SOUTH LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#2063): East end of the lake and connected to the South Lake Trail
Campsite 2 (#606): First campsite east of the Topper Lake portage
Campsite 3 (#607): Second campsite east of the Topper Lake portage
Campsite 4 (#2064): Eastern end of the lake and attached to the Rat Lake portage
Campsite 5 (#602): First campsite west of the Topper Lake portage and along the south shoreline
Campsite 6 (#603): Third campsite west of the Height of Land portage on north shoreline
Campsite 7 (#604): Second campsite west of the Height of Land portage on north shoreline
Campsite 8 (#605): First campsite west of the Height of Land portage on north shoreline
Large lake. Can be dangerous if it is windy. Motorboats have not been allowed on the U.S. side of the lake since 1978. Motorized boats are allowed on the Ontario side of the lake, but they are seldom seen.
There are three ways to enter South Lake officially.
Lake was hit by a severe blowdown in 2016 and most of the campsites, especially those along the south shoreline have plenty of tree damage.
Along the north shoreline straddling the U.S. - Canadian Border is the Height of Land Portage. It's an historic portage along the historic Border Route or Voyageurs Route between Canada and the United States. As you cross this portage you will be going over the Laurentian Divide that separates the Hudson Bay watershed and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River watersheds. The portage was used for centuries by Indigenous peoples for canoe travel, teaching it to European voyageurs and coureurs des bois who used it to access the fur trading posts in Rupert's Land. For many years the portage was part of an important route from Lower Canada to the interior of the North American continent. It became part of the boundary between British North America and the United States following the American Revolution and treaties delineating the border. In recognition of this history, the portage is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and is a Minnesota State Historic Site (Wikipedia).
A portage that is probably equal in age to the Height of Land Portage, but not as well known, is the portage that lies on the other end of South Lake. This is the South Lake Portage. You'll see this name on most maps of the BWCA. This connects South Lake to Rat Lake. This is also an 80 rod portage and it is pretty flat. A small creek flows out of South Lake and into Rat Lake near the portage landings (it's possible this is the western branch of the Arrow River, but haven't been able to absolutely confirm this).
BWCA Campsite 2063 is at the north end of the South Lake Trail. If you follow the South Lake Trail from this campsite up the steep ridge for 0.4-miles, you'll come to where the trail intersects the Border Route Trail.
A tiny creek coming from Topper Lake drains into South Lake just west of the Topper Lake portage. Another small creek flows into South Lake near BWCA Campsite 607. All water from South Lake flows to the east into Rat Lake.
The lake has good fishing for lake trout and smallmouth bass.
Click on the photos below to see the full resolution image - Use your browsers back button to close photo and return to this page.
PADDLING FROM THE TOPPER LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 2063
This route takes you eastbound along the south shoreline of South Lake. You'll see a lot of trees blown down. The south side of the lake was heavily impacted by recent windstorms. The campsite is located at the eastern end of the lake. BWCA Campsite 2063 is directly connected to the South Lake Trail. You can also access the Border Route Trail from this campsite. The campsite is just south and around a small point from the Rat Lake portage. Visit BWCA Campsite 2063 -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 2063 TO THE RAT LAKE PORTAGE
A short paddle around the point to the north to reach the Rat Lake portage. Portage to Rat Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE RAT LAKE PORTAGE TO THE TOPPER LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling westbound along the south shoreline of South Lake from the Rat Lake portage to the Topper Lake portage. This route covers most of the length of South Lake. The sky has a hazy yellowish color because of smoke in the air. This smoke drifted down into the U.S. from wildfires burning up in Canada. Portage to Topper Lake -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for South Lake
From South Lake you can walk the Height of Land Portage to North Lake. This portage crosses the Laurentian Divide. You can also portage to Rat Lake and Topper Lake. The Border Route Trail is accessible from the Topper Lake portage. The South Lake Trail is accessible from BWCA Campsite 2063 at the far eastern end of the lake.
