One-way to Perent Lake

The ideal pacing for this route might be to spend a first night on one of the many designated campsites of Isabella Lake, and then covering the many little portages on the Perent River to Perent Lake to spend another night before exiting via Hog Creek. You will need two vehicles or a lift from an outfitter for this route.

Detailed Route Info

From the parking lot on the Island River, take two short, easy portages into the Isabella River, and then head east toward Isabella Lake. Once on the Isabella River, a 20-rod portage takes you into a stretch of river bordered predominantly by a lovely spruce forest. A 28-rod portage on the west end of Isabella Lake bypasses a series of rapids that are not navigable by canoe. The Forest Service has constructed a footbridge where the Pow Wow Trail crosses the Isabella River.

Paddle and portage (a lot) from Isabella Lake to Perent Lake. Due to the number of short portages, this is a good day to pack well so it’s easy to load and unload your canoe quickly. Most of the portages on this stretch of river bypass deceptively hazardous rapids. You will be heading upstream, so it is unlikely you will be tempted (or able) to paddle through many of them.

Upon reaching Perent Lake you will have the satisfaction of knowing have just one short portage remaining on the route. Hopefully your schedule allows you to spend a night or two at one of the 20 designated campsites on this fine lake, which is known for its great walleye fishing.

The final leg of this journey takes you out to your exit by way of Hog Creek, on the east end of Perent Lake. This winding stretch of creek is far more twisty than anything you will have seen on the Isabella River or Perent River, but it has only one short portage. Expect to come across a couple of beaver dams along the way. And remember: Have a vehicle waiting for you at the Hog Creek parking lot, or arrange to be picked up by an outfitter.

*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