Lynx LakeMaking Connections
MapsLinks |
Full image approximately 2 miles square |
Description
Lynx is a moderate sized, but quite deep lake, in the Loon River drainage 13½ miles ESE of Crane Lake and 27 miles northwest of Ely. Only a mile across, the bottom falls off steeply to a maximum depth of 85', leaving only 15 of the lake's 295 acres in the shallow littoral zone (under 15'). Yodeler Creek enters Lynx at the north end, passing through the marshy fens that separate Lynx from Yodeler Lake. At the south end, short streams connect Lynx with Agawato and Little Shell, each bypassed by a short portage (15 and 4 rods respectively). Overland connections are afforded by a 100 rod carry off the lake's western bay, holding relatively level before dropping some 40' into Heritage, and a tougher, 280 rod portage northeast to Ruby. The Ruby portage gains some 60' in elevation in the first 100 rods, holding relatively level for the next 40 before dropping 120' into Ruby over the last half of the carry.The forests which ring Lynx are of various age classes, with those to the south dating largely to the stand replacing fire of 1864 while those to the north are somewhat younger, dating back only to the fires of 1894. Isolated stands, such as that along the portage to Heritage, are much older -- of mid-18th century origin (1755 - 1759). The large area to the north and east, as far as Ruby and Hustler, was logged during the First World War by the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company, most likely in search of Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) and White Pine (Pinus strobus). 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
Lynx supports five well distributed campsites.Planning Considerations
Lynx Lake is a link in the east/west Pauness/Boulder Bay route, which heads north and east out of Upper and Lower Pauness on the Little Indian Sioux River through Shell, Little Shell, Lynx, Ruby, Hustler, Oyster, and Lake Agnes, to Boulder Bay on Lac La Croix. It also provides access, north through Heritage, to Loon Lake and the Border Route. Worthy, too, of consideration is a quick side trip south to Agawato or the more challenging bushwhack up Yodeler Creek to Yodeler Lake and the Weeny Lake Primitive Management Area.Lynx is included in Beymer, The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, vol. 1, The Western Region, routes 3, 13, 15, 16, and 17.
Wildlife
Lynx Lake supports populations of Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris), Tullibee (Cisco) (Coregonus artedi), Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), and White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni).Notes and Comments
Lynx is named for the boreal wildcat (Lynx canadensis) native to these parts but secretive and rarely seen.
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