Baker Lake to Kelly Lake

Overview

The Baker Lake to Kelly Lake route begins and ends at Entry Point 39 on Baker Lake, in the Tofte Ranger District along the Sawbill Trail corridor. From Baker Lake, the route portages north through Peterson Lake to Kelly Lake, then returns by the same path — an out-and-back rather than a loop.

Kelly Lake is a long, narrow lake with five campsites clustered along its southern shore, reached from Baker Lake by two portages. From Kelly Lake, a further portage leads north to Jack Lake, passing the old Frank Johnson Mine along the way — an iron-ore test pit dug in the 1890s that came up empty, leaving a shaft and scattered artifacts still visible from the portage trail. Jack Lake itself holds two more campsites for paddlers who push that far.

This route suits first-time paddlers, families, and groups with less portaging experience — the carries are manageable, and camping at Kelly Lake lets a group make Jack Lake and the old mine a day trip rather than moving camp each day. Its modest distance and short lake-to-lake hops make it a good fit for a shorter, unhurried trip.

Route Highlights

• The old Frank Johnson Mine, an 1890s iron-ore test pit with a shaft and scattered artifacts still visible along the portage between Kelly Lake and Jack Lake
• Kelly Lake's cluster of campsites along its southern shore
• A moderate portage connects Kelly Lake to Jack Lake, the longest carry on the route
• Jack Lake as an optional day-trip extension north of the main camp on Kelly Lake