A 322 rod portage to Baskatong Lake is shown on the 1967 Fisher E-15 map. This portage is not displayed on the 2001 Fisher F-5 map. This old portage is still visible on satellite images. It would be an extremely difficult bushwhack from Baskatong Lake to Andek Lake. You would need to literally saw a new path (see Approach to Andek Lake section below).
This area was scorched by the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire that burned much of the southwestern part of the BWCA and was the largest fire in recorded history at about 100,000 acres (almost 10% of the entire BWCA).
There was a large fire in this area around 1863-1864. This fire is known as the North Kawishiwi River/Alice Lake/Cypress Lake/Saganaga Lake Complex. This burn began south of the current BWCAW's southern boundary near the town of Isabella, Minnesota.
Approach to Andek Lake
From the southeast corner of Maniwaki Lake, head up Maniwaki Creek toward the southeast. The other approach is from Baskatong Lake. There used to be a portage from Baskatong Lake to Andek Lake of 322 rods. However, only the first 15 rods or so near Baskatong Lake remain of that portage.
Here is the old portage landing on Baskatong Lake. It's a good landing and in great shape.
View of the landing and about the first 15 rods that the old portage used to follow.
The old and now unmaintained portage trail is still visible (center of view). You can easily follow it back to that tree line, where it quickly disappears. Because of the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire, the trail beyond the tree line is completely covered with twisted deadfall which is obscured by extensive new tree growth.
View from back near the tree line where the trail disappears. You can see the trail in the grass (just right of center). This is about 15 rods from the lake shore.
Bushwhack to Andek Lake
It is at least two miles up Maniwaki Creek to Andek Lake. The majority of this distance should allow for paddling. Because of the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire, you will probably have to lift over many downed trees. There are probably few beaver dams in the area since the fire destroyed their food source. The beavers will be back soon enough though with all the new forest growth providing juicy, young bark. An interesting point along this route is where an old road or trail used to cross Maniwaki Creek. This is at GPS point: 47.872925, -91.186693
Exploring Andek Lake
If you look on Google Maps, it is easy to see the remains of an old logging road running about a quarter mile north of Andek Lake. This road starts at the very north end of the extremely long arm that extends out of the northeast bay of Baskatong Lake. While that road is visible on satellite images, it is another matter to find it when on the ground (looked for it on May 31, 2021 and did not find traces).
The old 322 rod portage used to begin on the north end of the northwest bay of Baskatong Lake and passed generally west to the east side of Andek Lake. Remnants of that route can still be seen on satellite images (i.e., Google Maps or Bing Maps). The Pagami Creek fire made this route impractical now.
Maniwaki Creek flows through Andek Lake. You can follow it (which likely a lot of difficulty) south out of Andek Lake all the way down to Whittler Lake, Fungus Lake and Chickadee Lake.
