Paulson Lake (formerly named JAP Lake or J.A.P. Lake)
Gunflint Ranger District
PAULSON LAKE CAMPSITES:
Campsite 1 (#492): Along north shoreline just west of the Sea Gull lake portage
Campsite 2 (#493): On the north end of the lakes largest island
Paulson Lake is directly connected by a single portage to busy Sea Gull Lake. However this pretty lake sees relatively few visitors. The portage between Sea Gull Lake and Paulson Lake is one of the most difficult in the BWCA. It isn't just long at 461 rods, but it is also challenging with an assortment of obstacles. This long portage is still the easiest way to reach this lake. The next easiest route would probably involve starting at the Round Lake entry point landing and using a Brant Lake #52 entry point permit. That route would involve 11 portages and paddling through a like number of small lakes. Some of the portages along this route are fairly tough.
The lake had it's name changed from Jap Lake (or JAP Lake) to the more politically correct Paulson Lake. J.A.P. was an abbreviation for John A. Paulson, for whom this lake is named.
The lake sports two campsites. The only fish species found in Paulson Lake is lake trout.
The water from Paulson Lake flows out of small creek that begins near the Sea Gull Lake portage landing. The long portage between the two lakes generally follows this creek, crossing it a couple times. The creek drops 225 feet over its course before emptying into Sea Gull Lake. Water enters Paulson Lake from the east from Rally Lake and from the south from Glossy Lake through a small creek that runs along the Glossy Lake portage.
There used to be a 180 rod portage to Jimmy Lake, but the 2004 Cavity Lake Fire and the 2007 Ham Lake Fire did extensive damage to it. That portage is probably not passable now. The landing for this portage was at the very north tip of Paulson Lake.
Exploring Paulson Lake
Routes to locations on Paulson Lake are shown below:
There aren't any routes for this lake yet.
Click on the photos below to see the full resolution image - Use your browsers back button to close photo and return to this page.
Looking south at Paulson Lake from the Sea Gull Lake portage landing.
Route Connections for Paulson Lake
From Paulson Lake you can portage to Glossy Lake and Sea Gull Lake. Also, there used to be a portage into Jimmy Lake, but much of that portage probably no longer exists.
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