BWCA Entry Point of the Week: EP 62 Clearwater Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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adam
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04/13/2020 01:51PM  
Welcome to the next edition of Entry Point of the Week. With more planning on the horizon than tripping, this is a great opportunity to virtually explore a new region, share your experiences and knowledge.

This weeks focus is Entry Point 62 - Clearwater Lake.

Take a few minutes to explore trip reports and maps, or reply with your perspective on the Clearwater Lake EP. If you haven't done so, take a minute to rate campsites and portages or post photos, places of interest, wildlife sitings, etc on the map.

EP 62 Trip Reports

EP 62 Map

 
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straighthairedcurly
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04/13/2020 03:26PM  
I love this part of the BWCA and used to travel through here frequently when I worked at Camp Menogyn. Clearwater is a great jumping off point to visit Johnson Falls or do a loop through some of the most stunning topography in the park (IMO). I do not have recent information about campsites, but I will add that I have done loops where I went in Duncan then came out Clearwater and portaged along the Clearwater Road to get back to West Bearskin. Once while portaging a canoe along the Clearwater Road, a huge bull moose stepped out of the woods very close to me. I was alone, and was worried he might get aggressive. So I used the old trick of "don't mess with me because my rack is bigger than your rack" by turning my canoe perpendicular with the road so he could see how BIG I was. It worked!

Note that the north-south portages in this area are steep up, then steep down. Portages oriented east-west tend to be pretty flat.
cyclones30
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04/13/2020 04:27PM  
I'm a Tumblehome podcast fan and....they cover this area like no other. They're my go-to for info in this region. (and I see their ad here sometimes)
04/13/2020 07:45PM  
I took my girlfriend on a trip to West Pike last fall and it was my first time on the Gunflint. I had wondered why some people seem to love it so much and why they say it feels more remote. After going there, I concur with that notion. I think it's the big cliffs and sawtooth mountains and crystal clear water. We also saw only one group during our three days there - planned for four but left early due to thunderstorms and we made the right call.

We also took a tow from Clearwater Lodge to the West Pike portage just to make the most of our short trip, but because we left early and couldn't reach them, we paddled back with a stiff tailwind and got to enjoy the scenery.

Clearwater is honestly a beautiful lake and I wouldn't mind base camping there for a few days hunting down lake trout every day and sitting by a fire every night.

I have every intention of going back.
04/14/2020 09:00AM  
I've never entered Clearwater, but have been on the east side of the gunflint for 4 seperate trips.

Johnson Falls is worth the paddle and hike. Note: There's a second larger falls further up the trail. Many people stop at the first one only the first one.

This part of the BWCA is the only area I've ever had trouble finding a campsite. It's happened twice in four trips. One trip in particular, we paddled through a total of 4 different lakes and past 17 campsites to find them all taken. We then stopped to ponder our options, after floating about 15 minutes, we heard the unmistakable sound of aluminum on rock. We paddled back to the last campsite to find the group packed and heading out. It was a relief.

The other time was very similiar, multiple lakes, all sites taken, eventually we came across an open one and snagged it. These trips were during a busy time, last weekend in August and mid month September.
bposteve
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04/14/2020 10:57AM  
One weird aspect of this area is that the further you get from your entry point from the Gunflint, the closer you get to an entry point from the Arrowhead. I've not seen it quite as bad as you describe, but can imagine it happening.

Agree with comments above in this thread that the topography here is really stunning.
04/14/2020 03:03PM  
Clearwater is a beautiful lake, perhaps one of the most beautiful in the BWCA. There are actually some nice campsites on the BWCA end of Clearwater, and of course you can portage to Caribou and routes beyond, or the Pikes/Mountain area. All scenic country with some good campsites.

Johnson Falls is a great place to stop. The upper falls are lovely:













But the lower ones are the most photographed. I understand that a lot of people swim in the pool under this waterfall, but we never were bold enough to try it.










The Palisades are striking. If you have time, find the trail at the bottom of the biggest one and make the climb up to the top. The view is a stunning one










Some of my favorite lakes and sites are in this area, accessed by Clearwater Entry Point. Pine Lake, John Lake, Mountain Lake, Little Caribou (there is a unique campsite on LC--the only one), and Caribou.

To top that off, Clearwater Lodge is a historic treasure. They have outfitting there, and bunkhouses, plus some great little B&B rooms in the beautiful old lodge (with a yummy breakfast), or even a group of outstanding cabins right on the lake.

DuluthisHome
member (6)member
  
04/14/2020 08:00PM  
I was briefly introduced to Clearwater Lk last Summer 2019. My wife and I got invited to a friend's cabin on the lake (she is actually related to the "Gunflint Trailblazers: Story of Charlie and Petra Boostrom"...check out the book to really learn some cool history about this area).

We got to take a few hours kayaking 1/2 the lake up to the base of the Palisades. Can you actually paddle to the shore below and find the trail to climb to the top? If so, send me details. Beautiful area and lake. Check out the historic Clearwater Lodge too...you wont be disappointed.

Sorry, I don't have any insight about portages or campsites, but someday we'll get to explore more!

Paddle On!!

04/14/2020 08:46PM  
One of my favorite entry points. I have entered there many times in the last 10 year's.
On a fall solo a few years ago, I heard a commotion in the woods along the shore lots of crashing and grunting. I began doing a grunt call for a few minutes. The woods got quiet for a few moments so I gave another grunt in cupped hands. All of a sudden, crashing headed through the woods, soon a moose appeared onto the lakeshore..
Very cool area, with lots of trip possibilities.
04/15/2020 05:03AM  
DuluthisHome: " Can you actually paddle to the shore below and find the trail to climb to the top? If so, send me details. Beautiful area and lake. Check out the historic Clearwater Lodge too...you wont be disappointed. "

Yes, you can paddle up to the shore and find the trail to climb to the top. We did it in 1996, and last summer Spartan1 did the climb with our 16-year-old granddaughter. She is the one who took the "view" photo in my post.
thegildedgopher
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04/15/2020 10:26AM  
My favorite EP!

And you can see the spot we caught this Laker from in Spartan2's photo from atop the palisades!!!

Spartan1
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04/15/2020 11:21AM  
Spartan2: "
DuluthisHome: " Can you actually paddle to the shore below and find the trail to climb to the top? If so, send me details. Beautiful area and lake. Check out the historic Clearwater Lodge too...you wont be disappointed. "

Yes, you can paddle up to the shore and find the trail to climb to the top. We did it in 1996, and last summer Spartan1 did the climb with our 16-year-old granddaughter. She is the one who took the "view" photo in my post. "


From another thread.
Just before you get to the talus by the shore. Might have to look a bit, not too obvious from a distance.
Very little room at the landing, may have to tie the canoe while climbing,

Neil
schweady
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04/15/2020 01:30PM  
My wife and I went in here a couple of years back. My main hesitation is that 10HP motors are allowed on the entirety of Clearwater and we planned to enter and basecamp on the lake, to allow for some luxuries we would not want to lug across any of the steep up and down portages further on. As it turns out, we heard some on occasion, but 10 horses hardly raise much of a roar. They do take a while to push down the length of the lake, however, so you hear the soft buzz for some time.

We stayed in the bunkhouse at Clearwater Lodge, and it was not our favorite. Noisy neighbors, a tendency toward a lack of privacy, and a feeling that the staff was less attentive to the needs of their bunkhouse guests than those at the lodge. However, sitting on the lodge porch and enjoying the lake view was a delight enjoyed by all of us. We also enjoyed breakfast in the lodge dining room before heading out, and that was quite good.

Our research led us to believe that we wanted to base on one of the 3 easternmost sites, but they were all occupied, so we backtracked to site #681, just the third one in out of the seven on the lake. As it turned out, it was an excellent spot. It is situated in a small bay and faces east, so it is a bit off the beaten track. Plus, that bay was home to a loon couple that was constantly out teaching their young... a real pleasure to sit by the fire and watch, intimately learning every behavior.

Two day trips were on the schedule during the two full days we stayed. The first day's trip was to Johnson Falls, about a 6 mile, 3 hour one-way trip through Caribou, Little Caribou, and Pine Lakes. One the second day, we paddled over to the Mountain Lake portage and took the hike to both the west and east overlooks. On both days, we encountered the infamous Westerly Winds of Clearwater, and it was a pretty good effort paddling back to camp; about 3 hours and 45 minutes coming back from the falls.

I'm sure that we will return, as it is a great basecamp choice for aging paddlers such as ourselves.
 
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