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March 19 2024

Entry Point 55 - Saganaga Lake

Saganaga Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 55 miles. No motors (use or possession) west of American Point. Access to Canada (the Crown land and Quetico Park). Large lake with many campsites and easy access. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 15
Elevation: 1184 feet
Latitude: 48.1716
Longitude: -90.8868
Saganaga Lake - 55

American Point to Rabbit Lake; Day trip to fish Nawakwa; Day trip to Eddy Falls

by IHearTheRain
Trip Report

Entry Date: July 26, 2013
Entry Point: Saganaga Lake Only
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 2

Trip Introduction:

Day 1 of 5


Friday, July 26, 2013 we took a tow to American Point...saved us hours of canoeing in the cold rain. From there we hugged the US side of the boarder and worked our way Saganaga Lake, Swamp Lake, Ottertrack, Ester Lake, and into a beautiful dead-end Rabbit Lake.

 



Day 2 of 5


Saturday, July 27, 2013 was just and cold and rain as Friday, so we hung out around camp. Out of boredom, we attempted to hike up to a small pond to the north, but got tricked by a wall of cattails, so we turned around without finding good access to fish the open water.

 



Day 3 of 5


Sunday, July 28, 2013 we rigged up to fish for lake trout in Rabbit. We had a good depth finder and a couple ideas for how to catch lakers. We worked just out in front of the rock wall along the deepest section and got lucky with our spoons. It wasn't long before we had caught three good fish. It was still before lunch so we ate and packed for a short outing to try and fish Nawakwa, which is deep inside the Pitfall Lake PMA. We never made it through the tangle of downed trees a the portage into Nawakwa, but we did enjoy picking blueberries in the PMA area that had been burned by the Cavity Lake Fire.

 



Day 4 of 5


Monday, July 29, 2013 was the nicest day of the trip and was perfect for the long round trip to Eddy Falls. We packed lunch and headed across Rabbit and down to Ester Lake into Hanson Lake. From there we portaged into South Arm Knife Lake and paddled another 2.5 miles to the Eddy Falls portage. As nice as it was, the falls were not packed with too many visitors, but we chatted up the leads from a youth group, that was having a great trip with many first timers. After eating lunch we hustled back to camp to cook up dinner and prep for a fast exit.

 



Day 5 of 5


Tuesday, July 30, 2013 ended our perfect trip with a quiet night. After finishing our traditional French toast bagel and syrup breakfast, we said goodbye to camp and made off to Ester and then chose to sneak through Ashdick just to see one more lake. What a mistake, the 163 rod portage on the north end, was a swampy and buggy mess--never again. The rest of the paddle was uneventful and we made our pickup at American Point with time to spare.

 


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