Starting in Grand Marais, Minnesota, head up the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12). The turn off for Round Lake and the Cross River is well signed. It is also the same turn to go to Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfiitters. The road first takes you past the Cross Bay Lake Entry Point #50. Shortly after passing this entry point, there is an intersection. The sign here indicates one mile to Round Lake (take a right) or go the other way if you are heading to Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters. You will want to take the road to Round Lake if you are looking for Missing Link Lake #51 or Brant Lake #52 entry points.
Round Lake lies entirely outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). There are two routes leading out of this lake, each leading to a respective entry point. The canoe landing and parking lot is for both entry points. Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters lies just to the east of the entry point in the northeast corner of the lake. There can be a good number of boats out on this lake during the prime fishing times of early morning and also in the evening. Most of the people fishing are coming from Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters.
The northwest shoreline of Round Lake was impacted by the 2007 Ham Lake Fire. At the southwest corner of the lake, just as you reach the end of the burned shoreline is a small bay where you will find the portage to West Round Lake. Go this way if you are heading to the Brant Lake Entry Point #52. Note that you still have to cross two portages and two lakes before you even enter the BWCA heading in this direction. The other route out of Round Lake is to Missing Link Lake. This involves a somewhat challenging 142 rod portage.
Given its bowl-like shape and the lack of forest cover on its west side, this lake can get pretty choppy when the wind is up.
There are at least 59 lakes in Minnesota that are called "Round Lake". Round Lake drains to the northeast into the Cross River which flows to the northeast and eventually empties into Gunflint Lake.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 136, 142, 146, 147, 150, 154, 157, 158, 166, 205.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 323.
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VIEW OF ROUND LAKE FROM TUSCARORA LODGE AND OUTFITTERS
View of Round Lake during a thunderstorm from the Tuscarora Lodge and Outfitters.
Tuscarora Lodge and Outfitters. Round Lake beach.
PADDLING FROM THE MISSING LINK LAKE PORTAGE TO LANDING FOR BWCA ENTRY POINT 51/52 PARKING LOT
View of Round Lake from the Missing Link Lake portage.
Round Lakes west shoreline as viewed from just south of the BWCA entry point parking lot. The parking lot is found in the north part of the lake.
Paddling across Round Lake from the Missing Link Lake portage to the BWCA Entry Point 51 and 52 landing/parking lot which is located on the north shore of the lake. The route generally follows the east shore of the lake. Visit BWCA Entry Point 51 and 52 Parking Lot -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE LANDING FOR BWCA ENTRY POINT 51 AND 52 TO THE WEST ROUND LAKE PORTAGE
Beginning from the entry point landing on Round Lake, you paddle along the west shore of the lake down to the small bay in the lake's southwest corner. In this bay, you find the portage leading to West Round Lake.
View of the small bay where the portage to West Round Lake is located. Portage to West Round Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE LANDING FOR BWCA ENTRY POINT 51 AND 52 TO THE MISSING LINK LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling nearly straight across Round Lake beginning at the BWCA Entry Point 51 and 52 landing/parking lot and ending at the portage leading to Missing Link Lake.
Standing at the Missing Link Lake portage, gazing northward up the east shoreline of Round Lake. Portage to Missing Link Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE WEST ROUND LAKE PORTAGE TO THE MISSING LINK LAKE PORTAGE
A relatively brief paddle toward the southeast staying close to the southwest shoreline of Round Lake. This is the route between the West Round Lake portage and the Missing Link Lake portage.
