BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 24 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!
Rainy Days were here again
by otter1
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 08, 2010
Entry Point:
Little Gabbro Lake
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
Myself, girlfriend and her two brothers were wanting a quick trip. Camping, fishing and enjoying. One brother Jeremy was experiencing his first trip while Amanda and Ryan and myself went together last fall.
Report
Arrived at our ep 33 about 9:00 am for take-off. Portage was nice. Amanda and I were in our SR16 while Jeremy and Ryan each had their Perception kayaks. Our goal was to get to Turtle lake for the first night, but nearby rain detoured us to stay the first night in Gabbro. Glad we pulled over by the time camp was set up the rain began. Didn't stop tell bedtime(@9:00pm). Did enjoy a great steak and potato dinner, caught a walleye off campsite on a bobber. (first walleye wins meal on way out, yummy). We stayed on the northern most site in section 15. Nice site room for two tents and our large tarp, great view. [paragraph break] As morning came quick breakfast and coffee, packed up and off we went. Turtle was goal but we decided to cover some water instead we'd been on land long enough. So we crossed into Bald Eagle and up to Gull lake. Portage to B.E. was a neat little pull over. As we were canoeing close to all sites were filled, campers were friendly as we passed. Its always a nice wave at a fellow tripper. I try to stay away to allow their privacy. The portage to Gull was rather hard to get to. Lots of shallow rocks, definitely wet footing. Now the goat path to Gull was hilly,rocky and wet. Double portaging was the option. A burn area with its own beauty, lots of wolf scat. We entered a small stream to a quick 40 rod to Gull. Very tranquil indeed. Entered Gull hit the northern site here also. Ate lunch set up camp and visited. Site was okay. hard for two tents but a beautiful view, now that I think of it everywhere you take the time to visually absorb your surroundings, there's a beautiful view. Across the lake a three boat group made it their home. Amanda napped, us guys did some fishing. No walls but few pike and smallies, yeah. Back for dinner and visiting fished again with bobber caught a few rock bass and a nice 15" walleye(6' deep on crawler). Lucky for him I was already full. He did smile for a picture thou.[paragraph break] We woke up this second morning to glassy water,I couldn't wait, wished I had a jetboil now. Off Amanda and I went searching for lunch. I was in heaven, then the smallies wouldn't stop biting. Damn I wanted a break but no, unhook fish, take picture, put on stringer grab my pole, but wait Amanda has another. Kinda like rinse and repeat for the next two hours. What a joyful time. We were using top water plugs. Which was a first for Amanda but I think an addiction has set in her. She really had fun, not that she wont jig with the best of them. What day. We did keep 5 for lunch. Most were 13-15" class with of course Amanda topping out with a 17". The brothers went the other way from camp and had less results using spinners and spoons, Jeremy topped with a 27" pike. They scrambled for plugs after hearing their sister showed them up and off they went plugging and reeling in fish, how great. We enjoyed Gods gift of a shorelunch and a break. Unfortunately as evening came noaa informed us of the weather. [paragraph break] As day four came so did the rain again,we decided to head out. We were gonna stop until Amanda's rainsuit failed her. I felt terrible, she was wet and cold a dangerous combo. We reversed and went out the same way we came in. Thankfully a backwind helped my bow partner get us going. Sites were a bit more available I noticed. From Gull we made it to our exit point 33 in 7 hours. All were sad to leave yet misery was one bad decision away. Loaded up and off to cash-in my meal.[paragraph break]All and all trip was great like always. Didn't fish as much but I took on a lot of great laughs under that tarp. That loops not going anywhere, maybe next summer. Now Pine lake is on my radar this September.
discuss this trip report (3 comments) - last post on June 17, 2010