Eagle Lake is the third in a series of lakes that make up part of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway system. Located to the northeast of Chamberlain Lake, it is approximately 7 miles in length and up to 1 1/2 miles wide. 25 primitive campsites can be found scattered along the shores of Eagle Lake. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, fire pit, ridgepole and privy. Campsites can also be found on two islands located on the lake. At the southern end of the lake, you will find Pillsbury Island and about 3 1/2 miles to the northwest is Farm Island. Day use and camping fees are collected at various check points along the privately owned access roads to the lake. These fees are used to defray the cost of managing public access and maintaining the recreation facilities. Boat motors larger then 10 hp are not permitted on Eagle Lake. To the north of Eagle Lake, you will find Churchill Lake. The two lakes are connected via the Thoroughfare. Eagle Lake and Chamberlain Lake, located to the southwest, are connected via the Lock Dam.
If you are looking for a side trip while paddling Eagle Lake, plan a hike to the summit of Soper Mountain. The trail can be found just north of Pillsbury Island, passing through the Smith Brook campsite. Soper Mountain rises to an elevation of 1,688 feet. Eagle lake is approximately 920 feet in elevation. A couple of more points of interest along the lake are the Eagle Lake tramway and the Eagle Lake & West Branch Railroad. The Eagle Lake Tramway was built in 1902 to transport logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake. 600 steel trucks, each equipped with a pair of 11" wheels and saddles, were pulled along the rails using a steam engine and a 3,000-foot-long loop of steel cable. After being loaded at Eagle Lake, the logs were carried along the rails at 250 feet per minute. Once at Chamberlain Lake, the logs were dropped on to a series of rollers and pushed into the lake. The remains of the tramway can be found just south of Hog Island. In 1926, the Great Northern Paper Company started up the Eagle Lake & Wet Branch Railroad to help keep up with the demand for pulpwood. Stretching 13 miles, it was used to carry the logs from Eagle Lake to Umbazooksus Lake. Two of the steam locomotives used on the railway can still be found in the forest near Eagle Lake.