Coon Lake
Coming from beautiful Kiana Lake, Coon Lake is your first challenge if you plan to make it through all six of these lakes down to Lake Insula. Coon Lake may be the most interesting of this chain of lakes, extending between Lake Insula and Kiana Lake. The lake has two rocky islands and a nicely varied shoreline. Given its relative proximity to Kiana Lake, would surmise that there is at least some vestige of a trail leading out here.
This area of the BWCAW was burned by a fire that scorched the forest between Muzzle Lake and Kiana Lake in 1903.
Approach to Coon Lake
From Kiana Lake: Proceed to the very western tip of Kiana Lake and look for a trail heading to the west/southwest toward Coon Lake. It is just a guess that there is a cairn or trail here to help with route finding.
From Sable Lake: There is a creek exiting the south side of Sable Lake and running back towards the forest edge.
Bushwhack to Coon Lake
From Kiana Lake: There may be a trail of some sort beginning at the western most end of Kiana Lake that can be followed to Coon Lake. If not, there appears to be a very small creek or valley that connects the two lakes geographically. The distance of this bushwhack is roughly 45 rods.
From Sable Lake: For about 30 rods, follow the creek that enters the south end of Sable Lake back into the peat bog. Some of this creek may be floatable in a canoe. Eventually the creek fades into the bog. Proceed to the back, southeast corner of the peat bog. From that point in the bog, it is about a 30 rod bushwhack to the southeast through forest to the western tip of Coon Lake.
Exploring Coon Lake
This could potentially be a very pretty lake with two nice islands and a forested shoreline punctuated with rocky outcroppings. The shoreline is jagged with several points and bays to explore. Coon Lake would make a nice "one off" lake to visit in order to escape the canoe traffic in this rather popular part of the BWCA.
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