Last Visited: August 22, 2024;
Previous Visit(s): May 31, 2021, July 10, 2016
Creek Elevation: Starts at Hog Lake at 1861 feet and has its mouth at Perent Lake at 1615 feet. The creek flows through Vyre Lake and Bill Lake along its course. Only the last 3.1-miles or so are paddled down to Perent Lake.
The "Hogger" is a twisty, slow moving creek with few obstacles. There will often be a few beaver dams to liftover along the route between the entry point and Perent Lake. There is one easy portage along this stretch too that is about 9 rods in length. Water levels are rarely an issue along Hog Creek, but it is possible during an exceptionally dry year to have water levels low enough that you may have to push in a few places rather than paddle. Bugs can be an issue along the creek, as the route passes through low lying swamps and bogs.
The only route from the Hog Creek entry point is to the west through Perent Lake and then up the Perent River to Isabella Lake. Most folks stay at Perent Lake, a good fishing lake and with plenty of shoreline to explore. The Perent River is a fairly difficult route with lots of portages. Hog Creek makes a good entry point if you just have a weekend to spare.
Hog Creek starts well upstream of BWCA Entry Point 34. The headwaters are at Hog Lake which is outside of the BWCA. The upper reaches of this stream are not really navigable and have more elevation drop than the section of the creek within the Boundary Waters. Driving the road out to the entry point, you will pass over Hog Creek a number of times as it winds its way through the bogs and forests of the area. From the entry point down to Perent Lake, the creek is easy to paddle. This is a nice route for beginners actually, since there is only the single short portage. The creek does require some maneuvering thought. Perent Lake is a good camping lake with lots of sites. The fishing on Perent Lake can be pretty good for northern pike and walleye. This route is often underutilized, so getting a permit for Hog Creek on short notice is sometimes possible.
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PADDLING HOG CREEK FROM THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 36 LANDING DOWNSTREAM TO PERENT LAKE
Paddling downstream from the entry point landing to the first portage you come too (August 22, 2024).
Taking the short portage. This is the only portage along Hog Creek between the entry point landing and Perent Lake (August 22, 2024).
Continuing the rest of the way down the creek to Perent Lake (August 22, 2024).
PADDLING HOG CREEK FROM PERENT LAKE UPSTREAM TO THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 36 LANDING
Paddling the entire length of Hog Creek within the BWCA from Perent Lake to the BWCA Entry Point 36 landing. There is a short portage to walk over not long before reaching the landing (August 22, 2024).
VIEWS OF HOG CREEK FROM THE BWCA ENTRY POINT 36 LANDING
Hog Creek flows from right to left as it slowly rolls by the entry point portage landing (July 10, 2016).
A look downstream at Hog Creek. This is the direction you want to go to Perent Lake (May 31, 2021).
Similar view as above, but several years earlier and a different season (July 10, 2016).
Upstream view of Hog Creek from the portage landing for the entry point. Just to right of center you can barely make out a road sign. This is the road that provides access to the Kawishiwi Lake and Hog Creek entry points (July 10, 2016).
Watching lazy, slow moving Hog Creek flow by in the early evening (July 10, 2016).
