The answer to the question, "How do I plan a Boundary Waters Trip?" is very simple, you just call an outfitter, preferably Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.   We can help you plan a BWCA canoe trip within a few minutes of speaking with you.

     The benefits of using the services of a canoe outfitter to help you plan your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip are endless.  We've been outfitting canoe trips into the wilderness for 20 years and we know the lakes and the routes.  We know what type of fish are in which lakes, the degree of difficulty of the portages and the best places to camp.  We also know where you are most likely to run into a moose and when you're most likely to see people.  We can tell you lots of valuable information about planning a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip but you have to give us a call first.

     It's our job to outfit folks into the Boundary Waters and to make sure they have a good time and return year after year.  We'll help you plan your Boundary Waters trip, we're ready and waiting to do so. 1-888-CANOEIT

 

     Deciding where to canoe in the Boundary Waters is always a tough decision whether it's your first trip, tenth trip or fiftieth trip.  Just like when you're planning a regular vacation you'll want to gather information for a BWCA canoe country vacation.  There is a plethora of information on the web including great commercial BWCA websites and outfitter websites.  There are also books published about popular BWCA canoe routes but keep in mind the information in books may not always be precise or up to date.

 

     To determine where you want to go in the BWCA you’ll need to know if fishing is an important part of your trip.  If fishing is important then you'll want to know what Boundary Waters lakes have which types of fish in them.  If you're going to paddle the BWCA in early May then find a lake trout lake because that's what will be biting then.  You'll also want to spend less time traveling and more time fishing if it's really important to catch fish.  Don’t plan to camp a 12 hour paddle from where you're BWCA starting point is or you’ll spend all of your time paddling and not fishing.

 

     Most folks want solitude on their Boundary Waters Canoe trip.  If your goal is solitude then choose a BWCA route with lots of long portages.  Look for lakes that are difficult to get to and farther in than a few hour paddle and find a BWCA campsite that is off of the beaten path.  This will keep you away from the vast majority of folks.  Don't be fooled by thinking an canoe entry point with lots of travel permits is necessarily bad.  There are smaller lakes off of some of these bigger lakes that you can find and have all to yourself. 

 

     Another factor in determining where you will go in the Boundary Waters is who you are going with.  If you’re paddling with elderly or small children then you may want to plan a base camp canoe trip.  Find a BWCA lake with good day trip opportunities so people have the option to paddle and portage or stay back and relax.

 

     There are lots of things to consider when planning a Boundary Waters canoe trip.  You can find a trip route finder on our website that might offer you some insight.  Also, we have maps we can mail you if you’d like to purchase one.  Then you can spend time looking at all of the BWCA lakes and dreaming about camping on them.

 

     No matter how many times I've been on Boundary Waters canoe trips it's still a tough decision to decide where to go.  Who I'm paddling with, how much time I have and how energetic I'm feeling all make a difference in what route I'll choose.  No matter where I go in the BWCA I know I’ll be happier there than anywhere else I could be and that’s a very good thing.

 

     If you have your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip for this summer all planned out then you can reserve your permit beginning January 25th, 2012.  If you don't have your plans determined then don't worry, there's plenty of time to make your plans especially if you're paddling out of the Gunflint Trail.  

     The Gunflint Trail side of the BWCA is not as heavily used as entry points into the BWCA near Ely, MN.  We'll often have Boundary Waters permits available up until the last minute.  However, if you want a particular entry point on a particular day then the sooner you reserve your permit the better.

     How do you reserve a BWCA Permit? You can give us a call with all of the information below and we'll do it for you or you can do it yourself.  It's quite easy and you can reserve your Boundary Waters permit online or by telephone(1-877-444-6777) When reserving a BWCA camping permit you'll need the following.

1. Name, address and telephone number of the party leader.
2. Name of up to 3 alternate party leaders
3. Number of watercraft(estimated & can be changed) up to 4/permit
4. Number of adults & children(17 & under) estimated & can be changed upon arrival at your permit pick-up location.
5. Entry point & Entry Date(these are set in stone)
6. Exit Point(is not set in stone)
7. Permit Pick Up Location(Choose us, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters if you're outfitting with us or entering at an entry point near us).  By default the permit will be sent to the USFS Ranger Station closest to your BWCA entry point. 
8. Submit payment with a credit card($6 Reservation Fee, $16/adult, $8/youth)

     That's all there is to reserving a Boundary Waters canoe trip permit.  If you need help determining an entry point or route then feel free to give us a call.  We love to talk about canoeing in the BWCA.  1-888-CANOEIT

     There are discussions and debates taking place all over the Midwest about how the USFS has handled the Pagami Creek Fire.  The policy of the USFS is to let a fire burn if it was started by a natural cause and if it is not threatening private property or life.  But should that policy be null and void when the USFS is allowed to purposefully ignite the forest surrounding the natural lightning caused 200 acre fire with the intention of burning more acres?  
 
     The 200 acre Pagami Creek Fire could have been left to burn as the USFS policy states however the USFS made a decision to intervene.  They didn't put the fire out but they did start a bigger fire in order to create a fire break around popular BWCA lakes Lake One and Lake Two.  Also in their plan was to prevent the fire from reaching the populated Fernberg Road.  This disruption of a natural forest fire caused the fire to grow from 200 acres  to over 2000 acres.

     Was the fire forecast predicting strong winds from the south that would put private properties on the Fernberg Road in danger?  Was it necessary to light the small Pagami Creek Fire in order to save a couple of popular canoe routes in the Boundary Waters? Someone in the USFS thought so and signed their name to a burn plan that resulted in one of the biggest forest fires of this century in Minnesota.

     If a canoe outfitter can see a forecast calling for 90 degree temperatures and strong winds from the North then surely an experienced fire expert has access to the same if not better information.  It was unseasonably hot weather that helped spread the Pagami Creek Fire but that weather was in the forecast.  There wasn't rain in any of the forecasts I saw and I questioned the act of a prescribed burn under such conditions. 

     There is no doubt prescribed burns are useful and helpful in preventing the spread of wildfire.  The Gunflint Ranger District has completed many of them since the 1999 Blowdown and these have been successful at protecting private properties.  These have all been done after weeks of careful planning and monitoring of the weather.  None of these prescribed burns have ever gotten out of control.

     If the Pagami Creek Fire is defended by the USFS on the basis of a hands-off, let it burn policy then they should not have ignited the surrounding forest when there were no properties or life in danger.  The additional acreage they lit on fire could very well have been what caused the Pagami Creek Fire to explode.  Had there only been the 200 acres around the lightning strike to worry about when conditions rapidly deteriorated then would the fire have grown to over 100,000 acres in size?

     There is no question forest fires are part of the history of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Fires have been suppressed in the BWCA in the past while fires are proven to be wonderful for the forest ecology and are a part of nature.  This all makes sense to me but what doesn't make sense is saying, "We're going to let nature take it's course because it was a lightning strike and we're going to add a couple of thousand acres by starting more fires oursevles.  Doesn't the saying  "You can't have your cake and eat it to." apply to the USFS?  

     I don't know whether or not the USFS should let things burn but I do believe they should make a decision and take responsibility for their actions no matter how the situation turns out.

     The USFS is taking advantage of the Pagami Creek Fire to complete a controlled burn in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  The fire has consumed 130 acres 15 miles east of Ely and just west of Lake One and Lake Two.  A controlled burn will help protect the popular canoe route and homes outside of the BWCA from future wildfires.  If weather conditions cooperate today then they will start the burnout with their crew of over 100 firefighters from combined agencies.

Firefighters plan controlled burn today in BWCAW

Labor Day weekend vacationers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness might have to adjust their plans today as firefighters seek to contain a wildfire in a popular area.

By: News Tribune staff, Duluth News Tribune

My group of four women who have never been to the Boundary Waters were blessed with all good luck...the weather, the route, the whole experience. The whole group at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters were all so helpful and friendly. We enjoyed our first but not last trip to the BWCA!!! THANKS :)

Name: Kathy Robinson
City: Eau Claire
State: WI
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

     There's more than one great entry point into the Boundary Waters accessed from traveling the Gunflint Trail.  Most of the BWCA entry points are found by traveling down a gravel road for a mile or two but there is one where the parking lot is just off of the Gunflint Trail.
     Larch Creek, Entry Point 80 into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a great place to begin your BWCA canoe camping adventure.  It's perfect for a day trip or a multiple night wilderness camping trip.  You can choose to do a base camp on Larch Lake and come back out the same way or paddle in through the Creek and come out through Saganaga Lake or Gunflint Lake via the Granite River.
     Larch Creek is a little bit different than your typical entry points into the Boundary Waters. It's a narrow, winding creek surrounded by Larch trees and tall reeds.  The creek is quite shallow and there are numerous beaver dams along the way.  Paddlers must be prepared to get out of their canoe to make it over the beaver dams and should plan on getting their feet wet as with any other time you get into and out of a canoe. 
     Larch Lake was affected by the Ham Lake Fire in 2007 so there is new growth of jack pines everywhere.  There are some older trees along the lakeshore and quite a few at the island campsite.  The island campsite is like an oasis in a desert and it's an absolutely perfect BWCA campsite.  The other campsites on Larch are a little grown over but the one in the back bay is nice too.
     If you feel like traveling and camping at a different site then you'll head to the Granite River.  The River flows north to Saganaga but the only place you'll find much current is at the rapids and there are portages around those.  It's just as easy to paddle upstream as it is to paddle downstream.  It's farther to travel out to Saganaga so if you want more paddling then north is the direction to go and if you want less paddling and portaging you can travel south to Gunflint Lake.
     Larch Entry Point is a great Boundary Waters Route for anyone but especially for those without much canoe camping experience.  If you don't have much time then it's also a good entry point into the BWCA because you can be into the BWCA in minutes and camping in no time.  The only time Larch isn't a good Boundary Waters route is when the creek is too low to navigate.  If it's been really dry for a long time then the water levels can make the creek almost impassible.  
     Any other time Larch is a great place to enjoy the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.       


View Boundary Waters Route Larch Creek in a larger map

     The Hudson Bay Crew spent another day on the Minnesota Canadian Border of the Rainy River. Their days of paddling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico Provincial Park are past.  They paddled just short of a marathon yesterday but made great time and progress on their journey.  Another day of paddling will put them onto Lake of the Woods and into Canada for the duration of their expedition.  

Another Day on the Rainy River 16 Days of Paddling

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     Paddling the Boundary Waters today the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew made their way from the Fowl Lakes all of the way to Mountain Lake.  They covered about 20 miles today in all.  It was a little bit chilly today with temperatures in the 40's most of the day and a high of 54 degrees.  Tonight it is suppose to get down to 33 degrees but tomorrow there's a predicted high of 60 to 65 degrees. 
 
      Tomorrow they will continue their journey west into Rose Lake, another BWCA Lake on the border of the US and Canada.  Rose is lined with beautiful high cliffs and the Border Route Hiking Trail follows along them.  With a little luck the guys will have little wind or one from the East but the forecast calls for North winds of 5 to 10 mph. It sounds like a beautiful day to paddle the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Day 2 Fowl Lake to Mountain Lake

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     How do you choose your BWCA entry point if you've never been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area before?  How do you plan your BWCA entry point if you have been to the BWCA before?  Do you take a stick pin and spin yourself blindfolded and stick the pin into the map and wherever it lands you go?  

     It can be a difficult decision to determine where you want to enter the Boundary Waters.  There are entry points throughout the wilderness from as far west as Crane Lake to as far East as the Arrowhead Trail.  You can even enter the BWCA from the Sawbill Trail or near Isabella, Minnesota.  There are so many different entry points it's hard to know just where to begin.

     Even though we are BWCA outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail we have paddled all over the canoe country wilderness entering through Crane, Brule, Moose and many other Boundary Waters entry points.  While each area is beautiful we are obviously partial to the entry points on the Gunflint Trail.

     We have deeper lakes, higher cliffs and of course we can outfit you if you choose to enter on the Gunflint Trail.  That alone should help you narrow it down to the Gunflint Trail.  Once you've determined that you can think about the type of trip you want to take and how much you want to paddle, portage and fish. 
 
     If you're fishing for a particular species then you can narrow the options down even further because not every lake has every species of fish.  If you don't want to have to portage at all then you can eliminate quite a few of the BWCA entry points.  If you want to hike on a hiking trail while out canoe camping then your options are really limited.  How can you find all of this out without spending days reading guide books?

     Voyageur has a great trip route finder that will help you pick an entry point into the BWCA.  You can enter criteria into the program and it will provide you with trip route options as well as maps.  After you narrow it down that way then give us a call or drop us an email so we can talk about your routes.  We've paddled the routes and can help you find one that may be more suitable than had you played pin the pin on the BWCA map.

     Check out the route planner today! http://owl.boreal.org/canoeit.com/route-search/

     A question we are asked frequently as Boundary Waters Canoe Area outfitters is, "How far can we paddle in a day?"  Unfortunately this question is not an easy one to answer.  Unfortunately there are many variables that factor into how far and how fast one can travel by canoe during a day.  Among these factors are type of canoe, experience of paddlers, amount of gear/weight, how the canoe is loaded, weather conditions, wind, waves and type of water you're paddling.  There are rivers with fast currents, lakes with no current and portages to consider as well.

     Our Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew must factor in all of these variables and then some in order to complete their voyage from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay this summer.  This trip won't take a few days or weeks but a few months to complete.  A shorter BWCA wilderness canoe trip route is a little easier to figure out.

     The average paddlers travel about three miles per hour in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.  This isn't paddling at a race pace or running across wilderness portages but it is a normal leisurely pace for the BWCA.  When you're on a canoe camping trip you may find yourself not paddling continuously because you want to take a swim break, cast a line or stop to take pictures of the BWCA wildlife.  All of these things take time as does setting up and breaking down camp. 

      If you don't want to be setting up or breaking down camp in the dark then you'll need to keep in mind how many hours of daylight you have.  In the middle of the summer when there are 16 hours of daylight in the canoe country wilderness a person can cover quite a few miles in a day.  But in the early spring or fall the same Boundary Waters canoe route may take more days.  You'll need to know how many hours and days of travel you want to do in order to determine how far you want to go.

     A 50 mile Boundary Waters canoe trip could look quite different depending upon who is paddling it.  One group of people may paddle 5 hours every day for 10 days, 10 hours each day for 5 days or 20 on Day 1, rest on Day 2 and Day 3, paddle 10 on Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6.  It really just depends upon what the group wants to do.  It's best to determine this before you're out in the wilderness.

     The Voyageur Hudson Bay Crew will no doubt be in better paddling condition a week or so into their trip.  They will be stronger paddlers and once they are in a groove their portaging should be swifter too.  The portions of the trip on rivers will find them covering alot of area quickly while paddling across Lake Winnipeg may be very time consuming.

     You'll be able to keep an eye on the progress of the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition by checking out the website where we'll keep track of where they are at.  We'll know how far and fast they can paddle in a day but we'll also know there's going to be alot of variables related to it.

     We've heard from a number of canoe country enthusiasts who have planned their summer Boundary Waters Canoe Area or Quetico Park canoe trips at Voyageur already.  It's exciting to think about canoe routes, fishing spots and wilderness campsites even while there is 3 feet of snow left on the ground. 

     It's even more exciting to think about the long journey planned by some modern day Voyageurs.  Three past Voyageur Crew members will be helping us celebrate Voyageur's 50th Anniversary by paddling from Lake Superior all of the way to Hudson Bay.

     In the days ahead you will hear lots more about this incredible journey but in the meantime, how about you make some paddling plans of your own for this summer? 

     It's been cold and snowy in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness but I still can't quit thinking about a wilderness canoe trip.  There are so many lakes to camp and paddle in and I only have to catch a glimpse of a map to start dreaming about where I'll canoe this summer.
      Dreaming of and planning a canoe trip are two different things.  If you want to take a BWCA canoe trip this summer then just give us a call at Voyageur, 1-888-CANOEIT. We can help you plan the route, reserve the permit and get you set up with all of the gear you need.
      We're trying to help another group of people plan a different kind of canoe trip this summer.  Voyageur Canoe Outfitter crew members Andrew Spaeth, Adam Maxwell, Mike Swenson along with Ranger Janice Matichuk's son Leif are planning to paddle from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay.  We're not quite as familiar with the lakes and rivers of the area in Canada but we're very excited to be a part of their trip.
     Every canoe camping trip is an adventure whether it's in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Quetico Park or the vast wilderness of Canada.  We get excited to help everyone plan their trip because it's such an awesome experience.  So, don't delay, give us a call today so we can start planning your 2011 BWCA trip.

I did a Voyageur Canoe Outfitters  3-day trip in September. I have nothing but good things to say about Voyageur. They gave us everything we needed: a solid canoe, a waterproof map with our suggested route marked down, our park permit, and pre-packed bags with all of our supplies (except for clothes/hygiene stuff of course). We arrived the night before and stayed in a no-frills cabin. The next morning they gave us a carb-loaded pancake breakfast, went through some quick safety stuff, answered the questions we had, and then took us out to our start point. If you haven’t portaged before have them give you a lesson in it — good technique makes it a lot easier, especially for lifting the canoe onto your shoulders and putting it back down. The map had our route marked out, including the portage lengths, campground options along the way, and hiking/side trip options. The route is only a suggestion, because all that they require is that you return the canoe and bags to the destination site that you selected beforehand. Once you are in the water you are free to travel where you wish and use whatever campsites you want. We changed our plans due to weather and had no problems thanks to the map. The food was good and hardy and had proper serving sizes (for us at least, you can ask for extra food if you want). Each meal was put in a separate plastic bag, which made it extremely easy to prepare and avoids the need to ration your supplies. Portaging can be tough, the water is cold, and you won’t find any showers or faucets, but if you have never been to the Boundary Waters I recommend giving this a try.

Name: Wesley
City:
State:
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

     You won't normally hear a Boundary Waters outfitter recommending BWCA trips in November.  Canoe camping this late in the season poses more safety risks than most people are comfortable with.  With a forecast like this week I wouldn't rule out a November BWCA trip.

Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 53 to 58. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows 30 to 35. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday...Mostly sunny. Highs 48 to 53. East winds 10 to 20 mph.

Tuesday Night...Increasing clouds. Lows 37 to 42. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph.

Wednesday...Partly sunny in the morning...then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of light rain in the afternoon. Highs 50 to 55. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. 

     The forecast looks pretty nice for a canoe trip especially if the BWCA route chosen is a sensible one.  The warm daytime temperatures should alleviate the risk of getting stuck in a frozen bay and the moderate nightly lows are comfortable for Boundary Waters camping.  Choosing a BWCA entry point on a small lake will make the winds a non-issue.  Capsizing in the cold wilderness waters is always a concern but with sunshine and warm air you aren't much worse off in the Boundary Waters now than you would be any other time.  
     If my schedule wasn't filled to the brim then I'd be planning a Boundary Waters camping trip and packing my bags.  Actually, I would have left last Friday already since it's been such a beautiful weekend.   But instead I'll be doing what is normal for November in Minnesota and making sure my son gets to hockey practice.  After all, this nice fall weather can't last forever, can it?

     There are so many BWCA routes to choose from and all winter to dream over your BWCA maps.  If you're anything like me then you're already planning your next BWCA route to paddle while you're still canoe camping in the Boundary Waters. 
     There's only so much time to paddle and portage when you're on a BWCA canoe trip and you can't make it to every wilderness lake in the area.  Often I sit in the tent at night planning the next day and wishing I could take a side trip into a nearby lake.  Unfortunately I don't have endless time to explore the Boundary Waters even though it is right in my backyard. 
     I often find myself in an internal debate. Do I want to see something new or would I rather go back to a BWCA route I've been on? Maybe a little bit of both is the perfect mix for a Boundary Waters trip.  There's something comforting about the known but exciting about the unknown.
     Good thing I have all winter long to pour over my BWCA maps and plan my first BWCA route of paddling season 2011.

     There's smoke in the air on the Gunflint Trail.  The USFS is conducting prescribed burns in and around the Boundary Waters near the Gunflint Trail.  The Kekekabic Burn unit is where the smoke is currently coming from.
     Two more prescribed burn units in the Boundary Waters will be lit on Monday of this week.  Both of these units are less than 2000 acres and will be ignited by a helicopter.  A few BWCA routes and campsites are closed in the areas of the prescribed burns. 
     Fire personnel will be staying at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters this week to monitor the controlled burns.  There are aerial resources, ground crews and engine crews on the Gunflint Trail.  We're hoping the smoke won't be too heavy and that all goes well.

     What could be more wild than camping in the Boundary Waters? Camping in a PMA in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Primative Management Areas are located within the Boundary Waters and are even more remote than the normal campsites in the canoe country wilderness.
   These areas within the Boundary Waters are only available to small groups who are willing to take extra care to follow all of the Leave No Trace principles and then some additional rules.  Before camping in a PMA folks need to meet with a BWCA wilderness ranger to go over the rules and what to expect in the seldom traveled area.
     Mike camped in a PMA last year during a Boundary Waters trip and had a great experience.  Unlike most Boundary Waters campsites the ones in the PMA area are not designated and do not have fire rings.  Guests are encouraged to use camp stoves instead of campfires.  The portages into the lakes are not as maintained as other more popular BWCA routes.  Very few people are allowed to camp in these areas and the ones who do are rewarded with even more peaceful solitude than the normal BWCA lakes.
     To read about Mike's Boundary Waters experience of camping in a PMA be sure to check out the Backpacker Magazine Article online.  Then if you're up for it, try it for yourself.

     In addition to rainfall the beavers play an important role in the water level of Larch Creek.  This year there were only four beaver dams to navigate over or around while some years there are more.  Getting out of and back into the canoe can be tricky on these muddy stick towers as it is easy to sink up to your knees in muck on either side of the dam.  I've even been surprised by a mouse making it's way across a beaver dam one time.  Beaver chewed sticks float on the creek and submerged stumps sometimes act as obstacles.
     I remembered discussing the differences between a beaver dam and a beaver lodge with my niece as we paddled this Boundary Waters route when she was just five years old.  She insisted the dams were lodges and the lodges were dams.  The problem with arguing with a five year old is you begin to sound like a five year old yourself.  I ended the argument by telling her she could only speak if she was going to help paddle and if she wasn't paddling then she couldn't speak.  It was a quiet paddle after that.
     Yesterday wildlife was scarce on this BWCA creek.  A few painted turtles plopped into the water as I paddled by, one swam beneath the canoe and another shared its log with me as I attempted to shimmy the canoe over it.  Dragonflies flittered about letting the sunshine reflect off of their delicate wings.  A wood duck took to flight as I rounded one of the last curves of the creek and chickadees could be heard singing their familiar song.
     As the creek opened up into Larch Lake lily pads waved and welcomed me.  The Ham Lake Fire of 2007 ravaged the area but saved the most beautiful BWCA campsite on the island of this lake.  Towering pines still stood and large rock outcroppings stretched into the surrounding wilderness waters.  Nestled amongst the pine trees on this island one would never know a fire had past this way.  The open space on this BWCA campsite is perfect for multiple tent sites and there's plenty of space to spread out for privacy.  From the shores of this island fishing could be good with the rocks and weeds interspersed.
     Elevation is seen on the hills surrounding Larch Lake.  I could picture it in my mind as it looked when I paddled this BWCA route for the first time with my niece years ago.  Pine trees had shrouded the shorelines and one could only guess what the terrain was really like.
     I paddled to the creek that flows into Clove Lake and portaged the 25 yards along it.  Clove connects to the Granite River another popular Boundary Waters canoe route.  Jack Pines line the portage of every shape and size.  It's a flat easy portage with decent landings on both ends of the trail.  
     There are three Boundary Waters campsites in Larch Lake.  One is tucked into a bay directly to the right of the mouth of Larch Creek when it flows into the lake.  This wilderness campsite has tall pines surrounding it with nice elevation directly behind it.  The other campsite that is closest to the portage into Clove is carpeted with jack pines.  Small trees are growing everywhere except in the fire ring and one spot for a tent behind it.  The bald rock in front of the fire ring is a perfect place to watch the sun rise and set.
     The lake contains northern pike, smallmouth bass and walleye.  The only fish I caught was a small northern while I dragged a crayfish lure behind my canoe.  The water level is low this year and I think the fishing would be easier with more water.  Weeds were abundant and it was difficult to troll without catching weeds.
     It took me about an hour to get to Larch Lake via the creek and only a half of an hour to get back out.  On the way in I stopped to take photos and carefully made my way over beaver dams.  On the way back I walked barefoot on the beaver dams and didn't worry if I slipped into the muck on either side of the dam.  I paddled hard for a work out and to see how quickly one could navigate the narrow creek.
     As I looked at the shoreline I saw Tamarack trees.  It finally dawned on me why it was called Larch Creek and Larch Lake.  Larch is the other name used to identify Tamarack trees.  It's a beautiful pine tree that loses it's needle and is one of my favorites in the fall.  
     Before long I could see the tower at the Guard Station and the roofs of the buildings signaling the end of my canoe trip.  I know I will return to Larch Lake again as it's always a nice route for a day or a stay.