Creek Length: A bit less than 3 miles. Flows from Whale Lake and drains into the North Branch Cascade River
Campsites: None
Wildlife Seen on Visit: None
Last Visited: April 10, 2021;
Previous Visit(s): August 22, 2015
Creek Elevation: Along its course, Whale Creek drops from about 1890 feet at its start at Whale Lake, and drains into the North Branch Cascade River at about 1795 feet elevation.
Water Clarity: N/A
ROUTES/PORTAGES FROM WHALE CREEK:
None
Whale Creek
Tofte Ranger District
Whale Creek connects Whale Lake to the North Branch Cascade River. Whale Lake itself is fed by Hand Creek. Hand Creek drains the waters of Belly Lake, Vireo Lake and Hand Lake. Whale Creek does not collect the waters of any other lakes after it leaves Whale Lake.
The creek is just under three miles in length. It loses neary 100 feet of elevation over its course, so it has a pretty steep drainage. Much of that elevation is lost shortly after leaving Whale Lake.
The only access to this creek is from the Eagle Mountain Trail. There is a wooden bridge crossing the creek at this point. This bridge is encountered just as the Eagle Mountain Trail crosses officially into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).
Exploring Whale Creek
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Whale Creek is just beyond the BWCA boundary (April 2021).
View of Whale Creek looking upstream. This is where the Eagle Mountain Trail crosses the creek on a wooden foot bridge (August 2015).
Same view as shown above, but this is what it looks like in early spring (April 2021). The beavers have added some of their handiwork.
A flooded Whale Creek during the spring melt. This is where the Eagle Mountain Trail crosses the creek (April 2021).
View downstream from the Whale Creek crossing (April 2021).
A look at the boardwalk crossing from the other direction (April 2021).
Looking downstream and then upstream at Whale Creek where it passes under a foot bridge along the Eagle Mountain Trail (August 2015).
