Glitter 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 is a small remnant of a lake which drains into Image Lake and eventually Gabimichigami Lake. About half of the lakes historic basin has now been taken over by peat bog.
In 1894, a relatively small fire burned the area between Pace Lake and Sprig Lake in what is now the Mugwump Lake Primitive Management Area within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Glitter Lake was probably along the eastern border of this conflagration.
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 Glitter Lake
The approach to Glitter Lake is to begin where the creek flows into the western edge of Image Lake, also due east of Glitter Lake, and follow the creek on a circuitous route out to Glitter Lake. This routegives you a geographic reference point; the creek. The entire route is through peat bog.
Bushwhack to Glitter Lake
Find the creek flowing into the west side of Image Lake, due east of Glitter Lake. This is also the way to Horsefish Lake. Follow this creek by paddling or bushwhacking as appropriate, for about 120 rods to the southwest. You will pass along some prominent rock walls and cliffs. Eventually the creek will meet up with a peat bog that runs north/south. Going south leads toward Horsefish Lake. This will happen at the southwest end of a large rock outcropping. To Glitter Lake, turn right and follow this new peat bog to the north and then west for about 75 rods, hugging the western side of the peat bog along the forest edge. Here you will come to a tiny pond with an imposing rock wall along its north edge. This is the gateway into the Glitter Lake basin. You should be able to see Glitter Lake from here about 15 rods to the west. You should be able to paddle across this small pond and then up the creek that connects it to Glitter Lake.
Exploring Glitter Lake
Getting to Glitter Lake will likely be more interesting than the lake itself, but who knows (may be a moose dinner club or something). This is a very small and shallow lake. The geology of the area appears interesting as this is a good example of a late stage lake. In another few thousand years, there will probably only be a peat bog here rather than the glitter of a little lake. No other lakes are accessible along this route so head back the way you came.
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