CLEARWATER LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#679): Second campsite east of BWCA Entry Point 62 landing Campsite 2 (#681): Third campsite east of BWCA Entry Point 62 landing Campsite 3 (#682): Site just west of the Mountain Lake portage Campsite 4 (#683): First campsite east of the Mountain Lake portage
Campsite 5 (#685): Westernmost campsite on the lake
Campsite 6 (#680): Just east of BWCA Campsite 681 along north shoreline
Campsite 7 (#684): Easternmost campsite on Clearwater Lake. Provides direct access to the Border Route Trail
The lake obviously gets its name from its crystal clear water.
Motorboats are allowed on all of Clearwater Lake. There is no horsepower limit on the part of the lake outside of the BWCA. The limit is 10 horsepower on the eastern end of the lake that is within the BWCA. The lake has good fishing for lake trout.
Clearwater Outfitters and Historic Lodge is located on the western end of the lake. This lodge was constructed in 1926.
If you are interested in hiking while visiting Clearwater Lake, the Border Route Trail can be accessed about midway across the portage to West Pike Lake. It can also be reached while crossing the portage to Mountain Lake. The Border Route Trail is directly accessible from the easternmost campsite on the lake.
A rare tornado impacted the area along the shores of Clearwater Lake on October 10, 2021. This was an EF2 tornado with winds of around 135mph. You can see the tree damage from this tornado along the shoreline of the lake between the Mountain Lake portage and the eastern Caribou Lake portage. The damage is more obvious along the north shore of Clearwater Lake. The same tornado also did some damage to nearby Alder Lake and the Border Route Trail.
Clearwater Lake has no external water sources other than the surrounding terrain. The lake flows out a small creek to the east into West Pike Lake.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 216, 223, 230, 238, 239, 244, 245, 252, 253, 258, 260, 265, 266.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 382-384.
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PADDLING FROM BWCA ENTRY POINT 62 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 679
Looking toward the south across Clearwater Lake from the canoe landing at the entry point.
View from near the middle of the lake of The Palisades.
Parked on a rock slab near the middle of the lake. Here you are looking to the east.
Sticking close to the north shore of Clearwater Lake, glide your way east over the crystalline waters to the campsite.
Visit BWCA Campsite 679 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA ENTRY POINT 62 LANDING TO THE CARIBOU LAKE/DEER LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling straight across the lake from the BWCA Entry Point 62 landing to the Caribou Lake/Deer Lake portage. This portage splits allowing you to portage to either lake. Portage to Deer Lake -or- Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 679 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 681
Continue a short distance east to the campsite located on the west side of the small bay near the middle of Clearwater Lake. Visit BWCA Campsite 681 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 681 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 682
Still traveling along the north shore of the lake headed east. The campsite you are heading for is the one just west of the Mountain Lake portage. Visit BWCA Campsite 682 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 682 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 683
Clearwater Lake is truly quite clear.
Shortly after leaving the campsite, pass nearby to the Mountain Lake portage, but continue on east along the north side of the lake. The next campsite you come to is the second site from the eastern end of the lake. It is almost straight across the lake from the eastern Caribou Lake portage. Visit BWCA Campsite 683 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 683 TO THE WEST PIKE LAKE PORTAGE
Looking toward the south shoreline at the very eastern end of Clearwater Lake.
Leave the campsite paddling east. Soon you round a prominent point and head into the very eastern end of Clearwater Lake. You'll pass a campsite on the north shoreline just before reaching the West Pike Lake portage. Portage to West Pike Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE WEST PIKE LAKE PORTAGE TO THE EASTERN CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling generally to the southwest, to the south side of the bay found on the eastern end of Clearwater Lake. Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE EASTERN CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE TO THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PORTAGE
After pulling out from the portage landing, paddle on a north heading. Round the sharp point and head to the west and then northwest crossing a wide section of the lake toward the Mountain Lake portage. The stairway that this portage is know for is visible as you approach.
Start of the portage to Mountain Lake. Portage to Mountain Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 62 LANDING TO THE WEST CARIBOU LAKE/DEER LAKE PORTAGE
From the boat landing, paddle southeast across Clearwater Lake and into a bay. At the back of the bay you will find the portage to both Caribou Lake and Deer Lake. Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Portage to Deer Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 62 LANDING TO THE CLEARWATER PALISADES TRAILHEAD
From the entry point, paddle towards a point just west of the nearest palisade. Follow the shoreline until you spot the small opening along the shoreline where the trailhead is located. Hike the Clearwater Lake Palisades Trail -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE WEST CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE TO THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 62 LANDING
VIDEO COMING SOON
After pulling out from the portage landing, paddle on a north heading. Round the sharp point and head to the west and then northwest crossing a wide section of the lake toward the Mountain Lake portage. The stairway that this portage is know for is visible as you approach. Explore BWCA Entry Point 62 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE CLEARWATER PALISADES TRAILHEAD TO THE EAST CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE
Following the south shoreline of Clearwater Lake, passing beneath The Palisades, high cliffs that rise more than 300 feet above the lake. Make a brief stop at the location of an old portage. There used to be a building or house at this location, thus the probable reason for the odd placement of this portage. Continuing on, you arrive at the eastern portage from Clearwater Lake to Caribou Lake. There is a portage between these lakes on both ends of the lakes. Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
