Fishing: Unknown. Note: The Minnesota DNR has Rice Lake listed as Little Rice Lake. It also has Keneu Lake listed as Rice Lake on their Minnesota Lake Finder website.
This lake was once known as Little Rice Lake. Nearby Keneu Lake was called Rice Lake.
Rice Lake is shallow. The water is colored a murky light green. There is a very small creek flowing from Rice Lake to Slim Lake near the portage. There is one campsite on the east shoreline, just north of the point on that side of the lake. This point is easily visible from the Slim Lake portage. There is a prominent boulder visible from much of the lake along the western shore, just east of the Hook Lake portage (could be useful as a reference point for navigating). A small island made entirely of rock is in the southwest corner of the lake. The southwest shoreline is bog.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 1 – Western Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 58, 62, 65.
Heinselman, Miron, The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999), 41, 70, 117, 156.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 84.
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PADDLING FROM THE SLIM LAKE PORTAGE TO THE HOOK LAKE PORTAGE
A look at the shoreline in the northeast corner of Rice Lake. This is just north of the campsite that is on the east side of the lake.
North shoreline of Rice Lake. This is right by the island that is in the north part of the lake.
Boulders dotting the surface of the lake between the island (on the left) and the north shoreline (out of view to the right).
A counterclockwise paddle around Rice Lake from the Slim Lake portage to the Hook Lake portage. You generally follow the east shore of the lake passing by the lakes only campsite. Along the north shore you pass through a boulder field. This string of rocks stretches between the lakes small northern island and the north shoreline. Continuing along, you pass by the large boulder on the northwest point that is visible from much of the lake. Shortly thereafter you arrive at the Hook Lake portage, on the lakes west side.
A prominent boulder that you can see from almost anywhere on the lake. Your view is to the south and the portage to Hook Lake is around that boulder to the right and a few hundred feet more down the shoreline. Portage to Hook Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE HOOK LAKE PORTAGE TO THE SLIM LAKE PORTAGE
Looking at the shoreline just south of the Hook Lake portage, on the west shore of Rice Lake.
This interesting rock island is in the southwest corner of Rice Lake. The shoreline (just behind you in this view) is made up of stunted trees and muskeg bog.
From the Hook Lake portage, paddle counterclockwise around the shoreline of Rice Lake until reaching the Slim Lake portage. This route takes you down the west shore, along the south shore and then back up the eastern shoreline of the lake.
A glimpse of the southeastern corner of Rice Lake. Portage to Slim Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
