Section Sixteen 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.
A fairly large, bowl shaped lake centered in a peat bog straight south of Jackfish Lake. Section Sixteen Lake is quite shallow and vegetation is evident on a good portion of its surface. This lake is on a dead end. The best approach to it is probably from Jackfish Lake.
The fire history of this area includes the 1894 Chad Lake/Cummings Lake/Lac La Croix/Crooked Lake complex. This was one of two large fires that affected the western part of what is now known as the BWCA during that year.
Another fire affected this area way back in 1822. This burn is known as the Hook Lake/Hegman Lake/Crooked Lake complex.
Approach to Section Sixteen Lake
On the south shore of Jackfish Lake, there is a small creek flowing in on the west and another short waterway on the east which quickly brings one to another good-sized unnamed lake that is just south of Jackfish Lake. You have to choose which of these water avenues provides the best initial first leg of the bushwhack out to Section Sixteen Lake.
Bushwhack to Section Sixteen Lake
After deciding to take the west creek out of Jackfish Lake or the inlet leading to the unnamed lake, bushwhackers will either portage and paddle south down the creek, or paddle to the southwest across the unnamed lake. The creek offers something to follow for the entire distance, but parts of this creek aren't navigable and also bushwhackers with need to crash through some forest. The unnamed lake on the otherhand allows easy access to its southwest end, but then requires a 30 rod sustained bushwhack towards the southwest through heavy forest until you reach a remote peat bog. This peat bog is due south of the north-south section of open water along the creek route (it is a wide section of the creek). A very small pond visible on satellite images is in the northeast corner of this peat bog to help you identify it.
No matter which route you took, you probably want to arrive at the peat bog about midway between Jackfish Lake and Section Sixteen Lake. Cross southwest across the peat bog following the little creek. The creek enters the forest again. Keep following it. In about 15 more rods it exits the forest and a large peat bog/open water expanse lies before you. Travel due south along the east edge of this peat bog/open water expanse and exit out its southeast corner. Head south until the peat bog entirely closes in and only forest is in front of you when facing south. Less than 10 rods through this forest, the trees will part and you will be in another peat bog valley running north-south. Keep going south for about 100 rods further. You are probably panting pretty good by now. As you get to the southern end of this long peat bog, the sparkle of the sun on the waves of Section Sixteen Lake should be visible. The area near the lake should have some visible rock outcrops too.
Exploring Section Sixteen Lake
The northwest shore of Section Sixteen Lake where the bushwhack ends has some rock outcrops. A small island of rock lies near the east shoreline. About two-thirds of the shoreline is etched by peat bog, the rest is encroached by forest.
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