BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 18 2024
Entry Point 31 - Farm Lake
Farm Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 7 miles. Access is a boat landing on Farm Lake with access to South Farm Lake. Paddlers access North Kawishiwi River from Farm Lake. Some trip options available for paddlers with additional portages.
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1392 feet
Latitude: 47.8932
Longitude: -91.7183
Farm Lake - 31
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1392 feet
Latitude: 47.8932
Longitude: -91.7183
Farm Lake - 31
Lake One loop to Snowbank
by Portage Monkey
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 26, 2007
Entry Point:
Lake One
Exit Point:
Snowbank Lake Only (28)
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
I apologize in advance as I am not much of a writer. This trip was originally supposed to be 4 members but ended up just as my brother-in-law and myself. The goal was to fill in some gaps in areas we have explored between the Ensign and Kek areas to the north and the Gabbro to Isabella areas to the south. If a few fish happened to jump into our boat along the way, that would be ok too. Weather on this trip was upper 60's to low 70's, light rain and clouds half of the trip. Water levels seemed average with water temp around 50-55. Fishing was slow.
Day 1 of 5
Saturday, May 26, 2007 Got a late start leaving St. Cloud and did not arrive at Lake One until about 1pm. It did not take long to unload and get on the water, a little adrenalin and a lot of anticipation go a long way. The weather is a little cloudy but the water is calm and makes for great paddling as we loop around the north end of Lake One. As we get off the second portage from Lake One to Lake Two we hit with a downpour that takes us by surprise. It only lasts about 5 minutes but we a are soaked through...good time to take a break. After we dry out a bit we move on through Lake two and find ourselves paddling into a headwind and decide to make camp on Lake Three as campsites look to be filling up quick.
Day 2 of 5
Sunday, May 27, 2007 We get moving fairly early this morning and grab a couple of granola bars for the road. Both of us are glad we waited out the wind last night as we are now moving across Lake Three and Four with a Tailwind. The portages along this stretch are pretty easy and don't really pose a challenge which is probably why it is so popular. Spemd some time fishing below the rapids below Hudson Lake and pick up a few Northerns but don't keep as they are a bit small and today is a travelling day. The rapids are beautifula dn seems like a good spot to take a break for a while. We end up making camp early just before the portage to Insula on hudson lake and spend the rest of the day fishing and exploring Hudson. Beautiful evening. 
Day 3 of 5
Monday, May 28, 2007 No rush again today. Taking kind of a relaxed pace on this trip compared to other, nice to slow it down a bit and do a little fishing and exploring as we go. First thing this morning we portage from Hudson into Insula and end up spending some time chatting with a couple in their 50's. I hope I am still making these trips for another 20 years. After the portage we set out across Insula as the wind picked up...luckily mostly from our backs. Insula is a big island studed beauty that we navigated quickly as we wanted to get the portage into Kianna over with today. That portage was just enough to finish us off for the day, not terrible but put together with the long windy paddle up Insula we were ready to make camp. Luckily Kianna is an awesome lake. One of my 2 favorites on this trip. Lovely cliffs, nice big White Pines (perfect for trying the new hammock), decent fishing...just what I look for. 
Day 4 of 5
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Slept in a bit this morning and boy did that feel good. Tent pad at this site was a thick bed of White Pine needles. Good thing there was a fire ban because if there wasn't I would have been tempted to have a fire last night and the bugs at this site were prety bad. Caught a 5-6lb pike this morning from shore that i filetted and will have for dinner. Todays travels took us through Thomas and Ima and into Jordan. Portaging all pretty easy. Calm waters on Thomas, saw a big eagle on island by portage. When we got to Ima we ended up paddling intoa headwind. Headwinds are especially problematic on this trip as I am much bigger than my bow paddler and so the bow tends to act like a sail, makes for tough going. Finally make it over to the northern most campsite on Jordan and are greeted by a sandy beach with a number of large tent pads. Went for a swim, water felt to be about 50 degrees so it was more like a dunk, had dinner and hung out in the tent reading and playing Yahtzee to hide from the thunderstorm that almost blew the tent over. 
Day 5 of 5
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Slept in once again, feels wierd, but oh so good. We set out this morning with the intention of making it to Disappointment lake and spending the night. As we head down through Adventure and spend some time searching for the monster Ahsub lake Smallies we decide that it is still so early we could make it out of Snowbank tonight and have a couple extra days at home to get some other things done. I would be just as happy spending the next day or two fishing but unfortunatly my bow man does not enjoy fishing as much as I do, so I don't press the issue and we head for Snowbank. We end up battling a headwind all down Disappointment and Parent but by the time we get done portaging to Snowbank the wind has died down. We have a nice paddle across Snowbank and I wait with the gear while my Bro hikes to get the car 4 miles away at the Lake One EP. Good trip overall, beautiful areas, but lots of people except for the Thomas and Kiana lakes area.