Lake of the Woods in the center of North America lies halfway between Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and Key Largo, Florida. Sioux, Ojibway and Cree were the primary First Nations people who lived in the Lake of the Woods region on the margin between the great plains of the west and the rock-based Canadian Shield around Hudson Bay.

Both Britain and France were actively searching for a route across North America to connect their trading businesses in Europe with promising new markets and products in China as early as 1650. Financing for exploration generally came from the profits of fur trading around the Great Lakes and selling high-fashion garments in Europe.

Britain eliminated its French rival in 1763 to take over three-quarters of North America but, by the end of the War of Independence in 1783, the United States of America earned its own independent territory with a boundary that established Lake of the Woods as the northwest corner of the new country. Suddenly, Lake of the Woods became international territory.

The shape, the size and location of Lake of the Woods has been part mystery, part rumor and very difficult to survey ever since. At 100 km diameter with 14,522 islands to fool the unwary voyager, it took until 1925 to pin down exactly the “most northwesterly” point shared by Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba.

Meanwhile, the fur trade carried millions of dollars of goods and beaver fur through a narrow, hidden passageway known as French Portage Narrows. Gold, caviar, muskies, timber, newsprint, floatplanes and the Canadian Army are parts of historical Lake of the Woods.

Join us here for your own exciting, scenic and historical tour of the unconventional lake in the middle of the continent with discoveries for everyone.

– David Malaher

Ena Lake to Vermillion Lake – The put-in for this trip is on Ena Lake with plenty of parking and a dock to make your launch easy. You will paddle past a few cabins before coming to the short portage into Vermillion Lake. With no residences you will love the feeling of seclusion despite only being a few kilometers from your vehicle. Large granite cliffs, dense forest and numerous islands to camp on make this an excellent route to explore. Be sure to check out the beach, hiking trails and waterfalls at the northwest end of the lake where Vermillion spills into Big Sand Lake.

Total Distance: 25.9 kmTotal Days: 2-3Portages: 1Difficulty: Moderate

Ena Lake to Vermillion LakeLake of the Woods

Canoe Routes

Special thanks to our project partners:

Launch49.976483, -94.533159 Launch is an actual boat launch with dock. Be careful of rapids when launching. Plenty of parking but please park as not to interfere with launch.

Portages 50.005673, -94.538409This portage is approx. 150 M up hill, beach landing makes for a great place for lunch. easy portage up hill following the well established trail. (Approx 150 Meters)

50.065212, -94.601278Nice beach for swimming and lunch. hiking trail is easy to follow and leads to Winnipeg river. Be careful when exploring as trail is above fast moving water.

Campsites50.015663, -94.546254First camping spot is 1 km away and located on an island. Suitable for small to medium size groups. Landing site is rock.

50.012629, -94.532371Turtle Island is a great but well used spot. Good swimming off of the point. It is well sheltered and offers amazing sunsets.

50.050501, -94.552108very long beach and camping spot. Camping spot is at the far end of the beach and located up the trail. Nice pine trees with nice flat spots for tents.

50.022930, -94.546529 Smooth Rocky camping spot with good swimming and a couple of flat sites for tents.

Mod

49.82726, -93.71283 Put in Put in, Boat Launch, Free Parking

50.00567, -94.5384 Portage Portage, beach landing, easy portage up hill, good trail (Approx 150 Meters)

50.01262, -94.53237 Possible camp site Turtle Island

50.0124, -94.54313 Possible camp site

50.01566, -94.54625 Possible camp site

50.02293, -94.54652 Possible camp site Smooth Rocky camping spot

50.0505, -94.5521 Possible camp site Beach and camping spot

50.06015, -94.58421 Possible camp site Island camping spot

50.06446, -94.58988 Lookout

50.06521, -94.60127 Portage Beach, waterfall and portage/hiking trail to Big Sand Lake

50.06554, -94.59996 Hiking trail

Vermillion Lake

Ena Lake

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Ena Lake to Vermillion Lake

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