BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 23 2024
Entry Point 39 - Baker Lake
Baker 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 26 miles. Access is a boat landing at Baker Lake with a 10-rod portage into Peterson Lake to reach first campsite. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1497 feet
Latitude: 47.8452
Longitude: -90.8169
Summary: A 5-day loop from Baker up the Temperance lakes to Cherokee, and back through Sawbill and Smoke lakes back to Baker. A fairly difficult trip.
Day 0: We drove up from Stillwater in the morning and camped at one of the 5 walk-in campsites at Baker Lake, and it was nice.
Day 1 (Baker to S. Temperance) - A beautiful day, we decided to paddle all the way to South Temperance the first day which was a great paddle with easy portages except for the last one. We picked the campsite on top of a huge rock that was close to the middle of the lake. Tried fishing some but no luck
Day 2 (Rest) - In the night, we encountered the worst storm of the entire season. While we were there 19 people had to be rescued from the BWCA. We had about 50mph straightline winds, and I'm still surprised that the huge tent we had stood up to it. We slept in and took a rest day because of the intense winds. Amazingly beautiful sunset.
Day 3 (S. Temperance to Cherokee) - We left as early as we could to beat the heat, but it was no good. The lengthy, hilly portages were challenging and by the last portage we were pretty beat. We overpacked and single portaged which led us to speedier exhaustion. Still amazing weather. North Temperance was a beaut- I wish we had stayed there instead of South. We took the southeasterly facing campsite on Cherokee on the southeastern skinny island. Neat little site.
Day 4 (Cherokee to Sawbill) - Left a little later in the day but it was ok. We took our time going down the river letting out of the southwest part of Cherokee and it was a great area. BEWARE: The area between Ada and Skoop Lakes appears to be floatable, but a dam built recently has made the portion impossible to float. Be prepared for a long portage through muck and water. A guy that we saw there said he had been going to the BWCA for 40 years at least once per year and it was the worst portage he had ever seen. By the time we got to Sawbill it was pretty hot. We paddled all the way down to the site next to the portage onto Smoke.
Day 5 (Sawbill to Baker) - Cooler, cloudier weather for the first time on the trip. We were pretty hungry (I underpacked food a little and I felt really bad) and we were taunting each other with vivid descriptions of the burgers we were going to eat ASAP after getting out. We paddled back to Baker and returned our gear to Sawtooth outfitters.
Overall great route.
Fun & Adventure - Re-Bonding in the BWCA
by SunCatcher
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 12, 2009
Entry Point:
Sawbill Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
6
Trip Introduction:
A Friend and Family Adventure!
Day 1 of 5
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Paul (SunCatcher) Son Nick, Son Dan, Nephew Zac, X-Brother in Law Dave, and Son Dans friend HEATH. Six guys on a mission We left home (Norfolk, Nebraska) on the 11th and drove to Sioux Falls to pick up son Nick. From Sioux Falls we drove straight to the Tofte, MN then to Sawbill. (700 miles) Day 2 was actually or first day on the water. We rented two Minnesota II Kevlar and took the Bell NorthStar from Nebraska. Six guys and an attitude to escape the "real world". We headed North out of Sawbill to Ada Creek and then Ada Lake, Scoop lake down Cherokee Creek to Cherokee Lake (About 9 miles) WOW what a beautiful day. about 80 degress and sunshine, wind out of the South and Clear Skies! 
Day 2 of 5
Thursday, August 13, 2009 Sun up on Cherokee Lake (First Picture)- Awesome...Then off on the 140 to Sitka, 108 to North Temperance, and the 55 to South Temperance. North Temperance was Beautiful coming off of Sitka. We found the last camp on South Temperance...(WOW) We set up camp and rested. Went fishing and caught smallies. Great Food for supper. Brauts and Chili Soup. Lots of Reminissing about the two days over the fire and a few Gatorade & Country Time Hi-Balls. Lots of Swimming and cooling off, as it was HOT today and the portages had taken there toll on us "ole" guys. Great day getting to South Temperance and Beautiful Lake front view. No shade on this site...so glad we had a 15 x 15 CCS Tarp. 
Day 3 of 5
Friday, August 14, 2009 Lay Over Day. (We Needed It) Another Morning and it started at S. Temperance with BREAKFAST my favorite meal. Eggs & Bacon with Toast. (only broke two out of a dozen) Saved one egg for Evening Brownies in the Reflector Oven. Fishing, Resting, Swimming, Eating, Relaxing. GREAT DAY!! A nice evening around the fire, Stars you could Touch with your hands, and lots of visiting around the fire. We all got some much needed relaxing rest. Storm brewed up and downpoor about 4 a.m. Got up and battened down the hatches. Easy Sleeping. Pleasant Dreams. 
Day 4 of 5
Saturday, August 15, 2009 Wet Morning after the Early morning rain. Breakfast was Blueberry Pancakes, Bacon, Coffee, and Hot Chocolate. Packed up, (tents wet) and loaded canoes...LONG DAY ahead...Off to Burnt Lake. Left S Temperance about 9:00 am South Wind first thing in the am 20 mph or better. 240 rod right out of the shoot!!! Over to Weird Lake around a couple Beaver dams and a beutiful, scenic morning. then a short 57 and 12 rod portage to Jack Lake. EXTRA WINDY now... Canoing right into it. Tough going South into a South wind on Jack Lake. Then stopped to pump water, and then portaged from Jack to Kelly (72 rods) Then paddlin, against the wind. Found the portage from Kelly to Burnt (230 rods) Double portaged this over to Burnt. Son Nick and I were the first portaged and we were staying at Burnt so we went searching for a campsite. Went Clear across Burnt going West... NO CAMPSITE. Paddled Back to rest of crew and said we would need to check the two North campsites. Went past the NorthEast site (Taken) Found the North Site...last campsite on Lake. (YES we'll take it) Set up camp far NORTH end of Burnt. I liked it here. We hadn't had much to eat so made 3 pkgs (5 qts) mac and cheese for a snack at 4 pm. Then went and pumped water, and gathered wood. Re-hydrated 2 lbs hampburger and made goolosh for Supper. Made Hot Chocolate and Buttershot Schnapps (Boy that hit the spot) We ate Goolash at 8 pm, had a few drinks, enjoyed the evening and had a down-poor. So we went to bed with everything wet. Got up everyone wanted a shower and to get going so we had a light snack or two and headed back towards Sawbill West. 
Day 5 of 5
Sunday, August 16, 2009 Rainy, foggy morning, No Breakfast as everyone was in a hurry because the weather was FOGGY as heck. Couldnt see hand in front of face, and about to down-poor most of morning. Headed off across Burnt to first portage back to Sawbill 90 rods to Smoke Lake and 100 rods to Sawbill. Once on Sawbill Heavy, Heavy fog. I was in a GEAT mood with a Happy Attitude. I didn't want to go home, and we were on the last leg of the adventure and fun. We ended back at Sawbill. I went to get the truck and drove down to pick up equipment and guys and got out and LOCKED the KEYS in the TRUCK. Wow was I pissed...but the Nice folk at Sawbill came to the Rescue. We had em out in 10 minutes and loaded up the gear and the NorthStar and Headed to Owatonna and back to Sioux Falls and Norfolk, Ne. Boy What Fun!! Things I Cherish...Time with my Sons, Nephew, Dave my x brother in-law and Heath (Son Dan's Best Friend) Quite a Challenge, 5x tougher then I imagined. Great Food, OK fishing, but the bonding and re-bonding is what I cherish most and doing it in the most beautiful place by day and by night around the planet. Hope you enjoyed Our Adventure...SunCatcher 
discuss this trip report (8 comments) - last post on September 07, 2009