing and finally found some fish. 
Ashley caught a walleye and a few pike that we had for dinner and they were delicious.
Day 5 of 6
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 The plan was to spend most the day fishing and then head out in the evening and back to Ely, well the wind was whipping pretty good so we packed up camp and headed towards the landing on Snowbank first thing in the morning in fear that it would just get worse as the day got later. It was tough paddling and we could hear some thunder rumbling on Snowbank but made it to the landing safe and dry. We got back to VNO and returned the gear showered up and even had time to get to Brittons before they closed. It was my first time eating at Brittons and it certainly lived up to the hype, great food and huge portions.
We decided to head back by going across the UP of Michigan and so glad we did, beautiful drive and we made a few stops along the way. 
In all it was a great trip and we made lots of wonderful memories and hopefully we'll do it again sometime.
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