Crocodile Lake
Gunflint Ranger District
CROCODILE LAKE CAMPSITES:
Campsite 1 (#711):
Campsite 2 (#712):
Campsite 3 (#713):
Campsite 4 (#714):
The lake resembles the shape of a crocodile on a map, thus the name. The Crocodile River forms the tail of the best.
There are no routes from Crocodile Lake. It is a destination lake, similar to Bog Lake. Crocodile River (BWCA Entry Point 66) is one of the least used entry points in the BWCA. The easiest way to get to this lake is by starting at East Bearskin Lake. BWCA Entry Point 66 shares the same parking lot as BWCA Entry Point 64. It is also possible to arrive at Crocodile Lake by starting at South Bean Lake off Shoe Lake Road, but that route is more difficult due to the many portages and extra paddling required. The portage from East Bearskin Lake to Crocodile Lake is not easy though. It climbs about 100 feet in the first 25 rods or so. After that, the portage is flat and uneventful. Also note that the portage along Shoe Lake Road can be difficult to find.
The two most common reasons paddlers have to come to Crocodile Lake are the good walleye fishing and the quietness of this lake. Some daytrippers make their way into this lake too.
Crocodile Lake drains into East Bearskin Lake through the Crocodile River. There is a pretty waterfall along this river that can be viewed from a trail starting at the back of BWCA Campsite 697 on East Bearskin Lake. That campsite is just west of the portage between the two lakes. Crocodile Lake and the Crocodile River are part of the Royal River drainage. The Royal River flows into the Pigeon River.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 248.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 394-395.
Exploring Crocodile Lake
Routes to locations on Crocodile Lake are shown below:
No routes defined yet for Crocodile Lake.
Click on the photos below to see the full resolution image - Use your browsers back button to close photo and return to this page.
A look at much of Misquah Lake as seen from the Vista Lake portage landing.
A look at much of Misquah Lake as seen from the Vista Lake portage landing.
Route Connections for Crocodile Lake
From Crocodile Lake you can portage to East Bearskin Lake or the Crocodile River.
Return to Top of Page
|
