Lake of the Week: Hegman Lake

South Lake: 121 acres, 3 campsites

North Lake: 113.1 acres, no campsites

15 miles northeast of Ely, by way of the Echo Trail, lies South Hegman Lake—entry point 77 into the Boundary Waters. Together with North Hegman Lake, the combined Hegman Lake experience offers much in the way of wintertime activity. What is especially unique about this parcel is the presence of a pictograph site on the northern lake.

Native American occupations of this area extend as far back as 9,000 years, and the pictographs have been dated to have been made within the last 500 to 1,000 years. Although half of the images are too abstract to be accurately interpreted, a handful of these historical remnants depict tools, human figures, mythological creatures, animals such as moose and birds, and human hand prints. Nearly all of them are painted in a red ochre, bound in bear-grease or fish eggs.

This site is one of 30 or so pictograph treasures hidden throughout the Boundary Waters. They’re a spectacular day-trip in the winter by snowshoe or cross-country ski, and a worthy stop on any canoe outing. You can find them (if you dare) on a granite cliff-face in a narrows area between North Hegman and Trease Lake—the exact location, we leave to you explorers out there.

Have you seen any of the other pictographs in the Boundary Waters?