My group is heading out of Sawbill Tuesday later morning probably 10-11 do you think its possible to make it up to Cherokee in an afternoon? We are a younger crew average experience in the BWCA just dont want to push ourselves to hard on day one.

Easy. No problem.

Shouldn't be too hard.

Yup, not to bad.

I recently went from Cherokee to Sawbill canoe landing.
It took me about 5.5 hours solo, double portaging.

There is a long muddy Portage in the middle that is not on the McKenzie maps, it follows a small stream and shows as a couple short portages on the map.

Quoting one of my favorite movie lines, "you can do it".

Easy.

Once you leave Sawbill Lake the next campsites are on Cherokee so if you get too late of a start or get tired, there ain't no stopping half way. The third portage along the creek is a boulder strewn muddy mess, but flat. The last portage into Cherokee Creek is the longest portage of the day and it's up and down most of the way. Inquire at Sawbill Outfitters how to best cross the beaver dam on Cherokee Creek. Two years ago it was very easy to cross on the south side. They will have good info on the route. Sawbill good be windy in the afternoon so be careful. I wouldn't pass any empty sites once you get to Cherokee that late in the day.

You'll make it easily leaving at 10ish with plenty of time to set up camp proper upon arrival. My favorite lake for its scenic beauty.
On return to Sawbill (if that be your plan/route) consider the possibility of all those campsites on Sawbill being occupied--so allow time to paddle all the way back to the pier. if need be.

I did this route with my family about 5 years ago. We didn't leave Sawbill docks until noon but still made it to the southern half of Cherokee by dinner time (and we weren't moving fast). Northwoodsman is correct. The third portage is water-dependent. I believe it's Skoop creek.

How far you can paddle up this winding, boggy stream to the 10 rod portage will depend on water levels and weather the beaver dams are holding downstream and down-lake from you (somewhere near Alder), at least that is what the outfitters told us later. We bog-trotted our kids-in-a-canoe that year and then had them disembark the boat, wade the stream to cross to the opposite bank and take a break at the portage takeout. That experience created the family legend of "honey, I think we need a campsite" (our kids had run out of gas).

We made it obviously but only after that last paddle across Skoop lake and then the half-mile or so over the Laurentian divide to Cherokee creek and a campsite on the southern end of Cherokee. We still talk about that one....