Burnt Lake is the largest of the three "fire" lakes. The other two being Smoke Lake and Flame Lake.
Burnt Lake is along a route leading from the Sawbill Lake entry point to the Temperance River (Kelly Lake) and then over to the Baker Lake entry point. Therefore, this lake gets a fair amount of traffic as it is equidistant between the two entry points. Be prepared to grab a campsite.
Burnt Creek, which flows out of the south end of the lake, is navigable for at least a little ways in case you want to explore it. It flows out of the BWCA's boundaries about a half-mile downstream from the lake. Drainage from Burnt Lake is via Burnt Creek which flows to the south. Burnt Creek eventually flows (after about three miles) into Sawbill Creek which in turn drains into the Temperance River outside of the BWCA. An old forest trail used to cross the creek near there, but no evidence is likely to exist (but who knows?). You are actually only about 1000 feet from Forest Road 1273 at that point. Civilization is never far away it seems.
A large hill rises to 1,986 feet just to the east between Burnt Lake and Kelly Lake and provides a nice backdrop in that direction. A second hill is visible to the northeast of the lake and has an elevation of 2,022 feet.
Flame Lake lies to the north of Burnt Lake and there is a decent portage between the two lakes of 60 rods. The 230 rod portage between Burnt Lake and Kelly Lake should not be underestimated. It has an elevation gain of over 100 feet if coming from Kelly Lake and a rise of nearly 70 feet if starting at the Burnt Lake end. In addition, there are several up and down sections.
Logging was extensive in this area as recently as the early 1960's. There are several old logging roads that show up on topographic maps of this area. These roads run to the west, the south and to the east of Burnt Lake.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2– Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 58, 72, 79, 86.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 252.
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PADDLING FROM THE KELLY LAKE PORTAGE TO THE SMOKE LAKE PORTAGE
Peering through a light rain to the west across Burnt Lake. A couple loons bobbing on the lake to keep you company. View from the Kelly Lake portage.
Looking up the eastern shoreline toward the north on Burnt Lake. This is from near the Kelly Lake portage.
A rainy day paddle starting from the Kelly Lake portage and paddling generally west/northwest across the middle of Burnt Lake. You paddle just north of the largest mid-lake island. The line is pretty direct from the Kelly Lake portage over to the Smoke Lake portage.
A point near the start of the northwest bay of the lake along the west side of Burnt Lake. Portage to Smoke Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE SMOKE LAKE PORTAGE TO THE FLAME LAKE PORTAGE
Burnt Lake as seen from the Smoke Lake portage.
The water is shallow along most of the short route between these two portages. Lookout for boulders just below the surface that could damage your canoe or cause you to flip. The water is clear, so they are easy to see, just lots of them.
The start of the Flame Lake portage. Portage to Flame Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE FLAME LAKE PORTAGE TO THE SMOKE LAKE PORTAGE
Getting ready to launch out into Burnt Lake from the Flame Lake portage.
Breezy day for this otherwise short paddle between these two portages. The water is clear revealing a plethora of large boulders just under the waves. Take care paddling this stretch.
Approaching the Smoke Lake portage. Portage to Smoke Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
