MEEDS LAKE CAMPSITES:
Campsite 1 (#616): This campsite is on an island toward the eastern end of the lake
Campsite 2 (#617): Campsite is on an island near mid-lake
Campsite 3 (#615): Along the north shoreline in the western end of the lake
If you are trying to decide on whether to reserve the Skipper Lake Entry Point or the Meeds Lake Entry Point, most groups will find that the portage between Poplar Lake and Skipper Lake is a little bit easier, even though it is a tad longer. Also it is a much shorter paddle from the landing on Poplar Lake to the Skipper Lake portage.
This lake is named after a fellow named Alonzo D. Meeds. Mr. Meeds was an assistant to W. H. Winchell who in turn has Winchell Lake named after him. Mr. Winchell worked for the Minnesota Geological Survey in the late 1800's.
Consolidated Papers Company was awarded the Finn Lake Sale block for timber harvesting in 1954. Logging ended in this area about 1972 (Heinselman).
The Banadad Trail that meanders through this part of the forest to the north of Meeds Lake is a remnant of a gravel road that was built by the Consolidated Papers Company. This road extended into the forest from the terminus of the old General Logging Company railroad which was located about one mile to the southeast of the eastern end of Poplar Lake (Heinselman). You cross the Banadad Trail when portaging from Poplar Lake.
There is a massive cedar about 30 rods from Meeds Lake on the portage to Swallow Lake (Pauly). Look for it.
There are no inlets to Meeds Lake. The outlet for Meeds Lake is in the southeast corner of the lake. Here Meeds Lake flows into Caribou Lake along a short creek. There are two rather rocky portages along this creek on the way to Caribou Lake. An old logging road (still visible) crossed the first of these two portages on the way to Caribou Lake.
A prescribed burn was carried out along the north shores of Meeds Lake in 2010.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 107, 115, 118, 119, 121, 123, 130, 133.
Heinselman, Miron, The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999), 118.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 293, 298, 302, 303.
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PADDLING FROM THE CARIBOU LAKE PORTAGE TO THE POPLAR LAKE PORTAGE
Peering southwest across Meeds Lake. That island in the center of your view is the location of BWCA Campsite 616.
Paddle across the east end of the lake to the north shoreline. Follow the north shore west and round a rocky point and you come to the start of the portage to Poplar Lake. Portage to Poplar Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE POPLAR LAKE PORTAGE TO THE SWALLOW LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling west down most of the length of Meeds Lake. You will pass the campsite on the large eastern island, paddle near the other island campsite which is located close to mid-lake and also go by the campsite on the north shore in the western end of Meeds Lake. The portage to Swallow Lake is located in the western end of Meeds Lake along the south shoreline. Portage to Swallow Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for Meeds Lake
From Meeds Lake, you can portage to Caribou Lake along a creek. This is a set of two short portages separated by paddling little stretches of a creek. You can also portage to Poplar Lake, which is outside of the BWCA. Finally, you can also portage to Swallow Lake.
