I recently learned of unmaintained portage off Sunday Bay to Sunday Lake, Sunday Bay as in Crooked Lake. Anybody been to Sunday Lake? The portage is not on my newer map. Wondered where it is and if its still passable in Early June? What can you tell me about the lake, the portage, I can imagine it is ultimate solitude if the portage isn't even on the map.

It looks to me like the Beartrap River will take you right to it. Never been there though.

Richwon4,
Sunday Lake is in the Sundial PMA. Portages and campsites are not maintained in the PMAs, therefore they won't show up on your maps. If you want to go to Sunday Lake, head up the Beartrap River like Blackstick suggested. If you check out the Trip Report Section, you will find some reports detailing the area.
canoerone

sunday lake is in the Sundial Lake PMA. From looking at past posts on site it seems that it is fairly seldom used. the maps on this site do show a portage to crooked but i'm sure that it isn't well maintained. Take a look at the maps and post a trip report if you go there. I would be interested in the trip there. PMA maps (Thanks Eglath) Sunday lake map w/portage to crooked

I got beat to the punch

We went through Sunday Lake on our way to Sterling this past May. If you want more info, click on my cute little trip reports icon. Absolutely gorgeous area.

I'd be skeptical of the portage from Sunday Bay to Sunday Lake. Even the older maps that I have, which show the old portages in the PMAs that aren't on current maps, don't show this portage. If it's older than those old portages, it might be nearly impossible to find and/or follow.

I'd agree that the Beartrap is the way to go if you want to hit Sunday. Unless you're looking for a hellacious adventure, then try the Sunday/Sunday rumoured portage & make sure to report back!

This is Sunday Lake, but in the Quetico. It's one of my favorite lakes, we heard wolves howling in all directions and moose bellowing all night. This was the lake scene the following morning.



starwatcher

i have been to sunday lake two times with the hopes of finding that portage to sunday bay,ended up going to iron through the river both times.cool trip!

the camp site does not appear on my map. Where about is it?

Sunday Lake is in the PMA so you will need the PMA permit to overnight camp there. You can camp anywhere in a PMA but they recommend you use the previous campsites. Sunday Lake is in the Sundial Lake PMA and is in Zone 5. If you want to camp there you will need to contact the Kawishiwi district Ranger station in Ely to secure the permit for the night(s) you intend to camp there. You have to have your EP reservation before you call. You can not reserve a PMA online or through outfitters. You need to do it directly with the USFS ranger station and you will need to stop at the ranger station before you enter to get them to write the reservation on your permit and review the rules. If you want more details e-mail me directly at bogwalker@hotmail.com

On Sunday Lake the former campsite is located on the North Shore near the portage out of Sunday within sight of the portage west to the Beartrap River.

The portage from Beartrap Lake to Beartrap River south of Sunday lake is long and not maintained. It is easy to follow but you will most likely run into some deadfall to climb over or around.

In addition the beartrap River south of Sunday Lake has numerous rapids that need to be portaged around which are a bit of a pain, but again faitly easy to follow. Some of these portages are not all that easy but doable.

I do have a friend who did the portage from Sunday Bay to Sunday Lake. He said he would never do it again. When I went to Sunday Lake we came across from Stuart on our way to Beartrap. If Sunday Lake is your goal and you don't intend to go further I'd come from the Beartrap side.

Beartrap river rapids and burned over area south of Sunday Lake



View to the South of the Sunday Lake camp.

Sounds like a great BWCA adventure.

Have to figure out how I can get into one of these areas some day.

Thanks for all the info. Always nice to know that someone on here will know about just about anything you are interested in.

Great shots, Bogwalker, I remember that burned area.

Here's another shot of Sunday Lake. The site on the north side of the lake is obvious, even from all the way across the lake. It was, however, Infested, capital I, with ticks in May 2008. I ended up pitching my tent on the rocks to keep away from the bloodthirsty little bast....still, I'd go back in a heartbeat, & no doubt will.

Paddleaway,

We were there in May as well, but just after iceout so we did not see any ticks. We camped there on Tuesday night May 6th.

I am intrigued by this less visited lake it seems, does anyone know anything of lake conture or shore line structure, depth. It sounds like a great place to get away without much company.

the 'portage' from sunday lake to sunday bay looks like a long one.....dont think i would ever try it!

i called yesterday to get my pma for sunday lake (been there before did not know i needed another permit.thanks bogwalker)the ranger said we should use different campsites as they did not want one particular spot to be affected by humans.does this make sence?or is this ranger talking out of her a**?

jonicski....when will you be going thro sunday lake?

also does it cost to get a PMA?

a pma authorization is free.

jonicski-

I have never had a ranger tell me this. Maybe this is a new practice.

The Rangers typically tell me to remove any trace of your being at the site you chose. Make it look exactly as it did before you came or better of the last users did not take care of it.

For example-if you move some rocks to make a fire pit put them back and clean off the rock where the fire had been. To me it seems less impactful to use the sites that had already been cleared then to try to make a new site by impacting that area. If you practice good LNT principles you will not impact that site much more than it already had been.

Remember-there is no fire grate and no latrine. You should be sure to bring a trowel to dig a cat hole well back from the water and bury all waste including the TP or better yet burn or pack out the TP. When you leave cover the cat hole completely and place duff and sticks or twigs over the refilled hole.

may 25-27.no extra cost for pma.