We have taken the tow before and were dropped of at American Point (Honeymoon Island). However, I can't remember about how long it takes to paddle from American Point on Big Sag to Ester/Hanson. I am thinking about 4 to 5 hours depending on size of group and experience. We will be double portaging. Is that about right?

That's pretty close, depending on wind, of course.

I haven't done that route, but looking at PP, comparing times for the padding & portaging I did around that region this year... PP says 3.5h to the middle of Ester, assuming double portaging, 5m to load, 2mph portaging 3mph paddling. I would pad that to 4-4.5h depending on the speed of your paddle vs speed of portages, and how much you sightsee, and how bad/good the wind is. If you move quick on the water then 4h is probably a decent estimate, with the first 4 of 8 miles of the day being on the water uninterrupted by portages. I highly recommend checking out Cherry if you get down there! Both sites are awesome.

Depends on the wind, especially over the open water on Sag. We've paddled to the end of Ottertrack in 4 hours with a tail wind.

Double post.

Just did this route in September. My notes say we left American point at 9:30, arrived at a campsite on the very south end of Ester at 1:50, very little wind. We were double portaging. I was with my wife and she's not a real strong paddler, she takes the stern and steers the boat, and I pour on the steam up front. I think we average around 3 mph, but I must admit we're a little pokey on the portages. The next day we made it down to the south end of Hanson in about 1.5 hours but were fighting a stiff head wind.

TheGreatIndoors: "Depends on the wind, especially over the open water on Sag. We've paddled to the end of Ottertrack in 4 hours with a tail wind."

We went from American Point to the west end of Ottertrack in 5 hours. We double portaged, stopped for photos at monument portage and stopped for a snack on the east campsite on Ottertrack.

I think you are right on for time. I have made that trip many times and that seems about right to me. Like everyone else says, the wind is a factor, but for the most part I don't think you would have a problem even with a good breeze.

GET ON THE WATER EARLY. Sorry for the caps, but I can't stress it enough. Prevailing winds usually have a western component. The landscape will bend anything with a western component out of Cache Bay and right into your face. We pack really heavy, about 45 minutes to an hour to traverse Sag from the tow drop off to the opening of first bay, and then another half hour or so to the swamp lake portage in 3rd bay. But then we are paddling very heavy, very wide, very slow alumacrafts.

Having said that, in heavy wind, I have had that stretch, from the drop spot, to 1st bay take 2 hours. I've been going that route for 40 plus years, and at least 3 times, we had to turn back, because we couldn't get around American point. It's not worth it in heavy wind.

Get out early. Very early, and you'll miss the wind more often than not, and be glad you did. Plus there are some times moose in the narrows between 1st and 2nd bay, but you'll only see them if you are very early. That's another reason to travel early. We usually spend the night at the Rockwood lodge in their bunkhouse, and we like to get out of the bunkhouse at 5am. There are some really moosey spots between there and the end of the trail, especially near seagul, and traveling on the gunflint at that that hour, gives you a very good chance to see something. One time, someone forgot their sunglasses, we were a little disappointed to have to go back to Rockwood and get them, but we got to see a bear crossing the road, so it was worth it.