BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
December 13 2024
Entry Point 47 - Lizz & Swamp Lakes
Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1864 feet
Latitude: 48.0420
Longitude: -90.4998
Lizz & Swamp Lakes - 47
Finally back in the BWCA
Entry Date:
July 31, 2018
Entry Point:
Lizz and Swamp Lakes
Exit Point:
Missing Link Lake (51)
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
2
8:30 – left Entry Point 47 on Poplar Lake - Sunny and warm. High was in the mid 80’s. Wind picked up as the day went on out of the west making paddling tough. Horseshoe, Gaskin, and Winchell all dead into the wind paddles.
Had Lunch on site 627 on Gaskin – Awesome site – We had summer sausage and cheese sandwiches.
Long tough day – arrived at our site (761) on Winchell Lake at about 3:00. We were very tired. We loved the site. Great landing for swimming – nice protected tent area and buggout spot. Got camp set up, went swimming, and had supper around 6:00 – steak and mashed potatoes. 7:00 it started to rain. We were able to be out of the rain in the buggout.
Night was terrible – very stormy – lots of rain and lightning – large lightning strikes on the lake. We didn’t sleep much. 1.7 inches of rain was what was reported.
~Poplar Lake, Lizz Lake, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Gaskin Lake, Winchell Lake
4:30 we arrived at our site on Long Island Lake (564) - first site that was open. This site was our least favorite of the trip, but was still a good site. Rain had stopped but still overcast and very damp. We set up wet tents – Had lots of hot chocolate. We were very hungry because we didn’t stop for lunch in the rain only eating a candy bar on a portage. We had supper – beef stew with vegetables. It was pretty good.
9:00 – got in the tent, as we were both very tired – had our best sleep this night. The sounds or lack of, didn’t seem to bother us this night. We were physically and mentally exhausted.
~Winchell Lake, Omega Lake, Kiskadinna Lake, Muskeg Lake, Long Island Lake
9:30 – we were on the water – Leaving Long Island Lake for Snipe Lake. No wind but overcast. No rain. It was cool and we traveled in sweatshirts. This by far was our easiest travel day. Short portages and calm water. The weather was getting better as the day went on.
12:00 – had lunch on an awesome point on Cross Bay Lake (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches)
2:00 – we arrived at our site (2011) on Snipe Lake. Awesome site. Great views and the weather turned sunny and nice once we got there. Had a great evening. Got cleaned up in the water, enjoyed the buggout. This was our first night we could relax and enjoy the wilderness.
6:00 – had supper – Chicken Casserole – It was very good. We relaxed around camp, ate snacks, had our first camp fire. Great evening. Only negative was the mosquitoes were the worst at this site.
9:30 – we were in the tent trying to go to sleep. We didn’t sleep great, not use to the sounds, or maybe lack of sounds. We were stiff and sore, sleeping bags are not that comfortable, but a great quiet night. Lows got down into the mid 40’s so our coldest night.
~Long Island Lake, Karl Lake, Lower George Lake, Rib Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Snipe Lake
8:30 – we were on the water. Easy paddling – 2 tough portages. Weather was perfect, sunny and very little wind.
11:00 – we arrived at Tuscarora. It was a great feeling finishing. We had a great trip and were very excited to hit the showers. The first thing we bought was a Diet Coke and Mt. Dew.
12:00 – gear was handed in and we were showered up and on our way to Duluth to spend the night before heading back to North Dakota.
~Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, Round Lake