PIPE LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1: (#965) - Easternmost campsite on the lake along north shoreline Campsite 2: (#964) - Located in the northwest corner of the lake near the West Pipe Lake unmaintained portage Campsite 3: (#966) - Southwest corner of the lake
Pipe Lake is one of the five "Pipe" chain of lakes. That chain of lakes consists (from west to east) of Stem Lake, Tobacco Lake, West Pipe Lake, Pipe Lake and East Pipe Lake. Pipe Lake is relatively quiet since it's on a dead end route.
Pipe Lake may be one of the sources of the Vern River (the others being Homer Lake or perhaps East Pipe Lake). Pipe Lake is upstream of East Pipe Lake, so more likely to be Pipe Lake. Pipe Lake and West Pipe Lake are not connected. Water from Pipe Lake flows to the east into East Pipe Lake, water from West Pipe Lake flows west through Pipe Creek into Tobacco Lake.
It seems that Pipe Lake only has northern pike for gamefish.
The best campsite on the lake is probably the eastern one on the north shoreline (Campiste 965).
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PADDLING FROM EAST PIPE LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 965
Starting from the portage, stick near the north shoreline as you head west to the campsite. Nobody else on the lake. The dead trees you see standing in the water are the result of the beaver dam that you launched your canoe from at the East Pipe Lake portage. That dam has raised the water level of the lake significantly.
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 965 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 964
A short paddle westbound. Make way into the northwest corner of Pipe Lake to the 'rough' little campsite located there.
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 964 TO THE WEST PIPE LAKE UNMAINTAINED PORTAGE
This unmaintained portage is just a few hundred feet to the west down the shoreline from the campsite.
PADDLING FROM THE WEST PIPE LAKE UNMAINTAINED PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 966
Following the lakeshore southward from the West Pipe Lake portage to the next campsite. This campsite is located in the southwest corner of Pipe Lake.
PADDLING BWCA CAMPSITE 966 TO THE EAST PIPE LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling the entire length of the lake from west to east, hanging closer to the south shoreline. Paddling this direction across Pipe Lake allows you to see distant Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota. The summit of Eagle Mountain (at 2,301 feet) is about 7.5-miles away. In the video, Eagle Mountain becomes visible starting at about the 5:00 minute mark. Eagle Mountain is the highest point for roughly 500-miles in any direction. The Eagle Mountain Trail is a BWCA hiking trail that you can follow to its summit.
Route Connections for Pipe Lake
From Pipe Lake, you can portage to East Pipe Lake or take an unmaintained and somewhat difficult to follow portage to West Pipe Lake.
