BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
October 03 2024
Entry Point 55 - Saganaga Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 15
Elevation: 1184 feet
Latitude: 48.1716
Longitude: -90.8868
Saganaga Lake - 55
Seagull / Saganaga Cabin Family Adventure
Entry Date:
July 14, 2008
Entry Point:
Saganaga Lake Only
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
9
Day 1 & Day 2 We had the right trip plan for the trip to Seagull Outfitters (better than the trip home!) We left Kansas City and drove to Des Moines and spent the night with family. Imagine, if you will, 7 people in a minivan with a weeks worth of food and clothing! Enjoyed time spent with my Mom and Brothers sipping ice cold beverages on the deck and watching there faces as their envy of my upcoming trip became clear. The next morning, Monday, we are off to Minneapolis where we had booked hotel rooms near the Mall of America. We spent the day shopping at the mall (my obligation to get my wife to consider a trip fishing for a week) and the kids enjoyed the afternoon at Nickelodeon Universe.
Got up and handled the morning rush hour(s) commute through St. Paul then off to the North Shore Drive. We stopped at the rest area in Duluth overlooking Lake Superior and the city and enjoyed the still morning clear view of the Lake. Got back on the road and heading into Two Harbors and stopped for lunch at the Vanilla Bean Cafe (on good advise of Terry - 24KGold) Had an awesome lunch of Walleye (I made a joke that I better have it there as it may be the only Walleye I get. I must have been prophetic as it turned out to be the only Walleye of the trip ) Then onward up the North Shore Drive. This was the first time along the route for several of our family, so I enjoyed the oohs & awwws along the way. We made the obligatory stops at Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Temperance River, and the overlook just before heading into Grand Marais. A short stop in Grand Marais for gas, $4.06 a gallon, then off on the Gunflint Trail. We arrived at Seagull about 5PM to a welcoming of Seagull Staff Members - always ready to help! We checked in, purchased fishing license's and T-shirt then off to Big Sag Cabin. This was our first experience using cabins, our first experience with Seagull Cabins. The kids were thrilled to see the Big Sag cabin and see it had lights and running water and a flush toilet after the horror stories I had painted along the trip. We all settled in to our home away from home for the week at Seagull!
Day 7 Our return trip day had arrived. We greeted the morning with a fantastic sunrise on another clear, clam day and began our drive down the trail. Not far from the Seagull offices is the Moose Pond. This morning it lived up to its name as we watched a mother moose and her two calves take a morning swim across the pond. We stopped for the photo opportunity, then reluctantly, stepped back into our vehicles and began our 14 hour sojourn home.
The cabin experience offered at Seagull Outfitters is an awesome way to see the BWCAW and have all the conveniences of home (including satellite TV!) My youngest daughter was more interested sometimes in seeing the latest episode of SpongeBob Squarepants than watching a great sunset, but as the week ticked along, we were able to pry her away! This is a fantastic trip for young families and even my In-Laws enjoyed the creature comforts of the cabin that a tent experience lacks! As I recount the time we spent together, I'm certain that in many ways This experience will be among our families favorite vacation memories. I look forward to visiting the cabins of Seagull Outfitters again - who knows...maybe it will convert the paddler in me...NOT a chance! 
