We are planning a trip that we are calling the 3 river slam. We are putting in at Snowbank and going hard to Frost Lake. Then Frost River to Louse River to Kawishiwi to Alice and take out at Moose. Our concern is about doing Frost and Louse in mid July and water levels. Are we biting off too much? Would turning north to Little Sag and then heading west through Mokwa down to the Kawishiwi make better sense. Anyone done the Frost and Louse back to back?

You don't mention how long your time frame is for this trip.

Unfortunately, you are planning to do the most water level sensitive river first - the Frost. My trip over the Frost was done in August, but in a very wet year. So the answer is that it depends on the year. I would bail out on the Frost River in a dry year before either of the Louse or the Kawishiwi. I did the Louse in a dry year and it was still doable. I doubt that the outfitters in the Ely area would tend to keep current on the conditions on the Frost. I would check with either Sawbill Outfitters or Tuscarora Lodge about the conditions on the Frost before heading out. The route you suggest heading out to bypass the Louse is the route I would use to head in to start on the Louse. (Little Sag, Mora, Whipped, Fente, Hub, Mesaba for staging to the Louse.)

You could also reverse the route and do the Kawishiwi to Malberg, the Louse to Mesaba, and then choose to do the Frost or bail out northwest to Little Sag and head back. In my opinion, the route finding will be tougher going west to east on both the Louse and the Frost, but others have done it. I would suggest some time reading trip reports here to glean clues about the route(s).

IMHO - The rivers (Louse and Frost) are absolutely worth the effort. The feeling of deep wilderness is marvelous.

As Michwall2 said, the Frost on a low water year would be a tough one. Louse may be a bit more difficult than normal, but not problematic enough that you should let it stop you. The only area of Kawishiwi that is consistently bad in low water is the first fifty yards or so of the entrance off of Malberg (it can be a muddy push). That said, the water levels have been nice and high the past two years. If that trend continues, and it is likely to given the snow cover and late ice-out predicted, I'd say go for it! You are headed for some gorgeous, secluded areas that are totally worth the effort needed to get there! The only additional tip I'd give (since you didn't specify your time frame) is to allow yourself more time for the rivers than you think you will need. The rivers follow their own rules and there really is no "making time" on them as you can on a lake. I want to say that the length of the Frost took us about 6-7 hours with excellent water levels. We did it west to east, which made it a bit more difficult. I think you have the right of it with your choice of route.

Have done the Louse - 10/10 would do again.

the trip we did the Louse, we actually planned to do the Frost, but decided against it. Apparently that river is best paddled downstream, not due to the current necessarily, but from what I was told, there are a lot of beaver dams with pretty significant height differentials coupled with swampy surroundings.

If I were to do the Frost (and I really want to), I would get a very early start and not stop too long for lunch.

Just a follow up. We successfully did this trip. We did our loop from Snowbank to Moose 10 days and 9 nights. This could be a 7 day trip if you were so inclined. We took it easy the first 2 days to whip the crew into shape, were very agressive for 5 days and then on cruise control mode the rest. The Frost is indeed a first light early start and short lunch day. We finished the day with the 300 rod portage uphill from Fente to Hub. Between the 15 marked portages and the 20 or so unmarked beaver dams, this was both one of the very best days and hardest days I have ever had on the BWCA. I cannot recommend this loop for the weak or faint of heart. But my crew of 6 Eagle Scouts and 2 old fart leaders did it right.

Just a follow up. We successfully did this trip. We did our loop from Snowbank to Moose 10 days and 9 nights. This could be a 7 day trip if you were so inclined. We took it easy the first 2 days to whip the crew into shape, were very agressive for 5 days and then on cruise control mode the rest. The Frost is indeed a first light early start and short lunch day. We finished the day with the 300 rod portage uphill from Fente to Hub. Between the 15 marked portages and the 20 or so unmarked beaver dams, this was both one of the very best days and hardest days I have ever had on the BWCA. I cannot recommend this loop for the weak or faint of heart. But my crew of 6 Eagle Scouts and 2 old fart leaders did it right.

Thanks for the follow up. We are doing the 3 rivers this summer, but making more of a loop starting at Cross Bay Lake and ending at Brant Lake (coming out thru Round). We are planning a similar time frame with some hard days and some chill days planned. It was just going to be hubby and me, but now that our teenager's 34 day Canadian trip is cancelled he will be along to be the muscle.