Creek Length: From its source at Thelma Lake to its mouth at Tuscarora Lake, the creek is about 0.4 miles long.
Campsites: None
Wildlife Seen on Visit: Loons (at mouth in Tuscarora Lake)
Last Visited: July 23, 2016
Creek Elevation: Headwaters at Thelma Lake at 1707 feet. Mouth at Tuscarora Lake at 1703 feet. Average of about 9 feet per mile of elevation loss.
Water Clarity: N/A
ROUTES/PORTAGES FROM THELMA CREEK:
To Thelma Lake: Walk the 30 rod portage (really only about 15 rods, but maps show 30 rods)
To Tuscarora Lake: Paddle In
(Thelma) Creek
Gunflint Ranger District
This creek has no official name, but is referred to on this website as (Thelma) Creek. This is a lovely creek to paddle through. The creek flows from Thelma Lake to Tuscarora Lake.
The water of the creek is very clear and full of vegetation. There is a noticeable current, but not enough to make the paddling strenuous. You will almost certainly have to liftover a beaver dam or two along its short course. After a few twists and turns along the creek, you will come to a large cliff and the stream becomes unnavigable at this point. However, the start of a portage to Thelma Lake is found at this point, on your left. This portage is listed on maps as being 30 rods long, but it is probably a bit shorter. The portage is a tad rough, but you'll be over it quick enough. If you are camping on Tuscarora Lake, you likely just need to bring an empty canoe, lunch and maybe fishing gear with you to Thelma Lake, which will make the portage easier too. There are fish in Thelma Lake.
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PADDLING FROM TUSCARORA LAKE UPSTREAM TO THE THELMA LAKE PORTAGE
A large boulder in the bay where Thelma Creek flows into Tuscarora Lake.
The mouth of the creek in late July. It was still easy to paddle this creek even in mid-summer, so water levels don't seem to be much of an issue.
Perhaps 20 rods up the creek, you paddle past a large boulder, likely a glacial erratic, visible to the left of your view.
A glance back downstream. Tuscarora Lake is in the distance. The tiny brook that flows out of Ahgoday Lake flows into the same bay as Thelma Creek. It flows into that bay in the distance just out of view to the right.
As you can see from the directional orientation of the grass growing in the creek, there is a perceptible current. The water of the creek is nice and clear.
Paddling Thelma Creek from its mouth at Tuscarora Lake, upstream to the Thelma Lake portage. One beaver dam along the way to push over.
Looking downstream while standing at the Thelma Lake portage.
Your view of the creek when you stand at the portage to Thelma Lake. Just to the left, the creek runs beneath a fairly high cliff and makes a sharp left turn where it runs up against that impenetrable barrier. You can make out the large boulder erratic just right of center in the far distance. Tuscarora Lake is perhaps 40 rods beyond that boulder.
The cliff near the Thelma Lake portage. The creek bends left at the base of that cliff. This location is perhaps 20 rods downstream of Thelma Lake. You are standing at the start of the portage.
