BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 07 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!
A less than disappointing trip
by portagerunner
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 05, 2022
Entry Point:
Snowbank Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
It was time for our annual trip into the BWCA for 2022. Each January four old friends from high school get together to plan out an adventure into the wilderness. Every so often we deviate and travel to Isle Royale or other wilderness destinations, but most commonly we find ourselves heading back into the BWCAW.
Day 1 of 5
Sunday, June 05, 2022 At this point in our lives, we have spread out to different areas and meet up in St. Cloud to consolidate gear and head north. After our typical late arrival into Ely, we found our way to Boundary Waters Outfitters for a night in the bunkhouse before getting our permit and a few rental gear items in the morning. Following this trip, we finally decided to upgrade and invest in our own canoes. Once we had the canoes loaded and permit picked up, we made our way to Entry point 27 on Snowbank Lake.
While not our first rodeo, when the winds are high on snowbank lake it can be intimidating. We were on the water by 8:30am and were greeted with a light breeze and plenty of sunshine. The portages from Parent Lake to Disappointment were flooded due to the very late ice out this past spring and closed meaning we would take the longer portage bypassing Parent Lake. Once we reached the portage to unload, we found it packed with several groups increasing our anxiety as to whether or not we would find a good campsite further in. Fortunately, between our ability to single portage and conversations telling us none of these groups were staying on Disappointment Lake, we could breathe easier and not feel like we had to race towards the nearest campsite. Typically, we would make a loop staying on different lakes each day, this year, however, we opted to find a base camp increasing our ability to explore the area and fish more seriously.
To our surprise, there was not a single occupied campsite on the entire lake. After checking out a handful of 4/5 star campsites we had researched we decided to stay at campsite 1379. The campsite location on the more secluded southeast side of the lake was great as a large island blocked the view of passing canoe traffic throughout the week giving us that sense of solitude so many crave when coming to the boundary waters. I easily assigned this site five stars as it had ample space for tent pads, tarps, and hammocks. It had large rocks for sunning, fishing, and drying things out. The landing was shallow and consisted of fine gravel which was good on the canoes and nice for swimming in. The kitchen area had ample log seating as well as a natural stone ledge behind it. That evening we enjoyed a chili stew and the first of many fantastic sunsets. 
~Snowbank Lake, Disappointment Lake
Day 2 of 5
Monday, June 06, 2022 Following a great night sleep, which can be difficult the first night in the woods, we awoke to mostly clear skies and no wind. Today we planned to finish setting up camp and explore the lake as well as the Kekekabic trail that winds through the woods near Disappointment Lake. Before we got too far, a hearty egg and bacon breakfast with some coffee from the GSI french press kicked off the morning. We did some fishing while we paddled around and pulled in several small northern but not much besides that. This lake seems to have endless structure and features to target walleye leaving us excited for the rest of the week. Once returning to camp we ventured a couple miles along the Kekekabic Trail but don't have much to report besides a view of the dense woods. That evening we had our first happy hour in the BWCA (another benefit of base camping) to go along with rib-eyes and mac-n-cheese. Can't say enough about how much better meals taste in the wilderness, not to mention the dinner view. We were treated to another clear night under the stars for a fire an awfully bright moon overhead. Given that it was the first week of June several of the nights did dip into the thirties. It was a bit on the chilly side, but it beats sleeping in a ninety-degree tent. 
Day 3 of 5
Tuesday, June 07, 2022 Today was forecasted to be the best day of the week and we had a longer day trip planned. To our luck, we ended up with another day of sun and 75 degrees with low winds. After waking to the fog rising off the lake and consuming and simpler breakfast we were headed northeast. Today's day drip would include passing through Disappointment, Ahsub, Jitterbug, Adventure, Cattyman, Gibson, and Jordan Lake. In total we portaged 12 times and paddled roughly 12 miles. We made this trip to see Cattyman Falls which were raging thanks to the high waters and aforementioned late ice out. Heading east from here, a paddle through the Jordan Narrows and a peak at Ima Lake completed our stops for the day. By the time we made it back to our campsite on Disappointment Lake that evening we were pretty wiped out. All were in agreement seeing Cattyman Falls and the Jordan Narrows were worth the trip. Of course, there was a small amount of daylight left to catch the evening bite and another phenomenal sunset. 
~Disappointment Lake, Ahsub Lake, Jitterbug Lake, Adventure Lake, Cattyman Lake, Gibson Lake, Jordan Lake
~Disappointment Lake, Ahsub Lake, Jitterbug Lake, Adventure Lake, Cattyman Lake, Gibson Lake, Jordan Lake
Day 4 of 5
Wednesday, June 08, 2022 Today would be our last full day in the BWCA before leaving early the next morning. Most of the day was spent relaxing, fishing, swimming, and eating well. Another day of mid-seventies and clear skies allowed us to maximize the day. As always, we overpacked on food and caught plenty of fish for a four-man feast. At the risk of sounding gluttonous, we ate more meals than I care to admit. Pancakes and bacon for breakfast, fish fry for lunch, brats for appetizers and a homemade pizza for dinner. This base-camping and carrying more weight concept just might stick after all. One last evening of sunsets, campfire, and star gazing were in store before heading off to bed. 
Day 5 of 5
Thursday, June 09, 2022 We were up early today to pack up camp and get back to town at a decent time. From our base camp it was around six miles back to the truck at the entry point. We also knew we wanted to get ahead of any potential wind coming across Snowbank Lake if we could help it. A moderate west wind was coming across the lake creating some decent chop, but we made it back to shore without any complication. A quick stop at the outfitter to return a canoe and catch a shower were in order before we made a stop in Ely for lunch. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Boundary Waters Outfitters for gearing us up. They've supplied us with gear, permits, and a bunkhouse for numerous trips now providing great service. On our way through town, we grabbed lunch at the Boathouse Brewpub before making the journey back to central Minnesota. While EP 27 was not our first choice, as we all know how fast permits fill up, this trip was anything but a disappointment. 
discuss this trip report (2 comments) - last post on February 05, 2023