ALTON LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1: (#867) - Middle of the three campsites along east shore north of the Sawbill Lake portage Campsite 2: (#849) - First campsite along east shore, south of the Sawbill Lake portage Campsite 3: (#844) - South end of lake west of peninsula near Wonder Lake portage Campsite 4: (#843) - Second campsite along east shore, that is south of the Sawbill Lake portage Campsite 5: (#850) - Third campsite along east shore, that is south of the Sawbill Lake portage Campsite 6: (#847) - South most campsite along east shore of Alton Lake Campsite 7: (#871) - Just south of the Kelso Lake portage on the west shoreline of the lake Campsite 8: (#869) - The second campsite south of the Kelso Lake portage on the west shoreline of the lake Campsite 9: (#2054) - The first campsite north of the Sawbill Lake portage on the east shoreline of the lake
Campsite 10: (#870) - Just south of the Kelso Lake portage on the east shoreline of the lake
Campsite 11: (#868) - The third campsite south of the Kelso Lake portage on the west shoreline of the lake
Campsite 12: (#866) - The fourth campsite south of the Kelso Lake portage on the west shoreline of the lake
Campsite 13: (#845) - Straight west of the Sawbill Lake portage on the north side of the point on the west side of Alton Lake
Campsite 14: (#845) - Straight west of the Sawbill Lake portage on the south side of the point on the west side of Alton Lake
Campsite 15: (#2019) - Only island campsite on Alton Lake and located just off west shoreline southwest of the Sawbill Lake portage
Campsite 16: (#848) - Located on the point just east of the Beth Lake portage
Alton Lake is a large clear lake about three miles long and half a mile wide in spots. High hills rise up above the west side of the lake. Another hill dominates the southwest corner of the lake rising to over 2100 feet (over 300 feet above the lake).
Alton Lake is often busy, especially in mid-summer, so don't wait until late in the day if you desire a prime campsite. If looking for a campsite, the sites in the north half of this lake see fewer visitors than the campsites in the south half of the lake. The north half of the lake is quieter in general. The campsites along the west side of Alton Lake near it's midpoint are often the first to be spoken for.
Four routes pass through Alton Lake making it sort of a crossroads. To the south is a dead end route to Wonder Lake. Wonder Lake is at the southern edge of the BWCA. To the west can be found the Lady Chain of Lakes. These lakes are Beth, Ella, Grace, Phoebe and Polly. The lakes were all named after female members of Ed Mulligan's family. Mr. Mulligan was a U.S. Forest Service ranger in the 1930's (Hansen, 2007). This route follows the Phoebe River over to Polly Lake. To the north is Kelso Lake. The portage to Kelso Lake from Alton Lake is easy. There is some remants of an old railroad track that was used during the logging area along this portage. The portage is a former railroad grade. From Kelso Lake you can paddle the Kelso River to the east into Sawbill Lake or follow it north to Lujenida Lake. From Lujenida Lake it's a long 480 rod portage up to Zenith Lake.
Lastly, to the east it's a short portage into Sawbill Lake. This portage is not far from BWCA Entry Point 38 on Sawbill Lake. The portage between Alton Lake and Sawbill Lake also used to have a logging era railway. That is the reason it is so flat and wide to this day.
Alton Lake supports many species of fish, but not lake trout.
This area was logged as recently as the 1960's. It was part of the West Tofte sale (Heinselman, 1999). The sale was to the St. Regis Paper Company in 1959. The size of this parcel was about 80 square miles.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 51, 53, 63, 71, 72, 78, 79, 86, 140, 151.
Hansen, Mary Alice, Sawbill: History and Tales (Tofte: Sawbill Press, 2007)
Heinselman, Miron, The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999), 119.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 245, 250.
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PADDLING FROM THE KELSO LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 871
Brief bout of paddling southward along the west shoreline to the next campsite. Visit BWCA Campsite 871 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 871 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 869
Another short paddle between these two campsites. Following the western shoreline of Alton Lake, headed southbound. Visit BWCA Campsite 869 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 869 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 2054
This video is a long, meandering loop that will show you much of the central part of Alton Lake. After leaving the campsite, paddle south down the west shore of Alton Lake. Pass several campsites along the way, including BWCA Campsites 868, 866, 845 and 846. All these campsites were occupied on a busy summer weekend. From just offshore of BWCA Campsite 846, turn east and head towards the Sawbill Lake portage. Before reaching the portage, turn north and head up the eastern shoreline of the lake, eventually arriving at BWCA Campsite 2054, which is the first campsite north of the Sawbill Lake portage. Visit BWCA Campsite 2054 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 2054 TO BWCA CAMPSITE 867
Quick paddle to cover the short distance between these two campsites. You are following the eastern shoreline, heading north. Visit BWCA Campsite 867 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 867 TO THE SAWBILL LAKE PORTAGE
Make nearly a straightline from the campsite to the Sawbill Lake portage. Traveling southbound just offshore of the east side of Alton Lake. Portage to Sawbill Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE SAWBILL LAKE PORTAGE TO THE WONDER LAKE PORTAGE
Alton Lake from the Sawbill Lake portage. Your view is to the west. This view is in the morning in autumn.
View of the tip of the long point along the east shore of the lake. This is looking west from the north side of the point.
Paddling south from the Sawbill Lake portage along the eastern shoreline of Alton Lake. Stop briefly along the way at several campsites. Reach the Wonder Lake portage on the south end of Alton Lake
The beginning of the Wonder Lake portage. Portage to Wonder Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE SAWBILL LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 867
Small island along the east side of the lake. There are many underwater boulders in this area, so keep an eye peeled for them.
A moderately rough paddle on a windy day from the Sawbill Lake portage northward up the east shoreline. The final destination is the middle of the three campsites along that stretch.
Picking your way through shallow water and boulders between the eastern shoreline and the small island on your left. (Image not expandable)
This is the middle of the three campsites along the eastern shoreline, that are north of the Sawbill Lake portage. Visit BWCA Campsite 867 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 867 TO THE KELSO LAKE PORTAGE
Difficult paddling in the north end of Alton Lake. The wind is from the south and its probably around 30 miles per hour at times. This paddle takes you from the campsite to the Kelso Lake portage, while hugging the eastern shoreline. Portage to Kelso Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE WONDER LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 849
Starting at the Wonder Lake portage. From there, paddle north along the eastern shoreline of Alton Lake. A modest thunderstorm approaches from the southwest. Pull off the lake at BWCA Campsite 849 to wait until the storm eases off a bit.
Alton Lake looking to the south from BWCA Campsite 849. This is the first campsite you'll come to if you head south from the Sawbill Lake portage along the eastern shoreline. Visit BWCA Campsite 849 -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
