Three of us will be using Zup's shuttle from Crane to get to #43 McAree in early June. Five nights of bliss and fish. Any suggested itinerary? Considering loop via Wicksteed, Darkwater, Argo, but having a hard time passing on seeing Minn or even William in a day trip basecamp scenario. Any insight?

As always need to find time for 10 day trips! Thanks!

William might be a bit ambitious for 5 days, unless you're okay with travelling a lot. I wouldn't sweat missing out on Minn. Not sure why, but that lake just didn't appeal to me for some reason.

If I had 5 days there, I would do exactly what you're doing. Push over to Darkwater, and if weather is cooperating head into Argo then loop back through Crooked/Iron. You have many points of interest along that route: the Goat portage, the nice little stream/falls from Ballard on Darkwater, good LMB fishing on Ballard, the picto in Darkwater, Argo's beauty including the awesome 5* island campsite if available, Curtain Falls, Rebecca falls.

That would be a lot for 5 days especially if you are wanting to fish, but you could do it. And that is an insanely good fishing area.

With six days and five nights, I think you'll have plenty of time to see that area well. How far you go on day trips is totally up to you and your group, but daytripping to and from William from Darkwater is probably more than I would care to do in a day if I also wanted to fish much. It's definitely doable... just a longer day.

You really can't go wrong spending time on any of these lakes. I would spend nights on Wicksteed or Darkwater, Argo, and maybe McAree to be able to fish the morning before you get picked back up. The Roland chain is also a nice place to daytrip or travel through. Middle Roland has healthy walleye. Didn't catch many as we passed through, but the couple we caught were good size with good girth relative to our average walleye size up there.

Overall, I don't think it will be a terribly difficult traveling trip, so you'll probably have plenty of time and energy to fish and daytrip as desired. But most of those lakes that you'll have the opportunity to camp on are worth exploring and fishing for full days on their own as well.

Here is a previous discussion on the area

McAree Loop discussion

SummerSkin: "William might be a bit ambitious for 5 days, unless you're okay with travelling a lot. I wouldn't sweat missing out on Minn. Not sure why, but that lake just didn't appeal to me for some reason.


If I had 5 days there, I would do exactly what you're doing. Push over to Darkwater, and if weather is cooperating head into Argo then loop back through Crooked/Iron. You have many points of interest along that route: the Goat portage, the nice little stream/falls from Ballard on Darkwater, good LMB fishing on Ballard, the picto in Darkwater, Argo's beauty including the awesome 5* island campsite if available, Curtain Falls, Rebecca falls.


That would be a lot for 5 days especially if you are wanting to fish, but you could do it. And that is an insanely good fishing area."

Thanks Skin! Always a balance on the shorter trips to balance fishing vs exploration.

cburton103: "With six days and five nights, I think you'll have plenty of time to see that area well. How far you go on day trips is totally up to you and your group, but daytripping to and from William from Darkwater is probably more than I would care to do in a day if I also wanted to fish much. It's definitely doable... just a longer day.


You really can't go wrong spending time on any of these lakes. I would spend nights on Wicksteed or Darkwater, Argo, and maybe McAree to be able to fish the morning before you get picked back up. The Roland chain is also a nice place to daytrip or travel through. Middle Roland has healthy walleye. Didn't catch many as we passed through, but the couple we caught were good size with good girth relative to our average walleye size up there.


Overall, I don't think it will be a terribly difficult traveling trip, so you'll probably have plenty of time and energy to fish and daytrip as desired. But most of those lakes that you'll have the opportunity to camp on are worth exploring and fishing for full days on their own as well."

Thanks Cburton!

plander: "Here is a previous discussion on the area


McAree Loop discussion "

Perfect plander. MIssed that one somehow.