PILLSBERY LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#625): Just west of the Swallow Lake portage along north shoreline Campsite 2 (#626): A short distance east of the Swallow Lake portage along the north shoreline
Note that the portage between Pillsbery Lake and Swallow Lake is often incorrectly located on BWCA maps on the Pillsbery Lake end. It is actually about 600 feet further to the east where the lake is wider and is easily visible from the water. It is not at the narrowest point near mid-lake.
Pillsbery Lake (note spelling) is a long and narrow lake surrounded by a low lying forest.
Pillsbery Lake flows out toward the east through a creek that drains into Allen Lake. The portage between these lakes is along the north side of this creek. There used to be a logging road that crossed this portage nearer to the Allen Lake end of this portage and that remains of that road are still easily visible where it crosses the portage and the creek.
Logging occurred in the forests around Pillsbery Lake between 1954 and 1972. This was part of the Finn Lake Sale to Consolidated Paper Company out of Wisconsin (Heinselman). Currently the shoreline of Pillsbery Lake consists mostly of cedar and spruce with a few white pine rising above the canopy.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 107, 115, 118, 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.
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PADDLING FROM THE SWALLOW LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 625
A quick paddle west of the portage and you arrive at the campsite which is on the north shoreline of Pillsbery Lake.
Looking west from BWCA Campsite 625. Explore BWCA Campsite 625 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 625 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 626
From BWCA Campsite 625 head east along the north shore of the lake. You'll pass by the portage to Swallow Lake along the way. You soon arrive at the eastern campsite on Pillsbery Lake. Explore BWCA Campsite 626 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 626 TO THE ALLEN LAKE PORTAGE
Travel east along the north shore of Pillsbery Lake to the Allen Lake portage which is located at the eastern end of the lake. The portage is on the north side of the creek that flows out from the eastern tip of Pillsbery Lake.
This is the view to the east from the eastern campsite on Pillsbery Lake. Portage to Allen Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
