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This adventure is a great route to view the diverse animal, plants and historical sites that the BWCAW has to offer. The route is long in terms of miles; however, due to the small number of portages, it is not as physically tiring. This is a good option for groups that want to see much of the wilderness, but may be hesitant about portaging gear for long distances.
This 50-mile journey begins at Lake One and ventures through all of the popular “number lakes” (Lake One, Two, Three, and Four) and gets you onto the Kawishiwi River through a chain of short portages around scenic rapids, which lead into Hudson Lake. From Hudson Lake you will take the longest portage of the week (100 rods or 1/3 mile) into the south end of Insula Lake. Insula Lake is a big lake that looks like ink splots on a map, because of its many bays, islands, and arms. We will base camp there for a few days and take day trips to Fishdance Lake and Kiana Lake. The day trip to Fishdance Lake will show off the beautiful narrows and rapids along the Kawishiwi River. When we arrive at Fishdance Lake, you will have the pleasure of viewing some of the oldest Native American pictographs that are painted on the side of a fifty-foot sheer cliff coming out of the water. Another possible day trip is for the fisher-people. Kiana Lake is noted for it’s seclusion, attractiveness, and good fishing. After the extended stay on Insula Lake, the trip concludes by backtracking sixteen miles to the numbered lakes and the landing at Lake One.