BWCAW Quota Permit — Trout Lake (EP1)

Trout Lake (EP1): what makes it different

Trout Lake is the western entry point that starts on Lake Vermilion, not on the wilderness lake itself. A short canoe portage or a longer wheel-friendly carry gets you into big water that allows motors up to 25 horsepower. Paddle and overnight motor permits each show 12 groups a day on Rec.gov.^1,2,4

Getting to the start

The Forest Service lists EP1 as an overnight, paddle or motor entry in the LaCroix District, with a 25 horsepower limit. Access is from Vermilion Lake by a 60-rod canoe portage or a 180-rod portage that allows portage wheels. A day-use motor entry also exists, with a commercial portage service available.^1,2

The public launch is Moccasin Point on Lake Vermilion near Tower, in St. Louis County. Rec.gov's division alert said Moccasin Point was closed for reconstruction until sometime in September 2026, so confirm the ramp is open before you plan the drive.^2,3

Entry Point 1 is the portage into Trout Lake, not a landing on the lake itself. A forum reply in January 2015 spelled it out that way, in a thread about reaching the Trout Lake portage in winter.⁸

The first leg

Two summer reports on Quiet Journey give the short portage as 60 rods. The 1998 report calls it a short uphill carry with waterfalls on the Vermilion side and plenty of room to launch at the Trout end. The 2000 report starts from a rocky Vermilion landing with a view of a waterfall and goes up and over a ridge to a wide Trout Lake entry. Friends of the Boundary Waters lists a 42-rod portage at the end of the narrow bay north of Pine Island instead.^5,6,4

The 2000 report also mentions a second, motorized carry of about 160 rods nearby. A 2005 report calls the Vermilion to Trout crossing a truck portage that is a fairly easy walk, slightly uphill, with Forest Service crews building a stone wall at the Trout Lake put-in.^6,7

The Forest Service and Rec.gov give 180 rods for the wheel-friendly option, and the January 2015 forum thread describes the truck portage as about three quarters of a mile, with the wilderness boundary roughly halfway across.^1,2,8

Terrain and difficulty

Friends of the Boundary Waters calls Trout Lake big water with 35 designated campsites, and warns that large waves and open stretches make its sample route a poor choice for inexperienced paddlers. The 2005 report agrees that the lake can turn dangerous in bad weather.^4,7

Leaving Trout Lake, routes lead to Little Trout, Pine Creek, Pine River and Oriniack. Friends lists a 185-rod portage to Merritt Lake and a 190-rod portage to Oriniack Lake, with four campsites on Oriniack.^6,4

Little Trout Lake and Gowan Lake sit off a small creek that needs only a short pull-over in dry weather, while Gowan itself calls for a seldom-used 275-rod portage, according to Friends.⁴

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at Trout Lake (EP1), overnight paddle: 12 groups a day. The Rec.gov paddle-only Trout Lake division showed 12 on 130 of 153 dates from May to September 2026. The other 23 dates showed 0. The overnight motor division is counted separately.²
• 2026 daily quota at Trout Lake (EP1), overnight motor: 12 groups a day. The Rec.gov overnight motor division for Trout Lake showed 12 on 116 of 153 dates from May to September 2026; the rest varied or showed 0. Do not add it to the paddle total.²

Rules specific to this entry point

Motors are allowed on Trout Lake only, with a 25 horsepower maximum. Motor use or possession requires an overnight motor permit. A paddle-only division is sold separately.^2,1

Friends of the Boundary Waters points out that Trout Lake is one of the few lakes left in the wilderness that permit motors, so paddlers should expect boats.⁴

In winter, the forum thread says snowmobiles can go only as far as the wilderness line, about halfway across the truck portage, and that only hand augers are used on Trout Lake.⁸

Where it leads

Friends rates a two day, 10 mile exploration of Trout Lake and its neighbors as intermediate, with 2 portages totalling 84 rods, the longest 42. It suggests Merritt Lake as a quieter alternative and calls Oriniack lightly traveled with good solitude.⁴

The lake holds lake trout and, per Friends, walleye and northern pike. The 2000 and 2005 Quiet Journey reports each record at least eight known campsites, a count Friends puts at 35 designated sites.^6,7,4

What trip reports say

A summer 1998 portage report by Loren Johnson on Quiet Journey rates the Portage Bay carry easy at average water, with room to launch at the Trout Lake end.⁵

A summer 2000 report by JPW rates the 60-rod carry average. It notes that Trout Lake is large and holds lake trout.⁶

A summer 2005 report by sf calls Trout a great lake with many campsites, and warns that it is large and can become dangerous in bad weather.⁷

In January 2015 a poster fished Trout Lake after driving across the ice of Vermilion from Moccasin Point to the truck portage, then walked in across Portage Bay and the bog in about 55 minutes with a sled. Snow drifted deeper toward the north side, and the portages were hard packed.⁸

When to go from here

Wind and waves are the season issue here rather than a short ice-out window. Friends warns about large waves and open water, and the 2005 report calls bad weather dangerous on the lake.^4,7

Check the Moccasin Point ramp status before you travel. Rec.gov's alert at the time of reading put the reconstruction through September 2026.²

Compare with nearby entry points

• Moose Lake (EP25): Moose Lake (EP25) is also paddle or motor with a 25 horsepower limit, but it is a boat landing or canoe launch near Ely rather than a carry from another lake.¹
• Snowbank Lake (EP27): Snowbank Lake (EP27) also allows 25 horsepower motors and is a boat landing or canoe launch, so you reach the water without a portage. Trout Lake asks for 60 or 180 rods first.¹
• Fall Lake (EP24): Fall Lake (EP24) is a 25 horsepower boat landing with several trip options toward Newton, Basswood and Mud lakes. Trout Lake leads instead to Little Trout, Pine and Oriniack waters.^1,6

Sources

1. Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permit, Trout Lake divisions, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
3. Moccasin Point Boat Ramp, How's Your River (listing of Minnesota DNR access). Read 2026-10-15.
4. Exploration of Trout Lake and its Neighbors, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Vermilion to Trout, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Entry #1 to Trout, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Vermilion to Trout, Quiet Journey. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Vermilion to trout lake, Fishing Minnesota forum. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a Trout Lake (EP1) permit