WEIRD LAKE CAMPSITE:
Campsite 1 (#930): Only campsite on the lake.
For such a small lake of only 29 acres, Weird Lake has a lot of water flowing in and out. Perhaps it gets its name from all these tendrils (creeks and rivers) radiating out from it. Also, it is hardly a lake, just a wide section of the Temperance River. From the northeast the Temperance River enters the lake pouring in through a set of rapids. On the east side of the lake, the Vern River in contrast flows in lazily through a mouth choked with vegetation. On the northwest shoreline of Weird Lake, yet another unnamed creek flows in. This unnamed creek carries the water in from Clam Lake (a small amount of water), Arctic Lake and Hide Lake. The lower section of this creek looks navigable. Clam Lake appears to have two outlets with the majority of its flow entering the Temperance River upstream of Weird Lake through another unnamed creek.
There is a single campsite on Weird Lake where the Temperance River exits the lake in the southeast corner. The campsite is right next to the rapids.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 58, 65, 68, 86.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 252, 261.
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PADDLING FROM THE TEMPERANCE RIVER PORTAGE ON NORTH END OF LAKE TO MOUTH OF THE VERN RIVER
Weird Lake from the Temperance River portage in the north end of the lake. The mouth of the Vern River is visible to the left, near that grassy area.
Paddling from the Temperance River portage over to the mouth of the Vern River on Weird Lake.
Lily pads emerging in the spring at the mouth of the Vern River, where it enters Weird Lake (August 12, 2023).
Older photo with a similar view to the one shown above (May 27, 2016).
A look to the northeast where the Temperance River enters Weird Lake through that notch in the trees, just to the right of center. The mouth of the Vern River is just to your right (out of view). Paddle into the Vern River -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM MOUTH OF THE VERN RIVER TO WHERE THE TEMPERANCE RIVER FLOWS OUT OF WEIRD LAKE
Paddling in a light rain across Weird Lake from the mouth of the Vern River to the lakes campsite (which was occupied). The campsite is located where the Temperance River flows out of Weird Lake. Paddle into the Temperance River -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
