Hello -
I am planning a BWCA trip with a friend and I have never been before and he has. This is a pretty vague question, but I am wondering if anyone can suggest an entry point/portage using the Gunflint and we don't want to paddle across a large lake to camp.

Thanks in advance.

Here's a vague answer listing:

Bower Trout
Ram
Morgan
Lizz/Swamp
Meeds
Skipper/Portage
Cross Bay
Missing Link
Brant
Larch Creek
East Bearskin
Crocodile

I am just going to focus on one, based on your "vague" ask. Check out EP 55. Sea Gull Lake. It's at the end of Gunflint. 90% or so of the lake is canoe only. It's not huge so you won't have to cross a big body of water to get to camp. It's full of site. Some great! (site 469). And its easy to choose a direction if you want to explore past a few portages. The Red Rocks area is cool, but it is also cool to push into Alpine, and over into Ogish.

Probably not Ram or Bower trout for a first timer. Rugged area.
Seagull is a good idea. Pretty much a gold standard lake for a BWCA experience.

With that, you're gonna have to cross a lake at some point if you plan to do a BWCA trip so find a way to not let that be a barrier.

Tom

RT: ",,, Check out EP 55. Sea Gull Lake. It's at the end of Gunflint. 90% or so of the lake is canoe only. It's not huge..."

Seagull is not huge, but it is large. I'm thinking the OP wants small?

Thanks !! I'll check this one out

Thanks! Yea, I am aware that we will be crossing a lake, but we don't want to have to paddle across a "large lake "

You can connect a number of smaller but very scenic lakes by entering at Cross Bay (EP 50) or Missing Link (51) and heading south/east towards Long Island. Give Andy a call at Tuscarora Lodge, he can help you finalize a route and set you up with any gear you’ll need.

bobbernumber3: "

RT: ",,, Check out EP 55. Sea Gull Lake. It's at the end of Gunflint. 90% or so of the lake is canoe only. It's not huge..."

Seagull is not huge, but it is large. I'm thinking the OP wants small?"

Seagull can indeed be a handful when the wind is blowing. And the entry point is 54, not 55. Going from 55 to Seagull requires a longish trip via the SW end of Saganaga - or a permit violation.

You have been given a lot of advice here. Trying to sift through it is somewhat daunting.

Sea Gull Lake can act as a large lake depending on where you have to go to get a campsite and the direction of the wind. I don't consider it a "smaller" lake. That is for sure.

Of the lakes mentioned by Boonie, I would go with either Lizz/Swamp (Entry #47) or Cross Bay (Entry 50).

Lizz Lake entry starts on Poplar Lake. There is a paddle across an open section of this medium sized lake. But, most of the paddle is (or can be) protected by islands. Once to Lizz Lake portage, you have a couple of portages to find campsites in some of the easiest paddle/portage areas of the BW. There are many options for day trip loops. Lots of chances to see moose.

The Cross Bay Lake entry starts on the Cross River. You are following the Cross River to Ham Lake and then to Cross Bay Lake. It is a pretty paddle with a lot of varied scenery. There is not as much chance to see moose, but we saw plenty of birds (including swans) during our trip there last year. For more day trip possibilities, you would need to get to at least Karl Lake. From there, Frost Lake would be a nice day trip to see the golden sand beaches and more moose chances. The eastern end of Long Island Lake has some nice islands and beautiful scenery. Long Island Lake is another medium sized lake and with the wind in the right direction can act larger than it looks.

I hope you have a great first trip!

If you are not absolutely stuck on the Gunflint Trail for entry I would encourage you to consider the Homer Lake entry off of the Sawbill Trail. Great area, no "big" lakes, short portages good scenery and fishing. Two campsites on Vern which I would recommend if they are open. Otherwise several others in the area not far away, Great daytrip opportunities up the Vern River. Not a busy area, usually very quiet.

Trip report from a while ago...

Homer Lake entry

Thank you Lindy!!

Let's cut to the chase a little, Mitch. You asked an admittedly vague question with only a couple of limitations - off the Gunflint and not a large lake to paddle across to camp. You indicated at least some willingness to portage.

We've all made some assumptions. Saganaga Lake is obviously the largest lake off the Gunflint. I also eliminated Sea Gull since it seems to be the second largest - it's ~4,000 acres with 75 miles of shoreline according to MN DNR Lake Finder. Those two are also I believe the only ones where outfitters offer boat tows (which may or may not make them an option for you). None of the ones I listed is anywhere near that size.

You did not mention any limitations on portaging so I did not assume any. You did not say how far you'd be willing or able to travel to camp. You did not say when you were going, how long you were going for, what kind of trip you were planning to do, or any priorities or other preferences - fishing, solitude, scenery, avoidance of burn areas, short easy portages. You did not indicate whether you would be self-outfitted or using the services of an outfitter for full or partial outfitting, or bunkhouse accommodations.

Some of the entry portages are long, some rugged, some just more frequent and shorter. Some are practically non-existent.

I figured you'd research them and come back with questions. A caveat on that: when your trip is . . . If it's next year, all permits are available. If it's this year and you have specific date(s), don't spend time on it until you verify that a permit is available for that date and entry point.

If you are open to the Sawbill Trail, you might also look at Sawbill, Baker, Hog Creek, or Kawishiwi. There are no outfitter bunkhouses out the Sawbill Trail if that's important, although camping is available.

Most of us have experience with many of those entries and options if you want to narrow it down or have questions.

Michwall2: "The Cross Bay Lake entry starts on the Cross River....There is not as much chance to see moose...

I saw five moose on the Cross Bay Lake this past June, four on my way in and a bull on my way out.

YaMarVa: "

Michwall2: "The Cross Bay Lake entry starts on the Cross River....There is not as much chance to see moose...

I saw five moose on the Cross Bay Lake this past June, four on my way in and a bull on my way out. "

I stand corrected.

Seagull Lake is a large lake, don't listen to anyone that tells you otherwise, because it's important to be cognizant of that when you are on it. The larger islands break it up a bit but it behaves like a large lake nonetheless. With that said... it was my first ever Boundary Waters trip and I had no trouble with it, it's a great place for your first visit because it has so many campsites if you want to base camp. If you're crossing it and weather turns, you have all sorts of places to wait it out. Getting over into Alpine or Red Rock lake is a breeze as well for day trip(s). Your best bet, if you choose Seagull, is to get on the water early before the wind develops.

The North/East side of the Gunflint in my opinion is all "medium" sized lakes. If you can find a permit, I would go that route. Some of the most scenic shoreline in all the BWCA, and some really amazing campsites. If you plan on going in the Fall, you won't find better colors anywhere else. Probably less likely to see any wildlife on that side simply because of the terrain, but you never know. You will need to portage a few times but they are well traveled. Day trip options including hiking up the palisades, or sections of the BRT which can be accessed from a number of different portages.

My votes are -

EP 69 John Lake
EP 68 Pine Lake
EP 64 East Bearskin
EP 62 Clearwater Lake

I'll put in an honorable mention for Sawbill only because I frequent that area and it's quick and easy to get over to Alton which has lots of great sites to base-camp, and although both lakes can get some nasty wind, they are still what I consider to be "medium". It can be profoundly busy though depending on day/time. I exited there last week and when I got to the landing there was a multi-permit youth group from the cities heading in. I think I counted 12 canoes... it was a zoo. The campground there doesn't help with the congestion.

I stayed at site 868 on the West side of Alton the first week of October last year and had one of the most amazing sunrises I have ever seen, not to mention beautiful Fall colors.

Oops, my bad on the EP #.