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BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 18 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!

Gull Lake no Clear no Fire no Insula

by L.T.sully
Trip Report

Entry Date: July 23, 2006
Entry Point: Lake One
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 2

Trip Introduction:
This trip was planned for Gull lake. The day before leaving we found out about the fire. We had to make new plans. Going to Clear lake seemed good. It was likely filled with people from other ep's from the fire too though. We packed our gear thursday night. Oh yhea this was a trip of my father and me. We were disgrunted having to take 2 equiptment packs. Friday morning we leave at 10:00 est. Chicago traffic was bad but my dad was a chicagoan. He quickly got us off the jammed freeway. More traffic later in the trip. At 9:00 cst we arrived at our freinds in kettle river minnessotta. Saturday wake up eat, and drive to ely. Stopped at scubs bait and tackle to pick up fishing licences. Than went to the kawishawi lodge. After talking we dicided on going east. Now we need a map. Go back to ely stop at piragis to get a map. A mckenzie 118 dissapontment lake. In ely we shop for breakfast, and forgotten gear like paper towles. Back at our bunkhouse at the lodge happy dreams.

Day 1 of 5


Sunday, July 23, 2006


We wake up eat breakfast load our rented 18 foot Kevlar Souris River canoe. We set out at 6:00. Making good time thtough the numbered lakes. On the second portage to lake two we were still wondering Fire Lake or Insula. The people on the portage said due to smoke Insula was near deserted. (We never saw smoke on Insula) Our minds were made up Insula it was. On Lake three my compass needle went nuts. Due to we went in the wrong direction. That cost us a whole hour. On Three it starts to rain. By the time we reach the Insula portage It's raining on and off. On the portage with several other groups they are slipping and slidding. We have no problem. On Insula is begins to pour. We get to a nice site on the northern end with a southern exposure. We make camp. When we get water we realise our bag filter broke. Later it really starts coming down. In the tent I fall asleep. My dad wakes me up dinners cooking. And our propane stove broke, and we forgot the shovel. I begin to realise the site is trashed. Names written in the sand. Cigarette buts, and even a fishing lure. We find a good food bag tree and get some well deserved shut eye.  

 



Day 2 of 5


Monday, July 24, 2006


STORM I'm a heavey sleeper but that storm was bad. Lightning and thunder rattle the tent. I'm awoken for a whole hour.


Morning the storm has passed. It's a great day. One problem The prvious tennants of the site never bothered to clean the ashes out. I mentioned we forgot our shovel. We are forced to clean it out with our cups. It is noon before breakfast is ready. Bacon, and hash browns. I explore the area. The veiw is great! That night our shower bag was schorching hot. Hotter than the showers at home. Southern exposure pays off.

 



Day 3 of 5


Tuesday, July 25, 2006


Another great day. Wake up and fish. Chatch nothing. Come back and soak up rays. This site has a bee hive, and also lots of flys yet no mosquitsos. Star gaze that night.

 



Day 4 of 5


Wednesday, July 26, 2006Final full day fishing again nothing again. Today we day trip to Thomas, and later float down, and fish the Kawishawi again nothing again. So much a repeat of yesterday.

 



Day 5 of 5


Thursday, July 27, 2006Final day we wake up break camp. One problem I come down with the runs. Two trips to the latrine later we fear Girardia. It passes. We set off at 9:30. Go back the way we came we see a bald eagle on lake four. Back at the lodge all is good.

 


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