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02/03/2025 12:26AM
Up to 5 lakes, what are the lakes you have not been to or camped at that you really want to see?
For me, many of these lakes are probably beyond my capabilities given my age and physical condition - but they are still on my list.
Moosecamp Lake - I loved the area north and west from the mudro entry. Thunder, Beartrap, Gun and Gull were all amazing but it seems to me that Moosecamp might be the most remote of all of them with good campsites, fishing and a great potential trip down the Moosecamp river in the right conditions
Adams Lake - My trip from Kawishiwi to Malberg, River and Amber was one of my favorites but we ran out of time to explore to the North. Seems like a cool area with lots of decent campsites and a pretty remote area about as far as you can get from an entry point in the BWCA.
Little Saganaga - a classic BWCA lake along the lines of Insula. In fact if you turn it sideways on the map there are similarities except Lil Sag runs more east to west and Insula runs more north to South. A lake that large with that many campsites, bays, points, islands and cool places to explore seems like a great place to spend a few days.
Hook Lake - This one is not too difficult to get to and still on my radar. From Slim Lake out of Ely it would be a fairly easy trip. Seems like a beautiful lake with one campsite and if you get it , a pretty remote feeling to enjoy.
Alpine/Red Rock Lakes - I have read so much about these lakes for their beauty and fishing and on the map they look incredible. Depending on how far a tow can take you these could still be on my radar and I have no doubt it would be the worth the time and money.
Your thoughts?
For me, many of these lakes are probably beyond my capabilities given my age and physical condition - but they are still on my list.
Moosecamp Lake - I loved the area north and west from the mudro entry. Thunder, Beartrap, Gun and Gull were all amazing but it seems to me that Moosecamp might be the most remote of all of them with good campsites, fishing and a great potential trip down the Moosecamp river in the right conditions
Adams Lake - My trip from Kawishiwi to Malberg, River and Amber was one of my favorites but we ran out of time to explore to the North. Seems like a cool area with lots of decent campsites and a pretty remote area about as far as you can get from an entry point in the BWCA.
Little Saganaga - a classic BWCA lake along the lines of Insula. In fact if you turn it sideways on the map there are similarities except Lil Sag runs more east to west and Insula runs more north to South. A lake that large with that many campsites, bays, points, islands and cool places to explore seems like a great place to spend a few days.
Hook Lake - This one is not too difficult to get to and still on my radar. From Slim Lake out of Ely it would be a fairly easy trip. Seems like a beautiful lake with one campsite and if you get it , a pretty remote feeling to enjoy.
Alpine/Red Rock Lakes - I have read so much about these lakes for their beauty and fishing and on the map they look incredible. Depending on how far a tow can take you these could still be on my radar and I have no doubt it would be the worth the time and money.
Your thoughts?
02/03/2025 08:48AM
Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached).
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached).
02/03/2025 08:59AM
Insula/Alice - Somehow have just never found my way here
Raven - Has always intrigued me
Cash - Hopefully crossing this one of the list this year
Raven - Has always intrigued me
Cash - Hopefully crossing this one of the list this year
"The beer brewed here. It is used to make the brewed beer, during is define, ooh Earth Rider. Thanks for the Great Lakes." - Biden
02/03/2025 09:10AM
Haha - Why does everyone give me crap about my user name. I think it’s the coolest one on the forum.
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…
02/03/2025 09:18AM
How about Barto Lake. That is my mom’s maiden name and I remember reading a crew from Sawbill bushwhacking in to it. Maybe a bushwackers challenge destination too? That was a thing for a few years on the forum, not sure if it still is. If I remember one person made it.
02/03/2025 10:17AM
Missing Link. I have never been up the Gunflint, but this would be my choice.
It's a tribute to my father, who was an anthropologist, to go to a lake with that name. They're always searching for it after all. He also mentioned in his later years that he would've liked to go on 'one of those fishing trips that you and your friends take', with me. I'd like to honor that in some small way...
It's a tribute to my father, who was an anthropologist, to go to a lake with that name. They're always searching for it after all. He also mentioned in his later years that he would've liked to go on 'one of those fishing trips that you and your friends take', with me. I'd like to honor that in some small way...
02/03/2025 12:36PM
Fishdance. Would like to see the pictos there. Would have Jerry’s song singing in the background in my mind.
Ge-be-on-e-quet. We went as far as the portage, but didn’t go across to the lake. Always have sort of wished I had seen the “chairs”.
My husband always wanted to complete the border route; we never did the “long portage”, but did almost all of the rest.
None of these are going to happen now. I think of places I would like to return to more than places I have missed. We weren’t like so many of you who could take multiple trips a year, so we didn’t cover nearly as much in our 42 years of canoe-tripping as we would have liked. But if I could go back in time. . .I would revisit Adams/Boulder, Namakan, Caribou, Pine, Weird, and of course Cherokee. I can revisit through my journals and photo books, but it isn’t the same.
Go while you can.
Ge-be-on-e-quet. We went as far as the portage, but didn’t go across to the lake. Always have sort of wished I had seen the “chairs”.
My husband always wanted to complete the border route; we never did the “long portage”, but did almost all of the rest.
None of these are going to happen now. I think of places I would like to return to more than places I have missed. We weren’t like so many of you who could take multiple trips a year, so we didn’t cover nearly as much in our 42 years of canoe-tripping as we would have liked. But if I could go back in time. . .I would revisit Adams/Boulder, Namakan, Caribou, Pine, Weird, and of course Cherokee. I can revisit through my journals and photo books, but it isn’t the same.
Go while you can.
02/03/2025 01:01PM
Nice idea for a post!
Davis - Intrigued with this route between Kiskadinna and the Cones but am guessing the portages are type 2 fun. Would be a partially new loop to/from some longtime favorites; Omega, Otto, Winchell.
Paulson - Another route I've always thought about. It would be cool to go to/from Seagull other than transiting Alpine/Jasper.
Vernon - To camp near and see the falls, if nothing else, and maybe to do the route to or from Bower Trout.
Mountain - Love the border chain but have never been farther east than Rose.
Hustler - Have been close from the LIS side and the Moose/Portage River side but never there.
Davis - Intrigued with this route between Kiskadinna and the Cones but am guessing the portages are type 2 fun. Would be a partially new loop to/from some longtime favorites; Omega, Otto, Winchell.
Paulson - Another route I've always thought about. It would be cool to go to/from Seagull other than transiting Alpine/Jasper.
Vernon - To camp near and see the falls, if nothing else, and maybe to do the route to or from Bower Trout.
Mountain - Love the border chain but have never been farther east than Rose.
Hustler - Have been close from the LIS side and the Moose/Portage River side but never there.
Sun went down in honey and the moon came up in wine -- John Barlow
02/03/2025 01:10PM
Well, um: Red Eye, Nuthatch, Cuckoo, Canuck, and Travois for me. I got within a half mile of Red Eye this last trip and turned back with daylight - really painful for me. Someday....
And I know you said up to five, there's just so many.
My second six: State, Elquist, John Ek, Sora, Trine, and Dutton.
And I know you said up to five, there's just so many.
My second six: State, Elquist, John Ek, Sora, Trine, and Dutton.
"Once you have heard the music of the Boundary Waters, you will yearn for it until you can yearn no more." - Miron Heinselman
02/03/2025 02:31PM
Great idea for a post! I always have a short list in my head of these lakes, it's great to see everyone else's!
Adams and Boulder were tops on my list for years. Having visited them in 2023, they are still tops on my list.
Gebeonequet. I see others with this lake on their list as well. I've never been anywhere near it. When I do go to Gebe I hope to visit Takucmich as well.
Raven is another popular one for others. I booked a permit here once! and didn't make it. Obviously I desire redemption.
Gijikiki, LoTC, Lunar. Might as well add Cherry and Topaz to this list. I want to enter Saganaga with a tow to Rocky Point. More unseen ground, for me.
Trader and Neglige. I struck out fishing on both of these lakes about a decade ago. I would like another chance to compare these two species of trout over the bonfire.
Adams and Boulder were tops on my list for years. Having visited them in 2023, they are still tops on my list.
Gebeonequet. I see others with this lake on their list as well. I've never been anywhere near it. When I do go to Gebe I hope to visit Takucmich as well.
Raven is another popular one for others. I booked a permit here once! and didn't make it. Obviously I desire redemption.
Gijikiki, LoTC, Lunar. Might as well add Cherry and Topaz to this list. I want to enter Saganaga with a tow to Rocky Point. More unseen ground, for me.
Trader and Neglige. I struck out fishing on both of these lakes about a decade ago. I would like another chance to compare these two species of trout over the bonfire.
02/03/2025 04:07PM
Amimi - Barely in a PMA north of Hoe and Makwa Lakes
Stuart Lake & Dahlgren River - Read an article about the Dahlgren many years ago. Have wanted to see this place for myself since.
Boulder - Have been close several times but always choose the pictographs instead.
JAPaulson Lake. Off the beaten path south of Sea Gull. The route is remote and requires a lot more work than most are willing to give. Just my kind of place.
Lake of the Clouds- Just in an interesting spot.
Stuart Lake & Dahlgren River - Read an article about the Dahlgren many years ago. Have wanted to see this place for myself since.
Boulder - Have been close several times but always choose the pictographs instead.
JAPaulson Lake. Off the beaten path south of Sea Gull. The route is remote and requires a lot more work than most are willing to give. Just my kind of place.
Lake of the Clouds- Just in an interesting spot.
02/03/2025 04:11PM
chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike
I did indeed rock down to Electric Avenue, but I did not take it higher. I regret that.
02/03/2025 06:30PM
MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)
02/03/2025 07:59PM
All the lakes that are hidden gems seemingly accessible only by helicopter or parachute.
If I could lose my fear of moving water I’d love to do the pigeon river.
In quetico I’d like to see Brent, the cache lake area and the northern lakes to the west of pickerel.
If I could lose my fear of moving water I’d love to do the pigeon river.
In quetico I’d like to see Brent, the cache lake area and the northern lakes to the west of pickerel.
02/03/2025 08:09PM
Thanks for the prompt, LindyLair! I enjoyed looking up some of the lakes I had never heard of. I also smiled at a few of my favorite places landing on the lists of others.
My plans to visit new lakes this year for the first time include: Gogebic, Trident, and Frost.
Lakes I'd like to visit, but probably never will: Niswi and Kinogami. I just don't risk it when I'm alone anymore and, truthfully, I probably don't train hard enough to enjoy it at this point.
My plans to visit new lakes this year for the first time include: Gogebic, Trident, and Frost.
Lakes I'd like to visit, but probably never will: Niswi and Kinogami. I just don't risk it when I'm alone anymore and, truthfully, I probably don't train hard enough to enjoy it at this point.
02/03/2025 08:43PM
Z4K: "Trader and Neglige. I struck out fishing on both of these lakes about a decade ago. I would like another chance to compare these two species of trout over the bonfire."
Funny how that works - I've got a Lake Trout Lake that i've absolutley slayed them on, like nearly every cast...never went back. Another Lake Trout Lake, that i've been skunked on 3 times (at least for lakers) and it's at the top of my list to go back to.
"The beer brewed here. It is used to make the brewed beer, during is define, ooh Earth Rider. Thanks for the Great Lakes." - Biden
02/04/2025 12:02AM
Mocha: "All the lakes that are hidden gems seemingly accessible only by helicopter or parachute.
If I could lose my fear of moving water I’d love to do the pigeon river.
In quetico I’d like to see Brent, the cache lake area and the northern lakes to the west of pickerel."
Just go to the Pigeon in summer or fall. The water is so low that you just end up walking/dragging your boat. Hardly qualifies as moving water.
02/04/2025 08:01PM
Fearlessleader: "I’m getting old but most of my regrets relate to quetico.
Thought it was interesting how many folks mentioned the Boulder Adams Little Sag area. If you’re still able that is one beautiful area. "
For some reason I always thought Boulder was really true wilderness and at the same time mystic and spooky for some reason. Actually from Adams, Fishdance and down feels that way.
02/04/2025 09:18PM
Interesting thread here-fun read!
1. Fishdance. I've been to Alice from one side and Malberg on the other but have never quite made it there. IF ice out is early enough this year I may trip in before all the anglers hit the lakes in May, just to see the pictos and sing Jerry's song.
2. Agnes. It is one of the few Ely EP's I have not yet tripped, with no apparent reason why.
3. Cherokee- Tackling this one in September this year
4. Long Island Lake-See above
5. Winchell See the #3, and #4. Knocking all 3 of these off my list this year. I love circling islands and seeing cliffs so this Sept. 2025 trip has me jacked!
1. Fishdance. I've been to Alice from one side and Malberg on the other but have never quite made it there. IF ice out is early enough this year I may trip in before all the anglers hit the lakes in May, just to see the pictos and sing Jerry's song.
2. Agnes. It is one of the few Ely EP's I have not yet tripped, with no apparent reason why.
3. Cherokee- Tackling this one in September this year
4. Long Island Lake-See above
5. Winchell See the #3, and #4. Knocking all 3 of these off my list this year. I love circling islands and seeing cliffs so this Sept. 2025 trip has me jacked!
02/05/2025 08:26AM
My group has been to Red Rock and Alpine numerous times. We get a tow from Seagull Outfitters up to Red Rock Bay. There's a 10-rod portage into Red Rock. We usually go all the way down to Ogishkemuncie and base from there. RR is nice but it can be busy as it's a pass through lake. There are about 7 sites on RR.
02/05/2025 01:08PM
I always wanted to get to Brent Lake in Quetico. We had trips planned to Brent three different times and I had to cancel all three times, and all for different reasons. Fishing was the main attraction for our group. Unfortunately, I'm kind of at the point now where it probably won't happen. Oh well...
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
02/05/2025 01:30PM
Z4K: Raven is another popular one for others. I booked a permit here once! and didn't make it. Obviously I desire redemption."
Ditto! I had the permit and was all set the year of the John Ek fire. The following year I grabbed the permit again but we got hammered by 3" of rain that robbed us of a travel day we needed to get that far out and back again in our allotted time. The year after that we paddled right past it, wistfully, enroute to Adams from the north and just didn't have the time to turn aside and get a peek.
At this point, Raven is my unicorn. I didn't even try last year, nor do my plans include it this year. But it's only a matter of time before unfinished business nudges me her direction for another attempt. :)
02/05/2025 02:41PM
Speckled: "Insula/Alice - Somehow have just never found my way here
Raven - Has always intrigued me
Cash - Hopefully crossing this one of the list this year"
Find your way to Insula and Alice. Bring a fishing rod, plenty of lures, and a depth finder. There are 2 major reefs on the east side that seem to always have fish and a rock sticking up on the west side that is worth fishing. My wife and I fished near the rock and caught several walleyes but had to put them all back as they were too big for a meal for just the two of us.
There are several routes to Alice. My wife and I have come to it from Lake One, Snowbank, and Kawishiwi. We've made it from Lake One in one day more than once but from Kawishiwi we quit at Fishdance spent the night before going on. While you are on Fishdance, of course you need to find the pictographs and get a picture of the elephant.
02/05/2025 03:35PM
chessie: "MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)"
I love that book. So much I learned from that book...simple things that I still use today. But I still haven't figured out what "sugar of lead" is. (It's in the section on tanning a hide.)
Mike
I did indeed rock down to Electric Avenue, but I did not take it higher. I regret that.
02/05/2025 05:22PM
MikeinMpls: "chessie: "MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)"
I love that book. So much I learned from that book...simple things that I still use today. But I still haven't figured out what "sugar of lead" is. (It's in the section on tanning a hide.)
Mike"
Sugar of lead is Lead acetate, a slightly sweet poisonous chemical created by treating lead with acetic acid. Don't use it.
02/05/2025 09:53PM
I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. While I only hear about the fishing on Alice, not a big fan of real open water, the fishing on Insula is simply outstanding. Plus, it's a easy route... assuming you can get a permit.
Same with the Fishdance/Adams/Boulder grouping... same basic area and it's available from Kawishiwi lake and/or Kawishiwi Lodge (Lake One). Feeling froggy, it's not far from Boulder to Raven. Though I will mention that we were discussing leaving my cousin stuck in the mud on the "portage" to Raven. Ask the old man "Fearlessleader" who commented above... he should remember that trip.
As for lakes to get to, I love the look of Kawnipi and McKenzie in Quetico. From there, hitting Ferguson would be on the bucket list, mostly because Cache is just too far to carry stuff imo. Love solitude, but I can do it way easier in someplace like WCPP..... speaking of lakes to get to...
Same with the Fishdance/Adams/Boulder grouping... same basic area and it's available from Kawishiwi lake and/or Kawishiwi Lodge (Lake One). Feeling froggy, it's not far from Boulder to Raven. Though I will mention that we were discussing leaving my cousin stuck in the mud on the "portage" to Raven. Ask the old man "Fearlessleader" who commented above... he should remember that trip.
As for lakes to get to, I love the look of Kawnipi and McKenzie in Quetico. From there, hitting Ferguson would be on the bucket list, mostly because Cache is just too far to carry stuff imo. Love solitude, but I can do it way easier in someplace like WCPP..... speaking of lakes to get to...
02/06/2025 11:49AM
Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip.
"The beer brewed here. It is used to make the brewed beer, during is define, ooh Earth Rider. Thanks for the Great Lakes." - Biden
02/06/2025 12:41PM
Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
That is the trick of it. Go in the off season and have the popular stretches to one self. I had a November canoe trip one year to the numbers and had the entire place to ourselves.
"Once you have heard the music of the Boundary Waters, you will yearn for it until you can yearn no more." - Miron Heinselman
02/06/2025 01:25PM
scat: "Haha - Why does everyone give me crap about my user name. I think it’s the coolest one on the forum.
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…"
I disagree XD
-Dee
02/06/2025 01:26PM
Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
I did this into Alice the week before fishing opener in May. Saw about 4-5 boats the whole trip. Amazing the quietness of the busier EPs when you can't fish.
02/06/2025 02:23PM
wxce1260: "Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
I did this into Alice the week before fishing opener in May. Saw about 4-5 boats the whole trip. Amazing the quietness of the busier EPs when you can't fish."
My wife an I spent 4 days on Alice over the 4th of July and never saw another canoe. We used to spend a week on Insula and maybe see 3 or 4 canoes. It helps to get off the main travel route.
02/07/2025 07:19PM
Deeznuts: "scat: "Haha - Why does everyone give me crap about my user name. I think it’s the coolest one on the forum.
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…"
I disagree XD"
Deeznuts--- speaking of names...one of my favorite little places to eat in Marshfield, Wisconsin is "Deeznuts". :)
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