KARL LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1: (#572) - Campsite on north end of lake by Long Island Lake portage
Campsite 2: (#2328) - On east end of the lake
Karl Lake is sort of more of a large northern bay of Long Island Lake rather than a separate lake. It is possible to paddle directly between the south end of Karl Lake and Long Island Lake, if you want to avoid portaging. This will get you farther east on Long Island Lake.
The lake supports two campsites. The campsite near the 35 rod portage in the north end of the lake does not have the portage running directly through it (like the maps of this area seem to indicate).
Karl Lake provides access to two small lakes from its north end. These are Doe Lake and Fawn Lake. The channel to Doe Lake is just west of the portage to Lower George Lake. It is usually possible to paddle into Doe Lake, although you may have to liftover a beaver dam. From Doe Lake there is a small creek flowing down from Fawn Lake. This creek cannot be paddled, you will have to bushwhack if you want to see Fawn Lake.
Water enters Karl Lake from the south via Long Island Lake. There is also a small amount of flow coming in from Doe Lake. All this water funnels to the north into Lower George Lake.
This area used to have a good moose population (Beymer, 2006).
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 60, 124, 139, 151.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 314, 318.
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PADDLING FROM LOWER GEORGE LAKE PORTAGE TO DOE LAKE CHANNEL
Karl Lake as seen from the Lower George Lake portage landing.
Looking south out of the bay from near the Lower George Lake portage. The campsite on the north end of Karl Lake is just the the left, out of sight (around that point), a short paddle directly across the lake.
Paddle out of the small bay on Karl Lake where the Lower George Lake portage is located. After exiting the bay, head to the right (west) and in no time at all you will be at the mouth of the channel leading into Doe Lake. Doe Lake probably doesn't receive a lot of visitors. It's a small, quiet lake. Paddle into Doe Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM DOE LAKE CHANNEL TO CAMPSITE NEAR LONG ISLAND LAKE PORTAGE
It's just a few minutes of paddling from the Doe Lake channel over to the campsite located near the 35 rod portage to Long Island Lake.
A view toward the distant south end of Karl Lake. The far shoreline is about 0.75 miles away. Visit the Campsite -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM CAMPSITE NEAR LONG ISLAND LAKE PORTAGE TO THE LONG ISLAND LAKE PORTAGE
The campsite on the north end of Karl Lake looks toward the small bay where the Lower George Lake portage is located (on the left side of your view).
As you can see the 35 rod portage between Karl Lake and Long Island Lake isn't really that close to the campsite on the north end of the lake. Most maps make it look like the portage goes right through the campsite, but that is not the case.
Karl Lake from the 35 rod portage between Long Island Lake and Karl Lake. Portage to Long Island Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for Karl Lake
From Karl Lake, you can portage to Lower George Lake or Long Island Lake. You can also paddle into Long Island Lake (from the south end of Karl Lake) or paddle/bushwhack into Doe Lake (depending on beaver activity).
