BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
October 13 2024
Entry Point 38 - Sawbill Lake
Sawbill Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Tofte, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 25 miles. Access is a boat landing at Sawbill Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 11
Elevation: 1802 feet
Latitude: 47.8699
Longitude: -90.8858
Sawbill Lake - 38
Number of Permits per Day: 11
Elevation: 1802 feet
Latitude: 47.8699
Longitude: -90.8858
Sawbill Lake - 38
Baker Lake #39
by pdidy
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 10, 2010
Entry Point:
Baker Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
14
Trip Introduction:
Its was time for our yearly mens trip to the BWCA. This year brought our biggest group and one newbie. Rain was prelavent but we still managed to laught alot. This year we drove two vehicles since we had 14 guys with. There was one group of 8 and my group of 6. I had to put ball joints on the passenger front of my truck and new rubber on the back. $$$$$$$$$$$
Day 1 of 5
Thursday, June 10, 2010 We all met at my house at 7:00 for loading and final preparations. 3:00am would come early. We made it on the road by three I was happy. Got to Duluth and refueled our vehicles and out stomachs. Truck pulling a canoe trail with 5 canoes plus all gear got a great 11mpg. Off to Tofte ranger station get permit and drive to Baker Lake. It was a great morning. Sun was shinning saw some deer on the drive. We unload and pack up gear and head out. The paddle was great lots of rocks in the narrows. Water level is down alot. Our group was first out the starting blocks. Got to South Temperance found the North Western site open. The other group took the Eastern site by the Brule lake. The other two sites were full. Nice site good place to two tents we squeezed in three. Steaks over the fire we at good. That last portage of 240 rods was tough. One of the new guys asked were we set up the tents at the end of the portage. I told him we have to paddle and find a campsite. He sighted and went on his way. This year was the hardest for portaging compared to the other 2 years. We cut enough wood for 4 days since they were talking rain. Plenty of fire wood at this site. Sure enough it started to rain that night.
Day 2 of 5
Friday, June 11, 2010 Woke up and rain. Went back to sleep. Woke up and and not raining, got up started fire, fished from shore no luck. Everybody else woke up made breakfast of Hashbrowns and bacon. Got ready to go fishing started to rain we decided to fish in the rain. Our canoe caught 3 fish all bass. Went back to camp and slept the afternoon away. Supper wash fish chowder soup with potatoes. Dehydrated in the bag cream of potatoe soup with fish. Made some popcorn and called it a night.
Day 3 of 5
Saturday, June 12, 2010 No rain!! Pancakes and bacon, this is were I discovered I forgot my butter and syrup. My group was nice to share with me, plus if you make you pancakes in bacon grease syrup in not needed. We rigged up for fishing and hoped for better luck and headed out. We decided to troll to the other group and do a drive by. I snagged a big small mouth bass on the way over and that's all we could snag. We started casting in to every small bay we could find. The other canoe in our group caught one bass while we caught 9. Fish fry tonight. We went back to camp cause the rain was starting up and we had no rain gear with us. We enjoyed a nice fish fry with more popcorn tonight. Went to bed to the sound of rain hitting the tent. Canoeing around the South Temperance Lake you can see lot of evidence of the blow down. It has came a long way but still has lots of dead fall. I also learned I can walk on water.
Day 4 of 5
Sunday, June 13, 2010 We decided to move closer to our entry point so Monday would be an easier day for us. Foggy morning but not raining. We eat a good breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Camp is tore down and we start to the 240 rod beast. Its amazing how this portage seamed easier when your stomach is full and you do it first. I carried my pack and the kevlar canoe the whole length with no breaks. I was proud of myself. Mother nature decided to keep with the theme of rain and it started lightly but got heavier the closer we got to camp. When we picked the most southern site on Kelly Lake it was raining pretty good. That was the fastest my tent went up. Firewood was hard to come by at this site. We all took a little dive in the water and we could all feel our man hood disappear from the cold water. Later that night the fish were feasting out the dragon fly's on top of the water is was sweet to watch a fish with its head out of the water chomping on bugs. I through a popper on thinking I could score some breakfast. The fish wanted nothing do due with it. We ate supper and went to bed. I was sad that this was out last night. It was also our only nigh we saw anything of a sunset.
Day 5 of 5
Monday, June 14, 2010 We woke up, ate breakfast and paddled out. The water was glass and we let the wind push us out. Got back to baker lake, Loaded up and waited for the other group to show up. Soon we were on our way back talking about each groups trip and how the rain can really put a damper on a trip. Over all a great trip can't wait till next year, but we do have a couple of guys who could not go that want to do a September trip so I hope that will work out. New gear I used this year and loved was my Marmot Sawtooth Down Sleeping bag and my new Muck Boots. Had dry feet the whole trip was nice for pushing off the canoe. I need to upgrade my sleeping pad to something smaller and lighter. I will also have to purchase some more gear since my son will be going up with me next year. My total weight for pack was 52 pounds including tent,sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tackle box, gear and clothes. Food came in at around 10 pounds.
discuss this trip report (5 comments) - last post on June 21, 2010