West Round Lake is not in the Boundary Water's Canoe Area (BWCA). To reach the Brant Lake entry point (BWCA Entry Point 52) you must pass through this lake, if coming from Round Lake.
West Round Lake may have been called Ron Lake at one time. Searching the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lake Finder website, it was once listed under the name of Ron Lake.
This small lake is sandwiched between Edith Lake and Round Lake. None of these lakes are within the BWCA. However, by following this chain out to Edith Lake, you will come to the portage to Brant Lake.
West Round Lake (or Ron Lake) contains northern pike. There are no maintained campsites on Round Lake, West Round Lake or Edith Lake. You much reach Brant Lake before there are campsites. The Edith Lake to Brant Lake portage is often very muddy. Brant Lake has three camping spots and they do get used. Therefore, get an early start if you are heading into the BWCA along this route.
West Round Lake drains to the west into Edith Lake.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 147, 154, 158.
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PADDLING FROM THE ROUND LAKE PORTAGE TO THE EDITH LAKE PORTAGE
The fairly wind exposed panorama of West Round Lake. The recent forest fire makes it rather barren. Hug the shoreline on the left that still has trees to get to the Edith Lake portage on the other side of the lake.
The paddle across West Round Lake can be breezy as the shoreline is very open owing to the 2007 Ham Lake forest fire that passed through here. For the shortest passage stick to the side of the lake with the trees to make your way between the Edith Lake and Round Lake portage landings.
A look toward the north up the eastern shoreline of the lake. The mouth of the small creek that flows into the southeast corner of the lake, just north of the Round Lake portage, is visible on the right.
A look east from the Edith Lake portage landing. Portage to Edith Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE EDITH LAKE PORTAGE TO THE ROUND LAKE PORTAGE
Looking across West Round Lake from the Edith Lake portage.
It only takes several minutes to paddle from the Edith Lake portage to the Round Lake portage. For the short trek across West Round Lake, staying relatively close to the south shoreline.
View along the south shoreline of West Round Lake, looking toward the southeast. Portage to Round Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
