I am planning a trip with two others and considering a loop starting at Poplar Lake (EP 47) and going to Brule and looping back to Poplar. Here is the route in consideration:
Poplar, Lizz, Caribou, Horseshoe, Gaskin to Winchell. From Winchell paddle to Brule through Wanihigan, Grassy and Mulligan Lakes. Then return to Winchell through the Cones and Cliff Lakes. From Winchell, return to Poplar through Omega, Henson, Pillsbury, and Allen to Horseshoe, Caribou, Lizz, and Poplar.

We would ideally like one layover day.

How many days would you recommend?

We will be paddling a 3 person Wenonah Kevlar and are intermediate trippers.

Thanks all!

I guess it depends on how hard you want to push on your travel days. Personally I like shorter travel days with more time to fish, relax, and explore.

This is probably how I'd break it down.

Day 1 - Poplar to Winchell
Day 2 - Winchell to Brule
Day 3 - Brule to Omega or Henson
Day 4 - Layover and day trips
Day 5 - Omega/Henson to Poplar

Day 5 is where you run into an issue. I'm not seeing a portage from Pillsbury to Allen on the online maps and sat maps don't seem to show navigable water between the 2. Perhaps a portage is marked on the paper maps?

You can do most of the same route but exit through Pillsbury, Swallow, Meeds to Poplar.

This trip could be done in a shorter amount of time if you'd like. I picked end points based on where I'd want to stop and spend a little time exploring versus just passing through. Day 2's travel would be fairly short depending on where on Winchell you started from and where on Brule you found a site.

keep in mind Brule can be busy. Thats why I'd plan for a shorter travel day to allow for setting up camp early and possibly having to cover some water to find an open site.

With a layover day I think you should plan for a minimum of 5 day 4 night trip.

nofish: "Day 5 is where you run into an issue. I'm not seeing a portage from Pillsbury to Allen on the online maps and sat maps don't seem to show navigable water between the 2. Perhaps a portage is marked on the paper maps?"

Yes, there is a portage from Pillsbury to Allen. I was on it last year. Online Voyageur Maps shows it.

Be aware that Grassy Lake no longer exists. The portage from Wanihigan goes all the way along the east side of the lake bed to the unnamed lake, so is probably pushing 300 rods.

Five days with layover for an enjoyable trip. I would prefer the layover on Brule. Lots of exploring to do there with no portages.

The Grassy Lake portage is long. I ran into some FS folks and we compared notes and they were guessing its more like 400 rods. Although long its still not a bad portage. Its been in its current form for several years now.