Lower Range Line Lake

Making Connections

Bushwhack North, 190 rods, down Range Line Creek, to Lucky Finn
Bushwhack South, 35 rods, to Range Line
Bushwhack West, 45 rods, to Pageant Creek

Maps

Fisher F-16, Loon, Lac La Croix, Nina Moose Lakes
McKenzie 13, Lac La Croix; 14, Loon, Wilkins Bay

Description

Lower Range Line Lake is a small lake/large pond on Range Line Creek just below Range Line Lake in the Pocket Creek drainage of the Lac La Croix basin, 16¾ miles east of Crane Lake and 30¼ miles NNW of Ely. Barely a quarter mile long, it is dwarfed by the upper Range Line Lake, which sits 11' higher, but 35 rods to the south. Its western shoreline is largely lakeside fen. The forests around Lower Range Line Lake are relatively young, the area having been mined for pine sawtimber back in 1915-1917 by the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company. This region of the BWCA escaped damage in the 4th of July windstorms of 1999, which caused such extensive tree loss to the south and east.

Campsites

Lower Range Line is a small lake and supports no established campsites. The nearest site is at the north end of nearby Range Line Lake. (And a lovely site it is, too!)

Planning Considerations

Lower Range Line is primarily a pass through lake, a wide spot in the road, if you will, for those traveling up and down Range Line Creek. However, it also provides the best opportunity, with a reasonably short, overland bushwhack portage, to jump over from the Range Line Creek watershed to Pageant Creek to the north and west.

Wildlife

Shallow and marshy; look for moose.

Notes and Comments

Lower Range Line Lake is a name of convenience. You will not find it named on maps.