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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Current Beartrap to Iron Lake conditions on the Beartrap River? Reply
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| Author | Message Text |
| HighnDry |
07/25/2017 05:40PM I just completed the Iron to Beartrap/Thunder Lake trip over this past weekend. I left Iron at 8 and finally pulled into the Beartrap/Thunder lakes after the last portage at 6. It was a long day with somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 portages. I confess that I lost count of them ....and I really didn't care! I was tired about half way through. From Sunday Lake to Beartrap there are about 7 portages; four of them you will hit just leaving Beatrap and trying to rejoin the Beatrap River proper and swing north (after heading west out of Beartrap). Those are not too bad, fairly open with a little bit of of brushy spots. and mud. They range in length from about 15 to 100 rods. IF you are heading north out of Beartrap, then of the roughly three or four portages to Sunday, most if not all are river left (west shoreline) with decent takeouts, although one or two put-ins on their northside are rocky and difficult to get footing. If I recall correctly, the first one you will encounter on your swing north from Beatrap is about 100 rods, brushed in some areas with four or five mudholes (watch your feet) that are about ankle deep. Getting into Sunday lake will present a bit of a challenge as you'll hit a wall of reeds. It looks like this (looking back north into Sunday)  As you approach this, do not head straight but instead turn right along the reeds and the standing alder bushes. There is a pathway beaten down through the reeds for about 20 yards or so to the lake. It's a pull-and-pole that may require hopping out in knee-deep water to pull the canoe through. A note about the Beartrap coming out of Sunday: The portage out of the lake is located on the northwest corner, well-marked and gradually rises through a conifer/decidous forest before gently descending to the put-in by a set of rapids. After you put-in, you will head north on the Beatrap. The river winds incredibly like a snake for what seems like hours. The three or four portages on this section of the river are easily identifiable, short and skirt easy rapids. The second third one is short with few rocks and I lined it heading in the opposite direction. Water levels were high. The last portage is about 75 to 100 rods and brushed for half the length with 2 or 3 good mudholes. Go slow, there are about 2 or 3 blowdowns that will require hopping over or trudging around. The descent to the lake tiny bay is down a granite crevice that ends at a tricky rock slab put-in. It's barely large enough for one person and a boat. The weedy, lily-pad-choked small bay connects to Petersen Bay of Iron. I marked this portage put-in/take-out with a cairn because I searched for it for about 30 minutes until I finally located it. Enjoy, you'll be tired but satisfied when you are done! |
| UPBoy |
07/07/2017 07:58AM Thanks tonyj, it is nice to hear that someone has used those portages this season and reported on the condition. from what I remember when we went that way a few years back the trails were overgrown, as to be expected, with many step overs and a few walk around but nothing unpassable. The landings were visable and easy to find. |
| tonyj |
07/06/2017 08:29PM I'll be there in a week and a half. Sounds like it isn't too bad. Flip to page 3 of this forum and I have a thread titled "Beartrap River". (I'm not smart enough to create a link with my phone). Some very helpful replies on there. |
| UPBoy |
07/06/2017 06:34PM We are traveling up the Beartrap River (Iron Lake to Beartrap Lake w/stop on Sunday Lake) the first week in August and are looking for current information on the portage trail conditions. I went this way about 6 years ago and it was not too bad but portage condition change when the trail is not maintained. I went on the portage clearing trip this spring and we cleared lots of small pines off the trail that layed down because of some heavy wet snow early in the winter. In some places the trail would be blocked for 5 to 10 rods. Has anyone traveled up or down the Beartrap River this season and can report on the current condition? Thanks, UPBoy |
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