BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
December 10 2023
Entry Point 14 - Little Indian Sioux River North
Little Indian Sioux River (north) entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by La Croix Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 32 miles. Access is a 40-rod portage heading North from the Echo Trail.
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1364 feet
Latitude: 48.1466
Longitude: -92.2103
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1364 feet
Latitude: 48.1466
Longitude: -92.2103
LIS to Steep, Lynx with day trips
by pboba
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 18, 2010
Entry Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
There were 3 experienced canoeists and one novice who was looking for an activity that he could share with his younger children when they got a bit older. We left Moorhead, MN at 5 AM on Friday, June 18th, and were on the water by 1:00 PM.
Report
Day 1: Little Indian Sioux, Upper Pauness, Lower Pauness, Loon Lake. We made a serious tactical error pulling out onto Loon Lake into a 40 MPH west wind. We could very easily have been swamped and pushed into a rocky, steep shore line. We haven't seen high winds like this on any of these most recent trips, and we missed the warning signs. We surfed in 2 1/2 to 3 foot rollers for about 6 or 7 of the longest minutes in my canoeing career, until we rounded a small point that gave us a chance to jump out on the rocks and drag ourselves into the brush. This was about 5 pm on Friday. We began prepping the area for a rough campsite and out door sleeping. We cooked our dinner and waited to see what the weather would bring. The wind died down enough by 8:30 to allow us to push on across Loon into east Loon to the sandy beach campsite---that was occupied by Dave with his Lund powerboat, his 3 boys, a massive camp set up surrounded by (get this) an electric fence. We asked for some space and they readily helped us with our gear. The new guy wasn't sure he would ever want to canoe again.[paragraph break] Day 2: East Loon, Slim Lake, Section 3 Pond, South Lake (very muddy drag to water), Steep Lake. Very nice campsite on north end of Steep. We stayed over and day tripped on day 3. By this time, Todd, the first-timer was totally in love with the BWCA and canoeing. He has 2 younger sons, and is looking for an activity they can share. I gave him the pitch about the virtues of Scouting as well.[paragraph break] Day 3: Day trip: Steep, Eugene Lake, north to Gun Lake, Beartrap, walked the portage to Thumb and back, back through Eugene to Steep.[paragraph break] Day 4: Steep, South, Section 3, Slim, Loon, Heritage River, Heritage Lake, Lynx Lake. Beautiful campsite on a nice bluff with protected landing area. We stayed here 2 nights and day tripped day 5. Todd swore that he would be back to this campsite at some time soon. The guy is now officially hooked.[paragraph break] Day 5: Lynx Lake, Ruby, Hustler, Emerald, Hustler. We walked the portage to the swampy area just west of Oyster. We met 2 groups of Boy Scouts from North Carolina, and helped them with some of their gear on the way back west on the portage. A Scout is Helpful. (I remembered from my Scouting days.) There were about 20 people milling around that portage for a while, which was unusual, but fun. Back through Heritage, Ruby, to Lynx.[paragraph break] Day 6: Going out. Lynx, Little Shell, Shell, Paunesses, LIS River and out. Got to parking lot about Noon. Only because Stan got too far north of the portage out of Lynx. We blew 45 minutes chasing up and down the shoreline. Before we even got off the Echo Trail on the way bqck home we were discussing our plans for a trip in September. Can't wait!!
discuss this trip report (2 comments) - last post on July 11, 2010