BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 27 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.
Lake One to Insula Again
by Doug
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 18, 2007
Entry Point:
Lake One
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
3
Trip Introduction:
My sons, Adam and Brian had such a great time at Insula last year, we decided to take the same route this year. A fire ban was issued two days before our entry date. We were renting a Minnesota II Kevlar canoe and three packs from Kawishiwi Lodge and Outfitters. We loaded everything loose into the van and tied the kayak to the top. I have a 17’ sit-on-top Ocean Kayak. It’s great to paddle and fish from, but it weighs 64 pounds and is awkward to portage. It stays home next time.
Day 1 of 6
Saturday, August 18, 2007 Since we had everything packed the night before, we got an early start, 6 AM. It was an 8 hour drive to Ely. We stood in front of the live webcam on Sheridan Street for my wife, Pam and daughter, Amanda to see us before heading out for a week in the wilderness. After picking up our permit at the Wolf Center, we headed out to Kawishiwi Lodge to spend the night in their bunkhouse. It was a great place to stay. We spent the evening getting the gear in the packs. 
Day 3 of 6
Sunday, August 19, 2007 We were up early and ready to head out by 6:30. The day started out beautiful, but the wind increased as the day went on. We battled a headwind all the way to Insula. There were at total of six portages. We double portaged at each one. We each took a pack and one loose item the first trip over. Adam carried the canoe and Brian and I took the kayak on the second trip. We met a few people on the portages, but it was pretty quiet on the way in. We paddled through lakes One, Two, Three, Four, Hudson and finally to Insula. As we paddled past the campsite we stayed at last year on Insula, Adam suggested we stay there again. I wanted to take a look at the Williamson Island site, so we paddled on. I should have listened to Adam. When we got to Williamson Island, it was occupied. We set up camp on the island site just west of Williamson Island. The wind was very strong from the east, blowing directly into camp. We decided to move back to the site we stayed at last year. It was a good decision. It was out of the wind and the view was beautiful. It was the site with the big square rock, just southeast of The Rock. 
Day 6 of 6
Monday, August 20, 2007 We packed up and moved to last year’s site. Then we did a little fishing for lunch. Adam caught a nice Northern pike. We fired it up for lunch with our steaks that we packed in frozen. We had to pan fry the steaks, since we couldn’t have a fire. It started to rain toward evening, so we played cards under the tarp. 
Day 8 of 6
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 After a breakfast of oatmeal and hot chocolate, we headed out to The Rock to fish. Brian caught a nice 30” Northern pike in the same spot as he caught one last year. We caught several Northerns that we released. Also one nice bass that we had for dinner. It rained off and on all day. And it was very windy. 
Day 10 of 6
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Another cloudy day with occasional showers. We fished between showers. The sun finally came out for the first time all week at 6:00. Adam and Brian watched the sunset from the hammocks. I am glad I made the hammocks for the trip. It was very relaxing to lay in them and watch the loons and eagles. We saw several bald eagles, loons, ducks and seagulls. No animals on this trip. The boys went swimming for a while today. The water was very cold. 
Day 12 of 6
Thursday, August 23, 2007 We decided we would move our camp to Lake One this morning, so we would be close to the car and be able to get an early start for home on Friday. It was a sunny, and very calm day. It was a perfect day for paddling and portaging. When we got to Lake One, the clouds started rolling in. We decide to paddle all the way back to Kawishiwi Lodge and not set up camp again. It started to rain on our way back to Ely. We had lunch at Pizza Hut in Ely and headed for home. We were home by 11:30 PM. We had a great trip, but we are exhausted. Also glad to be home! 
