Assawan Lake
Assawan Lake drains to the west into Fishdance Lake through a small creek that exits one of the arms in the southwest part of the lake. The bushwhack is across the lake and not far from the cliffs displaying the Fishdance Lake pictographs. This is in the area of the Fungus Lake Primitive Management Area that escaped the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire.
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.
The shoreline along Assawan Lake saw heavy timber harvesting in the 1950's and early 1960's (Rom, 1987), when logging operations along roads extending out from Forest Center reached this area.
References:
Rom, William N., M.D., Canoe Country Wilderness (Stillwater: Voyageur Press, 1987), 41, 42.
Approach to Assawan Lake
From a bay on the east side of Fishdance Lake, located about a half mile southwest of Assawan Lake. The GPS location is: 47.915517, -91.194338. From here, look for a small creek flowing in. Proceed east up the creek.
Bushwhack to Assawan Lake
Proceed generally east for about 40 rods along the creek starting from the east shore of Fishdance Lake. At this point, you will reach the western end of an unnamed lake. Paddle across the lake to its northeast corner and look for a creek flowing in. Follow the creek to the northeast for about 120 rods until you reach Assawan Lake. This creek is not navigable and can only be used for help in direction finding.
Exploring Assawan Lake
Assawan Lake is a dead end with no further routes leading out of it. The lake has a forested and rocky shoreline with many arms, bays and inlets to explore. A very small island is in the northeast end of the lake. Appears to be an interesting lake to visit.
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