I've canoed into the Quetico from most sides except the Maligne River. Is the Maligne River worth seeing and are there any issues associated with this route?

We did a Q trip last June entering through Beaverhouse Lake and exiting out the Maligne. What is length of your trip and destination?

We are still in the planning stages for an eight day trip and just wondered if the Maligne River is worth seeing, or if we should go elsewhere.

The Maligne as a destination or something to see isn't as exciting as the destinations beyond in my opinion. You can take it up to Sturgeon Lake which is huge or you can take it into the Poohbah Lake area. I haven't been to Poohbah, but plan to someday.I here there's great fishing there. I was with snakecharmer on the trip he mentioned and we were only on Sturgeon a couple days. We did pretty good as far as fishing was concerned, but we barely scratched the surface as far as exploring this huge body of water. I think it is a worthy destination entering from the Maligne River. You will experience a lot of against the current paddling and some rapid areas if you enter Quetico from the Maligne. However, the current didn't seem real strong except in the rapids areas.

The Maligne is a beautiful river, steady and broad, easy to travel in either direction. It will take you where you want to go.

The Maligne is wide and the current fairly slow along most of it's length. It has many beautiful sets of rapids, and of course, Twin Falls. But as Barley mentioned, it is not so much a destination as a route to a destination. With 8 days to play with, you have plenty of time to explore many of the lakes along its course. Our route took us through Beaverhouse/Quetico/Conk/Jean/Ceph/Burntside/ Rouge/Sturgeon before exiting down the Maligne to LLC. Just a great route. If your interested, here is our trip report: Nine Days in June - Quetico 2006.

The Eastern reaches of Sturgeon and beyond would be another great route via the Maligne. Or if your more interested in base camping, Poohbah offers some great fishing. Many possibilities.

The planning is half the fun. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the advice. The trip report is very helpful.

Truth,

It sounds like you've done a fair amount of travel in the Q. We are also planning another Q trip and I'd be interested to know what was your favorite route/destination? The group I trip with are all into fishing and seeing some new interesting, less traveled areas. Any suggestions for a 7 or 8 day trip with an equal number of layover days as travel days?

Snakecharmer

Snakecharmer

We alternate between the BWCAW and the Quetico. For Q routes I've also taken the Beaverhouse/Quetico/Conk/Jean Route. Jean was my favorite, the first campsite from the north was covered with white pines, but we went on to the west side of Ivy Island and could hear the wolves howling through the night. Another year we canoed the northeast end through Pickerel and out the French Portage. Nice sandy beaches. The water seems more tannic and the trees aren't as nice.

From the border lakes I love the granite bluffs along Lac La Croix, and also Curtain and Rebecca Falls at Crooked and McAree Lakes. The Man Chain is nice for the trip you requested and has some lake trout. But I think my favorite that I would recommend to you for a 7 or 8 day trip with an equal number of layover days as travel days would be Prairie Portage toward Sunday into Agnes and backtrack around through the S lakes; Sultry, Summer and Shade back into North Bay.

Truth,

Thanks for the reply. We really liked Jean also, but we didn't get to give it the time it deserved. I was eyeing that Agnes/S chain loop. Did you run into any traffic along any parts of that route?

We go canoeing in October, although we may have to fight the wind and cold (I usually call it my "winter canoe trip"), we normally don't see any bugs and very few people. The Quetico Agnes trip on the route I described we took in six days. Once we got across the border we only saw two parties. We saw one party of two people, father and daughter, on Agnes and I recall seeing a campfire of someone on other end North Bay at a distance (I can't remember if this was the same trip or another trip when we were on North Bay). At Prairie Portage we met a person who canoed solo from Lac La Croix.

I'm looking forward to heading out the week after next for an eight day trip the first week of October.

My very first BWCA trip was in mid October fourteen years ago. Since it was my first trip, I was not properly equipped (we equipped ourselves). It rained and sleeted and was cold and windy. I was cold, wet and miserable pretty much the whole trip. I think the guy that planned the trip was trying to discourage me from any return trips (it didn't work MP!) I've been going each year (except one) ever since. But we go in late May/early June. Bugs and people, but the fishing is very good.

Now that I've got better equipment, I think I'd be willing to try another October trip. Did you do any fishing on your October trips?

Thanks for the information. BTW, where did you decide to go? You must be getting pumped.

Have a great trip!

Snakecharmer

Hey !!!!! That was your 2nd trip- your first was with close shave Dave!! Remember that he almost drove off the road on the Echo Trail at Ed Shave Lake?? Back them it was one lane. I didn't want it to scare you from BW. Just Late Oct BW. If I remember right it was the 3rd weekend of October. It was cold but my sleeping bag was toasty. (once I put my winter coat underneath me) I kinda like October camping, and have done it yearly for the past 8 years- not always in the BW- mostly in the Grand Marais area. Crowds are down, bugs are dead, fishing isn't nearly as good, but the scenery is pretty, and you really appreciate a good fire. The big drawback for me is that the days are shorter. But you do get all the sleep you need.

My experience is that fishing generally is very poor in October. The lakes are starting to turn over and everything is slowing down. We havn't settled on the final route yet, but are in general agreement either to head out PP or Nina Moose and head toward Crooked from either end. We have our RABC's and may decide to go into The Quetico from the south and obtain camping permits. We are excited about the trip and hope we get good weather. I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

the truth P.S. I recall the steep grade, hairpin curve and gravel road at Ed Shave; I've seen portage trails with easier access.

In respect to October equipment: I don't spend a lot on high tech equipment and for years just a trick from Scout's Klondike derby is to double-up with 2 sleeping bags (One down and one Dacron 88 I bought years ago at K-Mart). We don't win any fashion contests. I got army surplus wool pants for $12 at CCO. Everyone wears poly and their version of an Elmer Fudd geek hat. Make sure you have high quality raingear that has fabric liner. Make sure you have rubber boots; which makes it a little more pleasant when you're standing in a foot of freezing water unloading gear from the canoe at the portage.

We are heading out this weekend, final plan is to head out the Moose River. Thanks for your help, any final thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

When one finally arrives at the point where schedules are forgotten, and becomes immersed in ancient rhythms, one begins to live. Sigurd Olson

Moose River...good choice. Have a great trip!

I really like that SO quote.

Snakecharmer- read the Sig books- they're full of them! I have several- they are a good read during those cold months. Keeps the Wilderness juices flowing

One more that I like:

"I know now as men accept the timeclock of the wilderness, their lives become entirely different. It is one of the great compensations of primitive experience, and when one finally reaches the point where days are governed by daylight and dark, rather than by schedules, where one eats if hungry and sleeps when tired, and becomes completely immersed in the ancient rhythms, then one begins to live." Sig Olson - Reflections of the North Country, 1976.

That's good stuff. I'll have to stop by the library and pick up Sig Olson book or two.