Cherokee Lake
Making Connections
- Portage North, 13 rods, to Gordon
- Portage East, 10 rods, to Town
- Portage South, 140 rods, to Sitka
- Paddle South and West, up Cherokee Creek, to
180 rod portage to Skoop
- Portage West, 80 rods, to Ranger
Maps
- Fisher
F-6, Brule
and Pike Lakes; F-13, Little Sag, Tuscarora, Temperance
Lakes
- McKenzie
7, Tuscarora;
21, Sawbill Lake
Links
|
Scale 1:42840
Full image approximately 4
miles square |
Description
Cherokee is a large, deep, island studded
lake in the interior of the BWCAW, in the Long Island River watershed northwest
of Brule. Oriented SW/NE, it is over two miles
in length, in places a mile across, covering some 750 acres to depths of
as much as 140'. At its extreme north end, a 15 rod portage connects with
Gordon on the Long Island River. Out of the northeast
corner an even shorter portage, of only 10 rods, connects with Town
to the east. A 140 rod carry leaves the southeastern shore, climbing to
Sitka with connections 105 rods farther east to North
Temperance and the Temperance River route. An 80 rod portage off the
western shore provides access to Ranger. At the south end of the lake
is the mouth of Cherokee Creek, where about a mile upstream, a 180 rod portage
heads south into the Ada Creek drainage. Cherokee Creek also provides access,
up beyond the portage landing, to over a dozen small lakes with no established
portages but much potential for exploration of the backcountry. Campsites
Cherokee is a relatively popular lake
and supports nearly twenty established campsites, many on islands and points.
The best sites can be expected to be taken early during busier travel periods.
Planning Considerations
Cherokee is a primary destination in this
region of the BWCAW as well a hub for some of its major routes, including
the Temperance River and Ada Creek routes from the south, the Long Island
River route to the north, and the Brule route to the east. Cherokee Creek
provides entry to a host of small lakes to the west with great bushwacking
potential. If you are interested in a base camp approach, Cherokee would
make an excellent choice. Wildlife
Cherokee supports populations of Burbot
(Lota lota), Lake Trout
(Salvelinus namaycush),
Northern Pike (Esox lucius),
White Sucker (Catostomus
commersoni), and Yellow Perch (Perca
flavescens).
Notes and Comments
Last updated on
11 April, 2004
|
