I have, on a few occasions, tried to access Nighthawk lake from the small flowage to the east of the lake. I have always enjoyed overlooking the lake in the winter from the Poplar Creek ski trail. As the planted white pines surrounding the ski trail grow larger it’s possible that in a few years the view of the lake will be diminished, and without a reminder every time I ski or groom by, my curiosity about the lake will wane as well.
My previous attempts at getting to Nighthawk have failed due to lack of time, lack of water, or lack of heart. Most of the marsh between the creek and lake sits firmly in the middle ground between land and water, where neither paddling or walking is possible. It is impossible to not become covered in mud, and the bugs are ferocious.
This time I gave myself plenty of time. Our water is fairly high. After a few hours of pushing and dragging through through the swamp, I was able to crash through the woods to the small beaver pond down stream of the lake. One more climb over a beaver dam, and I had done it! A paddle around Nighthawk revealed it to be a small nondescript lake.
I determined that it would be much easier to simply portage back to my truck on the ski trail. In around twenty minutes I was loading up my canoe.
Poplar creek is on the right, Nighthawk the left.
The yellow is the “paddling” portion, the orange the walk on the ski trail.
Leaving the main creek
Less water already
The Swamp
At the other side of the Swamp.
Almost to the beaver pond
Nighthawk at last
In summary: Is it possible to get to Nighthawk lake from Poplar Creek? Sort off. Should you try it? No.