It has been ten years since my last trip. I was wondering how these lakes have recovered from the fire back in 2012? Would you recommend Insula through Lake One? Thanks!

Yes. Did it a few years ago. Fire damage visible from Lake Three through hudson to south end of Insula but wonderful trip.

Absolutely- been through that way several times since the fire. Fire areas usually deter some people from visiting/ traveling through and I think this was true this time but it seems to be getting back to the same amount of traffic as pre fire. Still one of my favorites trips.... It's also a unique experience in seeing the forest regenerate in traveling through burn areas.

Fantastic! Thanks!

I appreciate your comments more than you know!

One of the BWCA classics. I heard once it was called the aluminum highway as many rocks were shinny from canoes scrapping over them. Lot's of great campsites and day trip options, too.

If you look in my profile - I have a trip report of this route. If you look in the comments on that report - someone asked just that same question and I posted a pic from google earth. If you go to google earth or maps, you can see where the burn area starts and ends (or if you switch to satellite view on the maps on this site). Trick in my mind is - if you can't make it to Insula day 1, you need a backup plan of where to camp and the burn area isn't fun, doesn't provide much shade or places to hang tarps, hammocks, food. So if I remember right, north of Hudson, and end of lake three were good options to camp.

billconner: "Yes. Did it a few years ago. Fire damage visible from Lake Three through hudson to south end of Insula but wonderful trip."

I'd agree. The area is recovering and it's a nice trip. The portages are easy with the exception of a bit of a rocky take-out/put-in to Hudson. The top half to two-thirds of Insula is relatively untouched and if you are making good time, you could easily be camped on the northern end of Insula by dinner time.

I don't think you will be disappointed. The contract between burn and not burned areas is fascinating and there are good sites on Insula. This pic is from 2018 on Insula looking west from eastern shore.

I was in 2 years after the burn. Because the route gives you both "scenes " it's worth it. The portages and rivers are still beautiful and its fascinating to see what used to be a very common landscape feature. The mushrooms that covered the burn area were incredible. Didn't find morels but there were little orange- red mushrooms blanketing the ground. I'd like to see what species are making their way back in first.