BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 26 2024
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
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!
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!
Last Trip of the Season
by gnegard
Trip Report
Entry Date:
November 05, 2009
Entry Point:
Lake One
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
1
Trip Introduction:
I wanted to get one last trip in for the season, but all thru October it was rainy and cold. It didn't look like I would make it. But, finally the weather broke and I jumped at the chance.
Report
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 First duff day of the trip and the forecast was for solid rain all afternoon. We had the Nemo Bug Out shelter along because we were expecting bugs. There were no bugs, with the exception of those pretty little purple moths that liked to land on the dogs. But when there is rain, the Bug Out is exceptional. The screening prevents water from coming in sideways for the most part, so we had a large area to hide under later in the day. [paragraph break] We took our time getting up and making breakfast. Our spread was another massive serving of scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon. We were making up for lost calories from all the work the day before. After finally eating, I was eager to get in my canoe and get on the water. I had some fishing to do. Krystal was going to head out in her own time, so I threw Gichi in the boat and paddled toward the south side of the lake. The wind was already starting so I stayed as much on the lee side as I could. [paragraph break] I dropped my line in and began to troll along the southern shore. I immediately got a hit. With good tension on the line, I reeled in a gorgeous small lake trout. Knowing I was not fishing for trout this year, I hadn’t gotten a trout stamp, so released that beauty back into the lake and began paddling again. You ever have that feeling that something is watching you? Well right after I let that fish go, that’s how I felt. I looked up toward the burnt hillside and scanned the landscape. Sure enough, there was a moose staring at me from atop a rock face on the hill. I tried to paddle closer to it to get a good photo, but it was too far away. I did snap a photo but the moose was fairly difficult to make out, but it’s there![paragraph break] 
[paragraph break] My solo adventure continued down the length of the lake. I kept trolling because it was windy and so far, I had been successful with that method. Maybe 20 minutes later, I had a small pike on. Not big enough to feed us all, so I slipped the hook out of its mouth while still in the water. We started fishing barbless two years ago so getting the hook out is always an easy task. I paddled on until I got into the far western end of the lake and made my way into the island dotted western end. Long Island Lake is stunning, from burnt hills to the islands strewn across its waters. [paragraph break] I didn’t have any luck on the western end and the rain had begun to fall, so I decided to make my way back to camp. Just as I had rounded the southern point on the west end, I spotted a bear right near a campsite. The ambling black bear was sniffing around the shore and checking for something good to eat. I recorded some video and the bear disappeared back into the woods. [paragraph break] 
[paragraph break] I started paddling again and got a snag. I stopped to get my line free and looked over my shoulder, and that big old bear was swimming across the lake! I got some okay footage of it but I stayed far away. Two animal sightings on one fishing trip, I felt so fortunate to be out in my canoe on that rainy day. [paragraph break] 
[paragraph break] Fishing my way back to camp, I hooked into one bug net buried in the depths. It was in perfectly good condition with the exception of some lake weed and debris. Shortly after hooking into that treasure, another Laker decided to join me from the depths, but this time it was a nice sized beauty. I was just about to reach into the net to release it, and the trout flicked its backend and slipped through the net all on its own. Good thing I was not keeping trout![paragraph break] After battling the bug net and the trout, I kept finding myself moving backward so I reeled in for a bit to make more distance back toward camp. I dug in with my paddle until I got to the lee side of some islands. The water was shallower so I was hoping to catch a pike. I tossed my line back in and a few short paddles later, thwack! A pike! [paragraph break] A good fight was had, but when I got it next to the boat, the mighty fighter revealed that though it was strong, it was certainly not meal worthy. I released the tension on my line so the pike could throw the lure, and it set itself free in seconds. At this time, the rain began to fall in desperation. Gichi and I tucked in and headed back to camp, fishless but thoroughly thrilled by the adventure we had had together. I could not wait to get back to camp and relay our journey to Krystal. [paragraph break] 
[paragraph break] Rainy (our smallest muttski) and Dobby were heralding us from shore as we got back to camp. I unloaded and quickly hunkered down under the tarp with Krystal. She whipped up some lunch for us as she told her fishing story for the day. She had caught one pike and nearly gotten lost on the big lake. I was bursting at the seams waiting to tell her my tale. Over lunch wraps and drooling dogs, we ate and chatted about our day. It was mid-afternoon and the rain was coming down eagerly. With cozy sleeping bags and books waiting for us in the tent, we scurried in and lulled the day away in the warmth of a lazy rainy afternoon while the UCO candle burned the dampness out.[paragraph break] 
[paragraph break] Around six o’clock in the evening, we eventually hauled ourselves out of the tent to feed the dogs, feed ourselves again, and shiver without a fire. We sat out as long as we could, but neither of us had wanted to leave the tent in the first place. Feeding the dogs had taken precedence over our comfort. With the dogs happily fed, and our bellies full after indulging in the delicious dehydrated butternut squash risotto I had made, we climbed back into the tent for the night.
[paragraph break] My solo adventure continued down the length of the lake. I kept trolling because it was windy and so far, I had been successful with that method. Maybe 20 minutes later, I had a small pike on. Not big enough to feed us all, so I slipped the hook out of its mouth while still in the water. We started fishing barbless two years ago so getting the hook out is always an easy task. I paddled on until I got into the far western end of the lake and made my way into the island dotted western end. Long Island Lake is stunning, from burnt hills to the islands strewn across its waters. [paragraph break] I didn’t have any luck on the western end and the rain had begun to fall, so I decided to make my way back to camp. Just as I had rounded the southern point on the west end, I spotted a bear right near a campsite. The ambling black bear was sniffing around the shore and checking for something good to eat. I recorded some video and the bear disappeared back into the woods. [paragraph break] [paragraph break] I started paddling again and got a snag. I stopped to get my line free and looked over my shoulder, and that big old bear was swimming across the lake! I got some okay footage of it but I stayed far away. Two animal sightings on one fishing trip, I felt so fortunate to be out in my canoe on that rainy day. [paragraph break] [paragraph break] Fishing my way back to camp, I hooked into one bug net buried in the depths. It was in perfectly good condition with the exception of some lake weed and debris. Shortly after hooking into that treasure, another Laker decided to join me from the depths, but this time it was a nice sized beauty. I was just about to reach into the net to release it, and the trout flicked its backend and slipped through the net all on its own. Good thing I was not keeping trout![paragraph break] After battling the bug net and the trout, I kept finding myself moving backward so I reeled in for a bit to make more distance back toward camp. I dug in with my paddle until I got to the lee side of some islands. The water was shallower so I was hoping to catch a pike. I tossed my line back in and a few short paddles later, thwack! A pike! [paragraph break] A good fight was had, but when I got it next to the boat, the mighty fighter revealed that though it was strong, it was certainly not meal worthy. I released the tension on my line so the pike could throw the lure, and it set itself free in seconds. At this time, the rain began to fall in desperation. Gichi and I tucked in and headed back to camp, fishless but thoroughly thrilled by the adventure we had had together. I could not wait to get back to camp and relay our journey to Krystal. [paragraph break] [paragraph break] Rainy (our smallest muttski) and Dobby were heralding us from shore as we got back to camp. I unloaded and quickly hunkered down under the tarp with Krystal. She whipped up some lunch for us as she told her fishing story for the day. She had caught one pike and nearly gotten lost on the big lake. I was bursting at the seams waiting to tell her my tale. Over lunch wraps and drooling dogs, we ate and chatted about our day. It was mid-afternoon and the rain was coming down eagerly. With cozy sleeping bags and books waiting for us in the tent, we scurried in and lulled the day away in the warmth of a lazy rainy afternoon while the UCO candle burned the dampness out.[paragraph break] [paragraph break] Around six o’clock in the evening, we eventually hauled ourselves out of the tent to feed the dogs, feed ourselves again, and shiver without a fire. We sat out as long as we could, but neither of us had wanted to leave the tent in the first place. Feeding the dogs had taken precedence over our comfort. With the dogs happily fed, and our bellies full after indulging in the delicious dehydrated butternut squash risotto I had made, we climbed back into the tent for the night.
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