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BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 19 2024

Entry Point 84 - Snake River

Snake River entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Isabella, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 30 miles. Access is a 160-rod portage to Snake River & several short portages before reaching Bald Eagle Lake.

Number of Permits per Day: 1
Elevation: 1274 feet
Latitude: 47.7734
Longitude: -91.5261
Snake River - 84

Isla’s First BWCA Adventure

by GopherAdventure
Trip Report

Entry Date: August 03, 2018
Entry Point: Snake River
Number of Days: 3
Group Size: 2

Trip Introduction:
I needed to go to Tower to pick up a sauna stove, so I planned on squeezing in a 3 day trip while in the area. What a perfect time to do my 4 year old daughter’s first trip. So I grabbed a permit for the Snake River EP and we decided to head to Bald Eagle Lake for a basecamp trip with only 3 portages in and 3 portages out.

Day 1 of 3


Friday, August 03, 2018 We left our house in the north metro around 4:15 in the morning, I thought that would allow my daughter to sleep a good chunk of the drive to Ely and she did just that. We stopped in Virginia for breakfast then at Lamppa Manufacturing in Tower so I could pick up a sauna stove for the sauna I’m building and then we headed on to Ely for our permit. We hit Highway 1 and pulled into the EP 84 lot at around 10:15. Plenty early. The first portage is much longer then maps indicate, luckily I knew this ahead of time so I had Isla mentally prepared. Isla did well on the portage, but had to ditch her packpack about halfway (around 130 rods or so into this 240+ rod portage). We still made it in one trip so we were on the water before 11:30 and the paddle and portages down the Snake river were fun! The river is narrow, but plenty deep and aptly named as it winds all over the place. We lined through one portage and shortly after, the river widened considerably as it meets up with the Isabella River. From there we headed north for Bald Eagle Lake and we passed a river campsite that was vacant, good sign. Then we got to Bald Eagle and paddled the eastern shoreline to the first campsite, vacant and nice looking, but we wanted to see what some other camps looked like first. We past the 2nd campsite on the eastern shore without even noticing it as there is only a very small gap in the treeline and I missed it. We paddled on and Isla spotted our home for the weekend, the third site up the eastern shoreline. It was perfect for us with a sunset view, ample breeze to keep bugs away (on a small point), decent kitchen and awesome gravel landing. We set up camp and by 2:30 we were all done and ate a late lunch. Up until this moment, we had sunny skies, but the forecast was rain and wind all weekend and it moved in quickly. We headed out to fish, but the wind had picked up and it was hard to keep our baits near the bottom because we were drifting so fast (should have brought the anchor bag on this trip). We still caught a couple of walleye and Isla snagged a big crappie to highlight the fishing. We headed back to camp around 5 as it started to rain. We cooked pork chops on the fire with some garlic mashed potatoes for dinner and it was delish! After a few snack size Butterfinger’s for dessert we watched the fire until the light rain snuffed it out and then Isla turned in around 8:30. I was so impressed with her, minimal griping out of her on portages and in the canoe even though I know it was challenging for her. I stayed up a little while and tossed a rapala out looking for a Pike, but no takers. I turned in around 10, tuckered out.

 



Day 2 of 3


Saturday, August 04, 2018 Isla and I slept great. I got up around 6, but she slept until 7 or so. After an oatmeal breakfast with a banana nut muffin chaser, we headed out to explore and fish a little as the water was calmer than yesterday. We fished the western shoreline and pulled in a few walleyes and then fished the eastern shoreline just out from our camp and caught more walleyes and Isla pulled in another nice crappie. We headed in to relax in camp and eat some lunch as the wind picked up big time. After a snacky lunch we sat and watched the whitecaps in the lake and admired he myriad of boulders and tiny islands that are all over Bald Eagle Lake. At one point a float plane flew over us, definitely under the 5000 feet regulation, but I couldn’t tell if it was Forest Service. It didn’t look red and white like the beavers the forest service uses. We ate a dinner of Mac and Cheese with some rehydrated veggies and mini apple pies for dessert. I watched Isla play in the water with a bug net trying to catch minnows and crayfish for a long time and we had a very relaxing evening in camp. We munched on some jerky, crackers and cheese before turning in for the night.

 



Day 3 of 3


Sunday, August 05, 2018 We woke to less wind, less rain...and less fish! We had stashed our catch in a rock livewell and all seven were gone in the morning. Isla had two nice crappie in there, so I thought she might take it hard, but she just smiled and said “it was fun catching them!” Best line of the trip! We ate a slow breakfast as most of our stuff was already packed the night before. After our oatmeal and muffins we loaded the canoe, took a last long look around the lake and started paddling back to the EP. It was fun watching Isla remember some of the landmarks along the route back down the Snake River! I can’t wait to take her on more trips in the future! My apologies for the lack of pictures, how about a video instead?!

 


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