Snowbank to Lake One

The Snowbank to Lake One Route begins at Entry Point 27 on Snowbank Lake and finishes at Entry Point 30 on Lake One. Rather than circling back, the trip crosses the interior in one continuous line, linking a long sequence of wilderness lakes and portages as it works from the Snowbank country toward the Numbered Lakes.

The early stretch threads a chain of small, connected lakes — Disappointment, Jitterbug, Adventure, Cattyman, Jordan, and Ima — where short carries and narrow passages set a steady rhythm. From there the route reaches the larger, island-filled waters of Thomas and Lake Insula, the broadest paddling on the trip, before dropping down through Hudson and into Lake Four. Forested shorelines frame most of the miles, and the traverse mixes intimate, close-in lakes with wider open-water crossings. The final leg follows the well-traveled Numbered Lakes corridor through Lake Three and Lake Two to the exit.

This route suits paddlers with tripping experience who are comfortable with frequent portages and long travel days. The one-way layout rewards groups that like to keep moving and cover ground, while the string of lakes offers flexibility in where to spend each night. It offers a full cross-section of classic Boundary Waters scenery, from quiet interior waters to broad, open lakes.

Route Highlights

• A chain of small, interconnected wilderness lakes linked by short portages
• Broad, island-filled paddling on Thomas and Lake Insula
• Mix of quiet interior waters and open-water crossings
• Flexible camping opportunities across a multi-day traverse

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Snowbank Lake → Ima Lake

Paddle out from the entry point and work through Disappointment, Jitterbug, Adventure, Cattyman, and Jordan lakes, settling into the route's steady pattern of short portages and quiet, connected waters on the way to Ima Lake.

Day 2

Ima Lake → Thomas Lake

Continue across Ima and over a series of short carries near Hatchet Lake, reaching the larger open water of Thomas Lake and its forested, island-dotted shoreline.

Day 3

Thomas Lake → Lake Insula

Travel through Kiana Lake and onto Lake Insula, the broadest water on the traverse, with island-filled views and room to explore before settling in for the night.

Day 4

Lake Insula → Lake Four

Leave the open water behind and drop through Hudson Lake into the more compact country around Lake Four, moving toward the Numbered Lakes corridor.

Day 5

Lake Four → Lake One

Follow the Numbered Lakes through Lake Three and Lake Two, paddling the final open stretches to the exit at Entry Point 30 on Lake One.