Heading up to McIntyre in June, and wondering what the fastest way is if we get a tow to Washington Island? Going via Kett up to Sarah seems pretty direct on my maps but I'm hearing mixed reviews on those portages. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Welcome JLW. I can't help but I know that PineKnot, HoHo -- to name a couple -- and others should be able to. Good luck. --Goose

Sarah entry. North Bay to Side to Sarah to McIntyre. Two days of travel, possible in one if you are packed light and push hard and take a tow.

Some tough portages in between North Bay and Side. Take the creek route from Side to Sarah. I've paddled from Kett to Moose and it seemed like a long hard day (via Wind Lake). Portages into Kett are long but not difficult.

quote Banksiana: "Sarah entry. North Bay to Side to Sarah to McIntyre. Two days of travel, possible in one if you are packed light and push hard and take a tow.

Some tough portages in between North Bay and Side. Take the creek route from Side to Sarah. I've paddled from Kett to Moose and it seemed like a long hard day (via Wind Lake). Portages into Kett are long but not difficult."

I also think this route is your best bet. My only difference is I do not take the creek route into Sarah, just do it in one lift. Except for last year when we accidently took the creek coming out of Sarah.

I agree with Banksiana and GraniteCliffs that you want to go via Side Lake into Sarah to McIntyre. If you are getting a tow to Washington Island, I think you would want to paddle up that north/south section of Basswood and then go via Point and Nest Lakes, and an Unnamed Lake or two, to get to Side. If you were just starting at Prairie Portage, there would be a few other ways to get to Side, but no matter which way you go, there is a lot of portaging, and in particular, the portage into Side is rugged.

From Side to Sarah, I've always taken the creek route (which involves three short portages) rather than the single long portage, so I can't say for sure which is better, just which one I've always done.

From Sarah to McIntyre, there are also two portages that more or less start and end in the same area, one a little longer, one a little steeper. Neither is particularly hard, so just go with your druthers.

By the way, I think the Kett portages are really great (I'm a portage lover). But I don't think they are the fastest way to McIntyre. It's an area worth exploring if you are so inclined, however.

I have done the creek route the last three times into Sarah. I've done the single portage twice and I consider it considerably more difficult (not to mention less scenic, the creek is very pretty). Not certain which is quicker.

On the Sarah to McIntyre portages HoHo is a little glib. The one to the south is considerably longer, the northern route is much, much steeper. Other than one pass with Ho Ho I've always opted for the short steep route, but it is close to as steep as they come for the initial climb.

I second HoHo's sentiments on the Kett portages- very pretty.

While I have not been to McIntyre, I have gone (reverse direction) where HoHo is suggesting through Ranger Bay of Basswood, Point and Nest to Isabella. Very interesting area -- especially King point on Basswood. Point to Nest is little-used and was partly swampy and partly rock garden when we were there, but nothing that should concern you. Highly suggest stopping for a break or lunch at King Point and checking out the old cabins/relics if you go that way. --Goose

Agree with all comments. I'd suggest heading from PP to North Bay, Isabella creek, Isabella to Side, creek route to Sarah and then onto McIntyre. Coming back, when you've got you stronger portage legs and a lighter food pack, you can do either Point/Nest or Robinson/Kett wherre the longer portages will be easier.

Since I double portage, the real steep portage into Side is much easier for me going downhill into Side than going uphill from Side. Also, the creek route into Sarah is much easier than the steep portage some have dubbed Heart Attack Hill which I'd have to do twice.

I'd prefer the Kett route on the return via Robinson as it is super scenic. The steep/short uphill portage from Nub to the unnamed pond is one of my favorite Q portages passing next to a cliff with huge erratics near the top (along with catching 12-13 inch largemouth on almost every cast into the unnamed pond and then taking the steep short downhill portage into Kett). Once back on Basswood, you can get back to PP either through Burke or paddle the long way through the Merriam bays as long as the wind is cooperating....

The short (north) portage from Sarah to McIntyre is very steep. We took the long (south) portage from Sarah to McIntyre, and the short (north) portage from McIntyre to Sarah. It is easier going downhill short (north) portage; however, we might have taken the long (south) portage if it was wet and rainy.

That north, south, long, short sounds confusing when I read it.

One other thing: we spent way too much time in Isabella Creek. I really cannot explain why. I think we would have made better time as someone suggested, by getting out of the canoe and walking the creek. The creek bed is pretty solid sand and was not very deep last June. Enough to paddle in, but not enough to overwhelm our Muck boots.

Definitely quicker to walk the canoe up that creek and push/slide the canoe over the various beaver dams....

Last year we took a tow to Washington Island, and then went through Kett, Tuck, and Sarah. We stayed on Sarah Night 1 and probably could have made McIntyre. We started from Washington Island at maybe 9:30 - 10:00, had a late lunch on Kett, and got to Sarah by 5-6. I thought this was easier and faster than going the Isabella way, which we did the year before from PP. I've never done the Point Nest Route, though.

The worst part of this trip was the Kett portages, and they weren't that bad, just kind of long. After that there were a number of small portages, but nothing too bad. I think we would have been pretty tired if we would have paddled Sarah and did that portage into McIntyre on day 1 though. There is a nice island camp on Sarah, straight east of the tuck portage.

We didn't really plan on going to Sarah on day 1, but everything was just working great so we kept paddling.

Several years ago we took the tow to Back Bay. Traveled the Basswood River to Robinson Lake. We could have easily made it to McIntyre but stayed on Robinson then to Argo the next day. We were camping on Robinson by 3:30 - 4. Though I suppose the cost of the tow is quite a bit more now.

Last July (traveling with HoHo and David) we left PP at 9:00am or so. Traveling through Isabella (via the river) and Side I made camp about half way up Sarah by 3:00pm.