UPPER PAUNESS LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#39): This is the site south of the mid-lake portage to Lower Pauness Lake Campsite 2 (#38): On the point north of the mid-lake portage over to Lower Pauness Lake Campsite 3 (#37): Second site from the north end of the lake Campsite 4 (#36): Located on the north end of this lake Campsite 5 (#40): This site is located on south end of this lake overlooking the Little Indian Sioux River rapids
Paun is the French word for pause. The Pauness Lakes could have been where voyageurs 'paused' for one reason or another?
Both Pauness Lakes are shallow and much of their surfaces are covered with fields of wild rice intermixed with lily pads. The wild rice does little to impede the progress of a canoe. Some pickelweed patches are also present in mid-summer.
From Upper Pauness Lake, there are two ways to get to Lower Pauness Lake. The most commonly traveled route is over the 40-rod portage that you will find near mid-lake. The more scenic, but also a bit more difficult passage, is via the short but steep 8-rod portage at the south end of the lake. After the portage, you paddle down a short stretch of the Little Indian Sioux River before you reach Lower Pauness Lake. There will also certainly be a beaver dam along this section of river.
Northern pike and walleye are present in this shallow lake. Except for BWCA Campsite 39, all the other campsites on this lake are reasonably good places to spend the night. If the sound of rapids and running water interest you at night, consider camping at BWCA Campsite 40.
Upper Pauness Lake has the Little Indian Sioux River flowing through the south end of the lake. A couple small unnamed creeks flow into the lake from the surrounding terrain. The north end of the lake has a marshy shoreline.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 1 – Western Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 91, 94, 98, 100.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 103, 109.
Rom, William N., M.D., Canoe Country Wilderness (Stillwater: Voyageur Press, 1987), 88, 89.
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PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 39 TO THE LOWER PAUNESS LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling northwest along the east shore of Upper Pauness Lake to the Lower Pauness Lake portage. Portage to Lower Pauness Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE LOWER PAUNESS LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 38
From the southeast end of the lake, this is the view off to the northwest.
A brief paddle from the Lower Pauness Lake portage, to the west, to the campsite on the point. This is probably the most popular campsite on this lake. Visit BWCA Campsite 38 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 38 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 37
Pickelweed grows in many places along the shore of Upper Pauness Lake.
Continuing up the eastern shoreline of the lake to BWCA Campsite 37. Visit BWCA Campsite 37 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 37 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 36
Paddling northwest, still along the east shore of Upper Pauness Lake. In the north end of the lake, we arrive at the next campsite. Visit BWCA Campsite 36 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 36 TO THE LOWER PAUNESS LAKE PORTAGE
From the campsite, paddle a short distance to the west to check out the marshland on the north end of the lake. Next, turn south and briefly shadow the western shoreline. Finally, cut across the lake to the southeast to arrive at the portage to Lower Pauness Lake. Portage to Lower Pauness Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE LITTLE INDIAN SIOUX RIVER PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 40
A very short paddle across the channel from the portage to the campsite. Hard to recognize this spot as a campsite from the water, so search a short distance up the shoreline before circling back to the campsite landing. Visit BWCA Campsite 40 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 40 TO THE LITTLE INDIAN SIOUX RIVER
There is no channel through the wild rice beds by mid-summer, so you just have to go for it. The wild rice does little to slow the progress of a canoe. Paddle the Little Indian Sioux River -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for Upper Pauness Lake
From Upper Pauness Lake you can portage downstream into the Little Indian Sioux River (the short section between Upper Pauness Lake and Lower Pauness Lake). You can also paddle (heading upstream) into the Little Indian Sioux River. Also, you can portage to Lower Pauness Lake.
