BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 24 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.
sawbill solo
by bwcasolo
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 18, 2012
Entry Point:
Sawbill Lake
Number of Days:
8
Group Size:
1
Trip Introduction:
this year i planned on doing a loop thru cherokee, east to
brule and north and back around thru long island. the high
winds the first two days kept me grounded and changed my
plans. all in all, every day there is a day to enjoy no matter
where you paddle.
Day 1 of 8
Friday, May 18, 2012 after picking up my 2008 prism i bought from bill this winter the day before, i awoke in the back of the outback and headed to the dock to unload my gear and re-park the car and head out. it was a clear morning. all quiet, except for the nuthatches telling me hello, i love those birds! with two packs, in front of me, the prism trimmed out perfectly, and i was gliding along on sawbill lake. i had the canoe out the day before to see how it trimmed out, with the modifications that sawbill has done to them, and i really like it. i noticed the new prism's that came from wenonah in the yard, and they are factory set up that way for sawbill. soon thru a series of portages i was on cherokee, looking for a site. 
Day 2 of 8
Saturday, May 19, 2012 the first two days were very warm, almost hot. the lake trout were hitting shallow running rapala's with ease. during high sun times, i ducked out and read my book and stayed cool under the shade of the island site i was on 2/3 up the lake in the center island. i knew the weather was going to change, and big time it did saturday evening, with a thunder and lightning show that only the bwca can produce. it was a great 2 days spending time exploring every bay on the lake and surrounding area. i was ready to move. 
Day 3 of 8
Sunday, May 20, 2012 i decided to head back down to sawbill lake and duck into kelso river area and head to alton lake for a couple of days. i love rivers and have wanted to see the gin clear waters of alton. it did not disappoint. it rained most of the way there , but i stayed nice and dry. the slip on neo overshoes are just the ticket for keeping your boots dry on those type of days. nothing like warm feet on camp with dry boots. after finding my way up and around the keslo river i was on alton, picking the northern site, and what a site it is. one of the nicest i have stayed on. 
Day 4 of 8
Monday, May 21, 2012 woke up to clear sky and the plan was a day trip to the upper end of kelso lake. after my morning coffee and oatmeal, i was on the way. it was a picture perfect morning for an outing. the upper end of kelso was beautiful. i meandered about, taking my time and making a day out of it. there was no one in site, and would remain the theme for most of the week. back to alton i went for a book break and supper. 
Day 5 of 8
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 as the rain began, i have decided at this point to stay put and see what the weather god's would dish out. it was such a great site, and i was very content. with the hammock along this year i was sleeping so well. i believe my tent will be staying in the closet for solo trips in the future. only once did i not find a suitable hand area at a site, but the site was not decent anyway so i moved on. 
Day 6 of 8
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 as more rain showers persisted, i decided to move on to sawbill, and paddle the lake and see if i could find a nice site for the last two evenings. i have been having a great time being leisure this year and just going with the flow, weather and my moods. i found a moose trail from the back of my alton site, and it was a short cut to the kelso river. it was about a 20 rod trail that was well used. i had found it the day before and knew if the south winds were blowing, which they were i would duck out the back door which i did. a perfect plan. 
Day 7 of 8
Thursday, May 24, 2012 i spent my time checking out the 2 sites in the back that leads to the kelso river. i could have stayed in the far north site, but with the swamp and no wind, the sketters were thick. the next site was the site that did not have a suitable hang area for the hh. besides, it was not a very nice tent site either. so i moved on the sawbill to explore and find a site. most were taken at this point, and the decision to sleep in the outback was rolling around in my head. i paddled to the south end of sawbill and checked out the site on the point east of the alton portage. wow, what a grand site, with two giant pines at the entrance. it was perfect, better than the car, and the campground. there was no one around. 
Day 8 of 8
Friday, May 25, 2012 it rained all evening. up to 3 inches i heard. the hammock kept me high and dry all week. prior to the trip i purchased the larger hennessy rain fly which is a must imho. i paddled out to the car, loaded up and on my way i went. as i drove the sawbill road south it started to rain again. the prism i brought home i really like. the year before i had rented a prism from the ely side, and i found no problem trimming or paddling this modified set up i bought from sawbill. i really like the flat seat as well. no more bucket butt for me. it was a week where i changed my plans, stayed open with the weather and just did as i pleased. my granite gear rain suit is the best, breathable, and great coverage. thanks for coming along. 
discuss this trip report (12 comments) - last post on June 15, 2012