Trout Lake Route

Overview

The Trout Lake Route is a Boundary Waters out-and-back trip that begins and ends at EP 1 (Trout Lake), with the put-in reached by paddling out from Lake Vermilion. From the entry, the route portages into Trout Lake itself, then continues on to Oriniack Lake before retracing the same path back to the entry point.

Trout Lake is a large, irregularly shaped lake with bays, peninsulas, and a scattering of islands, giving it a different feel from many of the smaller interior lakes typical of the Boundary Waters. It is also one of the few lakes in the wilderness where small motors are permitted alongside paddling, and it carries a wide network of designated campsites spread across its shoreline. Beyond the main lake, Oriniack Lake offers a quieter, smaller-scale stop for parties who want a change of pace after the open water crossing.

This route suits paddlers comfortable with a large lake's open-water crossings and a pair of longer carries at either end of the trip. Trout Lake's size and exposure call for attention to wind and weather, and its scattering of campsites gives flexibility in choosing where to settle in. The out-and-back structure and central location of Trout Lake make it well suited to a basecamp-style trip, with side exploration toward Oriniack Lake or the lake's other bays rather than a fixed line of travel.

Route Highlights

• Bays, peninsulas, and islands across Trout Lake
• One of the few Boundary Waters lakes that also permits small motors
• A quieter side trip to Oriniack Lake
• Numerous campsites spread across Trout Lake for basecamp-style exploration