Exploring the Number Chain

Does the idea of fishing, swimming, and relaxing appeal to you more than paddling and portaging? Do you pack too much gear and hate to portage? Then take this route and go no further than Lake One to Lake Four, which gives you access to dozens of campsites and thousands of acres of lake surface with just two easy portages.

Detailed Route Info

Head northeast from the parking lot at Lake One and paddle through a narrow channel before turning south through another narrow channel and onto the main body of Lake One. If you are continuing on to Lake Two you will have two portages, both of which are among the most commonly traveled portages in the entire BWCA.

You can paddle from Lake Two into Lake Three and then Lake Four without taking another portage. You have dozens of designated campsites along the way, including many that are on islands and tucked into remote bays. The walleye fishing here is excellent. If you would like more adventure continue east!

*Route information provided courtesy of Dan Pauly, and have been modified from his book, Exploring the Boundary Waters: A Trip Planner and Guide to the BWCAW. University of Minnesota Press, 2004