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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Best small lake loops/route

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naturboy12

01/13/2023 10:42PM

Depends on what you’re hoping to get along with the small lakes, but I enjoyed the Baker Lake entry (Ep 39) up through South (or North) Temperance. Smaller lakes, decent walleye/SMB fishing in Kelly and Jack, and a good chance to see moose. It can be busy though even with the low number of daily permits.

Homer (Ep 40) into Vern and or Pipe is also very nice and a lot less traffic and a real easy trip with short portages and low miles travelled.

Lawnchair107

01/14/2023 08:36AM

Little Indian Sioux North is fantastic.

ducks

01/14/2023 08:37AM

I’ll 3rd Baker. I took each of my daughters on trips there and one of my first trips with my 4 year old son will be there. Good ance to see moose and we had good walleye fishing on Kelly and Jack.

I’ll second Homer.

Lizz gives you a bunch of small lake options and if you need to rent canoes Rockwood is great and you can just push off right from their beach. If you’re looking for something more adventurous you could have Rockwood drop you off at Cross Bay EP and exit through Lizz.

If you prefer the Ely side Mudro is a nice EP for small lakes and I also like the South Kawishiwi River EP going up into the Kawishiwi Triangle.

TuscaroraBorealis

01/14/2023 08:33AM

I'll second the Baker EP...

Maiden voyage exploring the Temperance River flowage

dogwoodgirl

01/14/2023 01:54PM

Baker sure is nice....and don't forget the Lady Chain, esp. if you camp on the the less popular ladies like Hazel and Ella!

boonie

01/14/2023 04:32PM

Depending on how much time you have and how far you want to travel there are lots of options out of the ones mentioned. The Baker-Cherokee-Sawbill-Baker loop is nice. You can have a nice one through Little Indian Sioux North. Or Lizz, Meeds, or Cross Bay entries. Also the entries out of Round Lake - Missing Link and especially Brant. Mudro is nice, Moose River North also.

CanoeViking

01/13/2023 10:30PM

I am looking a for small water trip. What is your favorite small lake a route?

Michwall2

01/14/2023 06:23PM

There are several I can think of, but, almost all have a disqualifying lake somewhere along the route:

Cherokee Loop: Cherokee can act as a larger lake. Also, while most of Sawbill can be considered smaller, there are some wider portions that can act large.

Lady Lakes: Get a shuttle from Sawbill Outfitters out to Kawishiwi Lake entry and work your way back to Sawbill Lake along Polly, Hazel, Knight, Phoebe, Grace Beth, & Alton Lakes. Alton is the bugaboo there. Not a small lake at all.

You can make a lollipop route by starting at Kawishiwi Lake and go north toward Malberg Lake. Once there, head northwest to Boulder/Adams and then go east to Makwa and back south to Malberg. Then back south to Kawishiwi. All those would qualify as small lakes. I think this is the most pure small lake route here.

Lizz Lake - While most of these lakes act as small lakes most of the time, wind out of the wrong direction will make those long narrow lakes act as much larger lakes. Lizz Lake to Cross Bay would get you out on Long Island Lake. There is also a Lizz Lake entry with a trip out to LIL and then to Banadad and out through Skipper Lake. These would be considered smaller lakes, except with that wind exception previously noted.

LIS North - Those little lakes inside Lac La Croix are beautiful. I love this route, but you will have to eventually get out (however briefly) on the large Loon Lake. You could also go from LIS North to Moose River Entry for exit. Do you consider Oyster Lake or Agnes Lake small?