I am getting married this fall, so sadly no trip this summer. This was going to be the year my daughter and I did our first trip the the two of us together, so instead it will be next summer. I have been looking at the maps trying to plan a route that will challenge us, but be doable. She will be 12 then and is really great hiking and carrying a pack.

Can anyone offer me any recent insight on the route from Sawbill to Cherokee? Cherokee looks like a great mid summer lake as she LOVES to swim and fish.

Not sure to congratulate or send sympathies on the marriage thing. :) I've never put in at Sawbill, always gone that way from Bule. But that is a good destination. Popular lake, so it would be busier during the peak season. I've been there in may and September trips with no worries about finding campsites.

We went to Cherokee last year in late August and entered through Sawbill. It's a beautiful lake and the entry through Cherokee creek is stunning. There are many excellent campsites - even a couple with sand/beach. Cherokee isn't a good lake for fishing - but it's an excellent place to base camp and do day trips. Check out my trip report. Have a great time. Trip Report - Cherokee Lake

quote alpine525: "We went to Cherokee last year in late August and entered through Sawbill. It's a beautiful lake and the entry through Cherokee creek is stunning. There are many excellent campsites - even a couple with sand/beach. Cherokee isn't a good lake for fishing - but it's an excellent place to base camp and do day trips. Check out my trip report. Have a great time. Trip Report - Cherokee Lake "

I completely agree with this

I agree too! Well said.

Thank you for the celebratory condolences nctry :)

And thank you for the trip report link alpine525. It sounds like you had a very nice trip!

I have not referenced my topo map at home yet for the portage details along this route, but I have looked at the map here and there are no comments on the portage conditions. It looks like two portages between Sawbill and Ada (78 rod and76 rod) then an "optional" portage to Skoop. Any insight into just how "optional" this one is? Is this where you had lined the canoe? Then the final portage from Skoop to Cherokee Creek is not labeled. Any approximation on the distance?

Thank you everyone!

The portage to Cherokee Creek is 180 rods. Cherokee Creek can be a challenge when water levels are low. I did an October trip through here and ended up wading through deep mud to pull the canoe with fellow trippers aboard through the un-navigable creek.

quote amariette: "Thank you for the celebratory condolences nctry :)


And thank you for the trip report link alpine525. It sounds like you had a very nice trip!


I have not referenced my topo map at home yet for the portage details along this route, but I have looked at the map here and there are no comments on the portage conditions. It looks like two portages between Sawbill and Ada (78 rod and76 rod) then an "optional" portage to Skoop. Any insight into just how "optional" this one is? Is this where you had lined the canoe? Then the final portage from Skoop to Cherokee Creek is not labeled. Any approximation on the distance?


Thank you everyone!"

amariette:

The portaging was easy up until the Ada lake portage to Ada Creek. The map on this website shows two small portages connected by a creek. When we were there last August, the water in the creek was about 2" deep. This made it impossible to paddle a fully loaded canoe through it. We struggled for a while - then I finally got out and lined the canoe until I found a spot to get out of the creek and portage. You need to be careful where you step because you could end up in mud up to your thigh.

While headed north along Ada Creek,you will see tall grass on your left. There is a path in the tall grass that will take you all the way up the creek to the next lake (Skoop). The portage from Skoop Lake to Cherokee Creek is long but not difficult. The most difficult part of the trip for us was the portion of Ada Creek. If we knew about this before hand, we would have been prepared for it. But we had no clue and had to abandon ship mid-creek because it could not be paddled. That's what makes tripping in the BW such an adventure. I would go back to this area in a heartbeat - it is so beautiful.

After our trip, I tried to post comments about Ada Creek on the maps section here - but was unsuccessful.