BWCA Spaulding Lake Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      Spaulding Lake     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

09/17/2020 06:31AM  
Was wondering if anyone has been on the portage between Spaulding and Bench Lake lately? The newer reviews on the site say it's overgrown. I'm heading up to the area next Friday and am curious if it is doable with a couple of canoes.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
09/17/2020 06:51AM  
i know a group that went in there 2 years , i suggest you go to google earth and you should be able to make out the portage from spaulding , it may be overgrown , but doable.
TuscaroraBorealis
distinguished member(5665)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
09/17/2020 10:09PM  
Its been a few years....

I don't know if this is whats been going on with the reports you've read but, i know there was a fairly well established landing and trail that we started down; eventually it petered out and was overgrown. After a little investigation, we paddled a little further west down the lake and found the current portage trail that was a decent trail (although lots of overhanging branches on the Spaulding end) the whole way to Bench.

Here's a picture of the Spaulding end of the portage. The big pine in the picture is the tallest in that immediatearea.
09/18/2020 09:09AM  
Thanks for the help!
jmuckster
  
09/18/2020 10:53AM  
I went into Bench on Tues. 9/15. As stated above the actual portage is at the far West end of Spaulding, not where it's shown on my McKenzie map. The portage is in decent shape but there are pretty good size hills on either end, especially the Bench Lake end. I left my canoe on Stuart and walked to Bench and caught three Brookies from 16" to 18" right from the portage, beautiful fish!
greywolf33
distinguished member (189)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/18/2020 11:36AM  
Does anyone know if the Stump River, located at the east end of Spaulding is navigable to Long Lake/Stump Lake?
09/18/2020 12:46PM  
greywolf33: "Does anyone know if the Stump River, located at the east end of Spaulding is navigable to Long Lake/Stump Lake?"
absolutely not , google earth is a great tool . you can see the start of the portage at the very west end of spaulding , goes up then to the left , then it kind of disappears , maybe thats what TB was mentioning ? but your not getting from spaulding to long , some of that area is very swamping at times , i'm talking hopping from tree trunk to tree trunk swamping to down right impassable .
TuscaroraBorealis
distinguished member(5665)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
09/19/2020 08:12AM  
Maybe your already aware of this? But, there is an old mine and cabin site remains located on the far eastern end of Spaulding. Cabin remains
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Trip Planning Sponsor:
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters