HORSESHOE LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#672): On the point just south of the Caribou Lake portage Campsite 2 (#639): On north shoreline midway down the western arm leading to Gaskin Lake portage Campsite 3 (#673): On mid-lake point at entrance to arm leading to the Gaskin Lake portage Campsite 4 (#677): Just southeast of the Caribou Lake portage on eastern shoreline
Campsite 5 (#674): At entrance on the south side of the western arm leading to the Gaskin Lake portage
Campsite 6 (#675): First campsite on west shoreline north of the Vista Lake portage
Campsite 7 (#646): Just west of the outlet of the Brule River
This lake gets its name from it's shape. There is another Horseshoe Lake in the BWCA, just to the east of Lake Three.
Horseshoe Lake is one of the more scenic lakes in this part of the BWCA. That combined with the fact it is connected to four different portage routes means it will be a busy lake in the mid-summer months. Plan to get a campsite early if you are hoping to stay overnight on this lake. Despite the high traffic on this lake, it is well known for moose sightings.
Flowage into Horseshoe Lake is from Allen Lake. The Brule River flows out the southeast corner of the lake. Vista Lake, which flows into Horseshoe Lake from the south, is the source of the Brule River.
Logging operations were conducted in the surrounding forest between 1954 and 1972. This was part of the Finn Lake Sale to Consolidated Paper Company. That company was based in Wisconsin.
Some older maps show a route down the Brule River out of Horseshoe Lake. The portages depicted on these maps no longer exist. The route down the Brule River will be difficult and potentially dangerous and is not a maintained route through the BWCA.
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PADDLING FROM THE CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE TO THE GASKIN LAKE PORTAGE
Travel southeast down Horseshoe Lake for about 0.6-miles and then turn to the west and paddle down the long southern arm of the horseshoe, which gives this lake its name, to the Gaskin Lake portage. Portage to Gaskin Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE GASKIN LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 639
Paddle eastward down the south arm of Horseshoe Lake to the campsite. The distance is about 0.7-miles. Visit BWCA Campsite 639 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 639 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 673
Follow the north shoreline of the south arm of the lake to the east. Follow the shore to the left as it bends around to the northeast until reaching the next campsite. Visit BWCA Campsite 673 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 673 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 677
Traveling direction is to the northwest. It's just under a half-mile between these two campsites. Visit BWCA Campsite 677 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 677 TO THE CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE
The portage landing is about 1,000 feet to the northwest of the campsite. Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE ALLEN LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 672
Traveling east down the relatively narrow north arm of Horseshoe Lake. The campsite is on the right as you start to turn south around the point.
This is the view of Horseshoe Lake towards the southeast from BWCA Campsite 672. Explore BWCA Campsite 672 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 672 TO THE CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE
This is a brief paddle of roughly 1,000 feet northbound to the portage landing. Portage to Caribou Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for Horseshoe Lake
From Horseshoe Lake, you can portage to Allen Lake, Caribou Lake, Gaskin Lake and Vista Lake. You can also paddle down the Brule River, but this is not a maintained route and may be difficult to impossible (and potentially dangerous) to navigate.
