I posted this to the Listening Point board, but I got no response.

I am heading into Wood Lake on July 10. I've been through this area at one time previously.

I am wondering if there is a navigable channel from Hula Lake into the southeast bay (Wind Bay?) of Basswood. The map implies that there is one, but I need to know from the those who have, or have not, done it.

Similarly, there appears to be a portage on the east side of Indiana Lake that terminates in the same channel, just a little bit north of Hula Lake. Is that navigable?

Mike

I've done the one from Indiana to Wind Bay and it IS navigable but was pretty winding, twisting, narrow and shallow--particularly on the end closest to Indiana. I suppose it all depends on water level but we had to pole through some mud for a bit as soon as we entered from Indiana. The short portage to this stream is a bit hard to see from Indiana but trust your map--it's right about where it was shown on our Fisher.

When we were there about 10 years ago there was a HUGE beaver dam where the stream from Hula met the one from Indiana. We had been cautioned to make sure that we were headed to Wind Bay at that dam and not towards Hula as that would likely dead end for us. Therefore, I'm guessing the Hula-to-Wind Bay stream is not navigable but, again, it may all depend on current water level.

I can't remember the exact year that my brother and I tried get from Hula to Indiana like you're describing but it's probably been 10 years anyway. At that point the beavers had been hard at work on the creek and we didn't make it far before giving up.

This is great information. I really appreciate it. I'll explore the area, but assume that I will need to take portages.

Thanks again.

Mike

Hey Mike...

As of two years ago, there is a short portage from Indiana into the river and you can paddle through as Bottomtothetap explained. We searched the Hula option but found it to be too difficult for passage but we didn't go very far to find out.

Enjoy the area!

We were able to paddle out the east side of Indiana in 2013 in aluminum without difficult. I don't remember if I would be comfortable or not taking my kevlar down it. At the minimum I think you would not have to unload and you could walk it down.

MikeinMpls: "I posted this to the Listening Point board, but I got no response.

I am heading into Wood Lake on July 10. I've been through this area at one time previously.

I am wondering if there is a navigable channel from Hula Lake into the southeast bay (Wind Bay?) of Basswood. The map implies that there is one, but I need to know from the those who have, or have not, done it.

Similarly, there appears to be a portage on the east side of Indiana Lake that terminates in the same channel, just a little bit north of Hula Lake. Is that navigable?

Mike
"

Our very first trip (14 yrs ago) we attempted this. We took the creek out of Hula to the bay in Wind. Several big beaver dams and the creek was narrow and shallow. We walked our canoes most of the way and spent a lot of time picking leeches off each other when we got to Wind Bay.
Was a crazy experience I do not want to repeat, but all these years later it’s the one experience we still talk and laugh about. Awesome memory!