Nearest Ranger Station: Gunflint Ranger Station, Grand Marais, MN
Portage Length from Parking Lot: None
Restroom at Entry Point: Yes
Entry Point 69 - John Lake
Gunflint Ranger District
Directions:
From Grand Marais, Minnesota, take MN-61 north for 19.0 miles.
Turn left onto the Arrowhead Trail (County Road 16)
Follow the Arrowhead Trail north for 18.0 miles to the McFarland Lake Campground. Stay right at the split (don't go into the campground). The parking lot is just a few hundred feet further down the road on the right side.
There are three BWCA entry points accessible from the McFarland Lake Campground. The parking area for BWCA Entry Point 68 - Pine Lake is right next to McFarland Lake and is within the actual campground. Where the Arrowhead Trail road splits, go left into the campground.
For BWCA Entry Point 69 and 70, the parking lot is on Little John Lake just before the bridge. These two entry points share the same parking lot. Where the road splits, you would stay right to get to these entry points. You can easily make a short walk through the campground area to get to any of the entry point landings. Note that BWCA Entry Point 83 - Border Route Trail (East) also shares this parking lot. Finally the parking lot is also used by people hiking the North Country National Scenic Trail.
The McFarland Lake Campground has about eight campsites. This is a primitive campground with few amenities. There is a restroom. Each campsite has an open area with a fire ring and picnic table (trestle table). The campground sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This permit requires that you head first to John Lake. Once at John Lake, your only option is to head west into East Pike Lake. You could do a loop from John Lake to East Pike Lake to West Pike Lake to Clearwater Lake to Mountain Lake to Moose Lake to North Fowl Lake, up the Royal River and back to John Lake. You cannot use this permit to head down the Royal River from John Lake to North Fowl Lake since you would leave the BWCA at North Fowl Lake. You cannot re-enter the BWCA after leaving it. To go to North Fowl Lake you would need a BWCA Entry Point 70 permit which requires you to paddle from the landing on Little John Lake directly to North Fowl Lake.
The other loop option is to head west from John Lake through East Pike Lake, West Pike Lake and Clearwater Lake, and then loop back to the east through Caribou Lake and across the long expanse of Pine Lake. Then paddle across McFarland Lake to reach the entry point from whence you began.
Exploring the Entry Point
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This video is a walkaround of the McFarland Lake Campground and the following BWCA Entry Points:
BWCA Entry Point 68 - Pine Lake
BWCA Entry Point 69 - John Lake
BWCA Entry Point 70 - North Fowl Lake
BWCA Entry Point 83 - Border Route Trail (East)
Turn off sign along the Arrowhead Trail (October 8, 2023).
The McFarland Lake Campground access road. If you want to head directly to the parking lot for BWCA Entry Point 69, don't take this road, stay right on the Arrowhead Trail (October 8, 2023).
Near the end of the Arrowhead Trail road, you come to the parking lot for BWCA Entry Points 69, 70 and 83 on the right (October 8, 2023).
This is the parking lot for BWCA Entry Points 69, 70 and 83. The kiosk bulletin board for BWCA Entry Point 83 - Border Route Trail (East) is visible near the center of the photo (October 8, 2023).
Bulletin board for BWCA Entry Points 69 and 70 (October 8, 2023).
The box on the left is where BWCA day permits are stored. You can fill one out here if you are just entering the BWCA for the day. You can also use these permits if you are here in the offseason for overnight stays in the BWCA. The offseason is from October 1 to April 30 (October 8, 2023).
The bulletin board for hikers of the Border Route Trail (BRT) (October 8, 2023).
Canoe landing at Little John Lake. You can temporarily park your car close to the water for unloading (October 8, 2023).
This is the outhouse at the McFarland Lake Campground (October 8, 2023).
Typical campsite at McFarland Lake Campground. Each has a picnic table and a fire grate (not shown) set in an open area of ground (October 8, 2023).
Now that you've reached the shore of the lake, visit: LITTLE JOHN LAKE
