Powwow Lake
Powwow Trail ran along northwest shoreline. A campsite for backpackers was at the point along the northwest shore. This campsite shows on the 1993 Fisher F-4 map. Powwow Lake is small, but deep at 42 feet. The southwest end of the lake is shallow, but the narrower north end is much deeper.
Near where the campsite is shown on the map, there also was staked a Minnesota DNR benchmark. Close to the location of this benchmark, a log dock and landing used by the Civilian Conservation Corp existed at one time. Unknown what evidence of this landing and dock may still exist.
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 Powwow Lake
If you have followed Arrow Creek to Calamity Lake, you can (maybe) find the old spur of the Powwow Trail that wound its way out to Powwow Lake. Right where Arrow Creek turns north before connecting to Calamity Lake, the old Powwow Trail ran just to the south of the creek. If you find the old Powwow Trail, follow it east.
Another possible approach which I won’t cover here, is to come directly from Calamity Lake over the ridge that separates it from Powwow Lake. About a half mile bushwhack through a burnt forest.
Bushwhack to Powwow Lake
If you can find the old Powwow Trail, it is about 160 rods to the southeast to the west end of Powwow Lake.
Exploring Powwow Lake
A benchmark was placed at the location of the campsite shown on the map. The benchmark was at the highest point of a 2 foot by 3 foot boulder at the water's edge on the west shore of the lake. This would have been the largest boulder situated where the road is nearest to the lake. This information is from the Minnesota DNR depth map of this lake which was surveyd on May 30, 1962. So if you can find this boulder and the benchmark, you may be able to locate the landing, the old CCC dock and the road.
Powwow Lake contains a single, small island (which didn’t escape the forest fire either).
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