Lake TwoMaking Connections
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Full image approximately 2 miles square |
Description
Lake Two is a moderate sized lake on the Kawishiwi River, 17 miles east of Ely and 10 miles northwest of Forest Center. Irregular in form with multiple points and islands, Two extends for some 2 miles on its SW/NE axis, covering 481 acres to a maximum depth of 35'. Its irregular shape yields some 13 miles of shoreline. The Kawishiwi River enters from the southeast, by way of the channel to Lake Three. It exits to the northwest by way of two sets of rapids separated by a pond. A second, dammed channel out of the extreme north end of the lake connects with the northeast end of Lake One. Out of the northeast corner of Two, a 65 rod portage climbs 12' up to Rifle. Out of the southwest end, a nasty, 120 rod portage heads up to Rock Island. (See the Rock Island page for more detail).Most of the area around Lake Two is second growth forest, having grown up in the aftermath of the early logging of the St. Croix Lumber Company of Winton (1896 - 1920). Prior to logging, the area probably supported numerous stands of big Red and White Pines, dating back to 1796 and earlier. Only the area to the south of Two was not logged, having burned in 1894 and being too immature to be of much interest to a lumber company after the tall pines. The big Independence Day windstorms of 1999 missed Lake Two, the broad swath of greatest destruction lying well to the north.
Campsites
Lake Two supports 11 established campsites. Popular with campers, these sites are also popular with bruins. Hang 'em high.Planning Considerations
Lake Two is one of the four Number Lakes, a series of large lakes on the Kawishiwi River, southeast of the Fernberg Road, extending from the Lake One entry point upriver through Hudson to Insula. Lake Two also provides connections south, by way of Rock Island, with the Clearwater routes to Bald Eagle and the Isabella River country. Two is also the western terminus, in its northeastern corner, of the Rifle/Bridge Loop, which runs north of the Kawishiwi, from Two, through Rifle and Bridge Lakes, rejoining the river at Lake Four.Wildlife
Lake Two supports populations of Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), Burbot (Lota lota), Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris), Tullibee (Cisco) (Coregonus artedi), Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni), and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens).Notes and Comments
The Number Lakes are a very popular area of the BWCA. If you would prefer not to share your wilderness experience with so many others, plan on going elsewhere or visit during the off-offseason (just before the snow flies in the fall, or just after the ice goes out in the spring).
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