Beam Lake
Beam Lake is likely the most difficult to reach and also probably the least interesting of this six lake chain in this area.
A pair of large rock outcrops near the middle of the western shoreline form a geological feature that may be worth investigating.
This area of the BWCAW was burned by a fire that scorched the forest between Muzzle Lake and Kiana Lake in 1903.
Approach to Beam Lake
There are two approaches to Beam Lake:
Coming from the north, you must first travel from Kiana Lake to Coon Lake and then to Sable Lake. You start the bushwhack from Sable Lake heading into the peat bog along a creek on the west side of the lake. See the Sable Lake page for more information.
From Jut Lake, south of Beam Lake, look for the creek mouth on the western most point of the lake.
Bushwhack to Beam Lake
From Sable Lake: Follow the small creek through a peat bog from the west end of Sable Lake. The creek hugs the forest edge along the south boundary of the bog. Continue following the creek as it enters the forest on a southwest heading. The creek passes through the forest for about 35 rods; this could be a most unpleasant bushwhack. Eventually the creek emerges into peat bog again as you approach Beam Lake.
From Jut Lake: This is the longest bushwhack connecting these six lakes between Lake Insula and Kiana Lake. Starting on the west shore of Jut Lake, head up the mostly navigable creek to the northwest passing through peat bog. After about 10 to 15 rods, the creek enters the forest at which point you probably will have to start bushwhacking. In about 5 rods though, you come to a small, vegetation choked pond. Cross the pond and look for the creek in the northwest corner. This creek may be difficult to spot. Continue along creek, bushwhacking, for about 30 rods to the northwest. You eventually come to a small, unnamed lake/pond of which you will be at the eastern end. From this point, follow the little creek that flows in to the eastern tip of the pond to the northeast. This creek is likely not navigable. You must follow this creek, which passes through what is probably a swampy peat bog terrain, for about 160 rods due northeast to the southwest shore of marshy Beam Lake.
Exploring Beam Lake
This is a small lake which is beginning to succumb to the eventuality of turning into a peat bog. It's remoteness and spongy terrain perhaps improve the opportunity to see a moose. Most paddlers will probably continue on to one of the other five lakes in the chain to find a campsite, unless the hard portages into this little lake force an unplanned bivouac.
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