Elk Lake
Have not yet visited this Primitive Management Area lake. The information displayed on this page are notes used for planning a future trip to this area. Use the information on this page at your own risk.
This lake is likely named for its shape, as it resembles an elk on a map.
Perusing satellite images, Elk Lake appears to be a wonderful destination as it has a heavily forested shoreline, cliffs and rocky ledges and deep water.
In 1875, a large fire complex called the Alice Lake/Ogishkemuncie Lake/Tuscarora Lake/Cherokee Lake Complex burned the area around all those major lakes. It probably started near Lake Insula or the Hog Lake area.
There was another large fire in this area around 1863-1864. This fire is known as the North Kawishiwi River/Alice Lake/Cypress Lake/Saganaga Lake Complex. Like the fire that burned this area in 1875, it began south of the current BWCAW's southern boundary.
Approach to Elk Lake
Begin the approach from Wisini Lake’s southernmost bay. Look for a creek entering the eastern side of this bay.
Bushwhack to Elk Lake
Follow an unnavigable creek (??) to the northeast from the shore of Wisini Lake for about 40 rods. Here, you will reach the northwest corner of a swampy unnamed lake. Paddle to the very south end of this lake and search for the creek that enters in this area. Bushwhack and paddle along this creek to the south for about 25 rods until you come to another small, unnamed lake that should be much less swampy than the previous one. Paddle to the east side of this unnamed lake and find the channel that leads to Elk Lake. The channel is perhaps 10 rods long and should be navigable. Welcome to Elk Lake.
Exploring Elk Lake
While smaller than Raven Lake, Elk Lake is probably every bit as beautiful as its western neighbor. Elk Lake sees very few visitors though. There are no trip reports to be found on the Internet for this lake. It does not appear to be that difficult to reach from Wisini Lake, however Elk Lake is a bit of a dead end and you will generally have to leave the way you came in. It is conceivable to bushwhack from Elk Lake to Raven Lake, but this will probably be much harder in practice than the 60 rods separating the two lakes appears to be on a map. Raven Lake is much more easily approached from the south via the creek that connects it to Roe Lake.
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