Nearest Ranger Station: Gunflint Ranger Station, Grand Marais, MN along Hwy. 61 on the North Shore
Portage Length from Parking Lot: rods: None
Restroom at Entry Point: Yes
Entry Point 47 - Lizz Lake and Swamp Lake
Gunflint Ranger District
From Grand Marais, follow the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12) inland for about 32.5 miles until you reach Old Gunflint Trail Road (County Road 92). This is about 3 miles past Trail Center. Just follow the signs for about one mile to get to the entry point landing.
The parking lot for this entry point is located on top of the hill. So when you arrive, first drive down to the lake and deposit all your gear at the landing. Then go park your car at the top of the hill. From the parking area at the hilltop, there are steps leading back down to the landing. Note that the restroom is up on top by the parking lot.
So you might have arrived at the lake, but you are still quite a long ways from actually being in the Boundary Waters. From the parking lot, you must paddle about 1.9 miles to the southeast across Poplar Lake to get to the Lizz Lake portage. Poplar Lake is a large lake, but it has lots of bays and islands to offer some protection from the wind. That portage is about halfway across Poplar Lake on the south shoreline. Once at that portage, it is 63 rods on an easy trail from Poplar Lake to Lizz Lake. You will actually enter the BWCA after you have paddled down about half the length of skinny Lizz Lake.
Optionally, you can enter through Swamp Lake. If you are staying at one of the local lodges, you are more likely to use the Swamp Lake entry route. If you are parking at the main public landing on the west end of Poplar Lake, the Lizz Lake entry route is closer. The portage from Poplar Lake to Swamp Lake is 86 rods and is located on the far east end of the lake (about a 3.3 mile paddle). Also worth mentioning, the Swamp Lake route is more difficult than the Lizz Lake route. Once you get to Swamp Lake, you must paddle across it and then do a 161 rod portage to Caribou Lake.
Exploring the Entry Point
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Sign along Old Gunflint Trail road. This is also known as County Road 92.
The parking lot is on top of a hill connected by a fairly long staircase to the boat landing on Poplar Lake.
Looking up the access road. The boat landing is directly behind you from this vantage point.
Boat ramp at the Poplar Lake public landing. This landing is on the very west end of the lake. There is no long term parking down by the lake, just an unloading zone. You must park at the top of the hill and take the steps down to the lake.
Poplar Lake serves BWCA Entry Points #47, #48 and #49.
A tour of this rather expansive boat landing.
The parking lot on top of the hill can accomodate a lot of vehicles.
This little restroom is next to the parking lot. There isn't a restroom down by the lake.
The steps from the parking lot leading down to the boat landing.
The portage to Lizz Lake is nearly two miles to the east along the south shoreline of Poplar Lake. This is a 63 rod portage and is an easy walk. One rod = 16 1/2 feet.
Now that you've reached the shore of the lake, visit:LIZZ LAKE
