Thinking of paddling the Wawiag. Want to start at Saganaga and head north thru Mack Lake to get there. What I have read of this route makes it sound tough: poorly maintained portages, marshy, etc.

Have any of you folks done this route in the last several years? Can you let me know what it was like? Portages, campsites, etc.

We are experienced paddlers and are in good shape.

That's a route I definitely want to do also. I might opt for the fly in to Clay lake if I can swing it though. Loking forward to the replys.

I have heard someone say they had taken that route..I read a trip report somewhere.....Most sparsely traveled Quetico routes have tough, poorly maintained portages, marshy, etc.

I have done the rout.
It took my brother and I a day to get from Saganaga to Mack The portage into Ross is way up the creek not where it is shown on the maps. The portage from Mudro into Mack is long but not to bad unless you go the wrong way. As you are getting to Mack you come down a long steep hill that abruptly flattens out at the bottom. You will be able to see the lake 75 yards straight ahead down a canopy covered rather wide and inviting trail. STOP!! Straight ahead of you lies ever deepening mud turning into a hole filled floating bog. When I got to camp that night I had mud in both pants pockets because I went in that deep several times. Immediately at the bottom of the steep slope is a game trail going to the left. It leads to a little finger of the lake and a poor but usable landing. If you go down the game trail you will not get into more than 6 inches of mud. Camp sights on Mack are not the cleanest and it is a base camp lake. The Wawiag had 4 log jams and one marked portage. It is not the prettiest to travel on because it has high banks you can not see over much of the way.
MagicPaddler

I'll never forget the couple that my brother and I ran into that had just paddled the Wawiag. They dumped the canoe a few times around some log jams. They hated every minute they were on it!

We did the Wawiag from a Clay Lake fly-in in 2001. First day of my first trip to the Q in 25 years, and first day ever for David. It went fine, but I'd like to do it again and spend a little more time checking out the scene, which is very different from lots of Quetico. Maybe paddle up from Saganagons sometime. Too bad Mack Lake is so heavily used by the base campers. From what I've heard they are outfitted by Powell's, if that's true, shouldn't the Park do some enforcement against Powell's to make sure their customers clean up?

The Mack Creek can be a bit tough if the water is low.

Jthieret: Have been on Greenwood Creek/Wawiag River in 2008. Outfitter's information was of little use. (Logjams were more plentiful than we were told.) Since water was very HIGH, we managed OK. Trip Report Not a "pretty" paddle; took 6 hours.
--Goose

Flew into Clay and went down the Wawiag a few years ago during very low water. It was a LONG day, but a very enjoyable one. Expect log jams. Bring a big saw (we carried a 30" bow saw). I would do it again. We practically ran into a bull moose around a bend on that little river.

We paddled up the Wawiag from Kawa Bay to Mack in June, '08. Very high water. There were log jams, but I don't think they were much of a deal. We portaged around them. I believe all of the portages were on the south side of the river and pretty short/easy. Lots of skeeters. I would say it was a 4 hour trip. Mack is an excellent lake.

Somewhere near Mack creek or in Mack Creek.


Mack Lake eaters

Interesting that you should ask. I am headed this way on Saturday morning. Our outfitter told us that with the low water levels, we are being dropped directly into Mack as Greenwood Creek from Clay to the Wawiag is impassable. Furthermore, he said Mack Creek itself until it meets the Wawiag was basically a mud slog due to the low water. That was from a group that came out today and went in there 10 days ago. I am hoping that the rains that they have had up there can get us enough water to float Mack Creek.

As for the Wawiag River itself, it is not very pretty, as others have said. It has high sides so you can't really see much of the country around it. It sort of reminded me of being in a rain forest at times. Going upriver to Mackenzie Lake can be done, but is no picnic from what I've read.

My daughter and I went into Mack on 5/28 and then out through Mack Creek. It was very low and we portaged around some of it and paddled/dragged the canoe through the mud on other parts. Mud was up to my mid-thighs. It took two hours to get from Mack Lake to the Wawiag. Thw Wawiag was very pretty at the junction of the Mack Creek and then got narrower but was a nice paddle. Two log jams and one rapids. We portaged the rapids and one log jam and picked our way through the other log jam. A very enjoyable day. Somewhat tought but just part of the adventure. Isn't that why you go to the Q?

Returned from Q last night after a 7-day trip. Water levels are quite low: I'd say anywhere from 3-5' depending on the lake. Mack Creek to the Wawiag was just barely paddle-able. Glad we didn't have the mud slog. Two logjams as reported; one we could get through, the other we portaged around.

quote Mad Birdman: "Returned from Q last night after a 7-day trip. Water levels are quite low: I'd say anywhere from 3-5' depending on the lake. Mack Creek to the Wawiag was just barely paddle-able. Glad we didn't have the mud slog. Two logjams as reported; one we could get through, the other we portaged around. "

Did you fly back out of Mack Lake or return home by paddle thru the Falls Chain etc?

Flew into Mack, then went to Kawa Bay--McKenzie Bay--Atkins Bay--McEwen--Wet--Falls Chain and out.