Brant LakeMaking ConnectionsMapsLinks |
Full image approximately 2 miles square |
Description
Brant is a relatively small, 104 acre lake, 5¾ miles SSE of Gunflint Trail's End and 46¼
miles
ENE of Ely. Tucked up tight against the eastern boundary of the BWCAW, it
is ½ mile long north to south with three long arms. That to the southeast
has at its end the 36 rod portage to Edith and
the Round Lake entry beyond. The southwestern arm
ends at a small watercourse reaching back through boggy ground to eventually
connect with both Gotter and Crag;
it may not be passable. The northwest arm carries through traffic from Edith
and Round in the east over a 100 rod portage to Gotter and the route west
to Gillis and Crooked.
The forest all about Brant dates from the great fire of 1854, which burned a broad swath of the region, from Round Lake west nearly to Gillis. A narrow band of forest, running southwest to northeast on either side of the center of the lake, burned again in 1910. None of the forest surrounding Brant, excepting isolated pockets which may have escaped the big 1854 blaze, is more than 145 years old.
Campsites
Brant has three campsites, two along the northwest arm (photo above) and the other on the far northeastern shore. The first two are nice, reasonably elevated sites, but in the narrows expect other travelers to pass by close to shore. The latter is nicely tucked away in a more remote corner of the lake.Planning Considerations
Brant is an entry point lake sitting astride the rather heavily traveled route from Round Lake to Gillis and the interior beyond. This traffic goes close by two of the three campsites, in the narrow northwest arm. The very close proximity of Brant to the Round Lake landing may make it useful as a first or last stop of a trip, but do allow sufficient time to make camp early. These sites do fill up.Wildlife
Brant supports a healthy population of Northerns (Esox lucius) and large White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni). Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) and minnow levels appear to be low.Notes and Comments
Brant is a fine little lake but is probably best enjoyed in the off season; early summer or after Labor Day.
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