JOHN LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#747): Next to the channel to Little John Lake Campsite 2 (#748): On the north side of the Royal River outlet Campsite 3 (#749): Near mid-lake along the north shoreline
While John Lake is relatively small, it sees a large amount of canoe traffic. The lake sees paddlers from three different routes. Canoeists coming from Little John Lake mostly is comprised of folks with BWCA permits for either Entry Point 69 or Entry Point 70. A few padders also come from the north over the East Pike Lake portage. Additionally, there is occasional canoe traffic that is actually heading down Royal River to the Pigeon River and then to The Grand Portage. Lastly, John Lake is easy for daytrippers to reach.
There are three campsites on this lake, all are reasonably good. The two on the south end of the lake will see a lot of canoe traffic passing by. Also these two campsites typically fill up first. The campsite further north up the lake has more privacy and is more likely to be available later in the day.
John Lake is where the Crocodile River flows into the Royal River. The Crocodile River flows into the lake through the channel next to the optional portage between Little John Lake and John Lake. The Royal River flows out of the southeast corner of John Lake next to BWCA Campsite 748.
The ridge rising above the south side of the lake reaches an elevation of 1,803 feet, 339 feet above the surface of John Lake. The Border Route Trail, a hiking trail that is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, runs along the top of that ridge.
There are two optional portages leading in and out of John Lake. The first one is the portage between Little John Lake and John Lake. This 10 rod portage can be skipped by paddling down the short channel between these lakes. There is a good chance there will be a beaver dam present in the channel which you will have to liftover anyway. Also the necessity of needing to portage here increases if the water level is really low.
The other optional portage is from John Lake into the Royal River. This 2 rod (liftover) portage exists because the location where the Royal River flows out of John Lake is a short chute of quick water. The easiest place to portage this is right through the edge of BWCA Campsite 748. You can also portage it (slightly less easily) on the opposite bank if you don't want to disturbed anyone who may be camped at that campsite.
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PADDLING FROM THE OPTIONAL LITTLE JOHN LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 747
John Lake as seen from the Little John Lake portage. From here, the campsite is just a few hundred feet away. It is just around that point on the right side of this view.
Quick paddle from the portage to the campsite.
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 747 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 748 (AND THE START OF THE ROYAL RIVER)
View of John Lake from BWCA Campsite 747.
This is a short paddle of less than 1/4 mile. The campsite is located at the outlet of the Royal River. Note that people may portage through the campsite to get from John Lake into the Royal River.
PADDLING FROM THE ROYAL RIVER TO BWCA CAMPSITE 749
Following the east/north shoreline of the lake until arriving at the campsite.
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 749 TO THE EAST PIKE LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling along the north shoreline towards the west. We turn into the reeds and paddle up the channel to explore the small unnamed lake that lies just north of John Lake.
PADDLING FROM THE EAST PIKE LAKE PORTAGE TO THE OPTIONAL LITTLE JOHN LAKE PORTAGE
View of John Lake from the start of the portage to East Pike Lake. View is to the east/southeast.
Following the south shore of John Lake. The paddling tour between these two portages extends for most of the entire length of John Lake.
