BWCA North Bay to Louisa Falls Day Trip? Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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      North Bay to Louisa Falls Day Trip?     

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05/17/2015 09:25PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Has anyone done this? We would single portage the "S" Chain to Agnes, see the falls, swim, then head back. My brother has doubts we could do it. I also would like to make a loop and go the East - West -Jeff route.
 
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05/17/2015 09:42PM  
I don't have a map in front of me, but wouldn't it be quicker to go through Burke--meadows-- Louisa? Might depend on where you camp on North Bay I guess.

We stayed on Burke last year, took my seven year old on a day trip to Louisa Falls it was about 3 hours to get to the falls.

T
billconner
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05/18/2015 06:03AM  
We did it from Burke, through Sunday and Meadows. Very easy, didn't leave very early and got back look late afternoon. From northern North Bay, I'd probably go South-Jeff-East, at least one way, and try to not cross North later in the day.
05/18/2015 06:24AM  
Yeah, S chain is too far north. East - Jeff route is something I always wanted to do anyway so we could go to agnes and decide if we have the time or energy to see the falls or just head back. My bro has back issues and sitting in a canoe too long might bother him. That's what he's concerned about.

05/18/2015 04:09PM  
Yes, all the way to Silence from PP is a long way.
But going in thru Meadows is easily doable for a day trip.
You could leave early and be at the falls by 11 or 12 easily.
Spend an hour or two at the falls and be back in Bayley bay for dinner.
05/18/2015 05:50PM  
quote billconner: "We did it from Burke, through Sunday and Meadows. Very easy, didn't leave very early and got back look late afternoon. From northern North Bay, I'd probably go South-Jeff-East, at least one way, and try to not cross North later in the day. "


When I was in there I was wondering if you could get through to Agnes via Jeff. Didn't look like on my McKenzie but then I often doubt my maps when traveling. I was thinking that distance-wise it would be feasible if weather, conditions cooperated. If portage crews have been through, portages should be clear by the time one is in there. Just my two cents.
05/18/2015 07:04PM  
I think it would take you about 5 1/2 hours one way if you're in good shape. Pretty much steady paddling and not much wind on Agnes especially, but other lakes also, which I have seen even on the south end.

I suppose you could trim a little time of that, but the reverse is true also.
05/18/2015 07:10PM  
As mentioned if you were based on Sunday,the long portages from Sunday to Agnes would be about 1 hour plus than 10 minutes to the Falls.
05/18/2015 07:18PM  
Pinetree you have inspired me. We are basecamping on North Bay but want to get closer to PP before we exit so we could move down to Sunday Lake then hit the falls on a daytrip the next day (our last full day).

Thanks guys! Always appreciate the pre trip info from experienced peeps.

billconner
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05/18/2015 08:07PM  
I think as a day trip this is a lot less than 5 hours. From middle of Burke, I'm sure is was barely two hours one way.
05/18/2015 10:12PM  
At Singing portage or the portage from Burke to Sunday down to the portage to Meadow is 2.25 miles. Than 0.9 miles of portaging before Agnes and also 0.1 mile across Meadow lake on the water. Than 1 mile from Agnes to Louise Falls.

Sunday sometimes gets a strong north wind coming into Burke portage or Singing brook portage,but that said it can be also dead calm. Just have to play it and decide when that day comes,that is part of canoeing.

Just a side note: I passed thru Burke last week and I am always amazed at all of the big pines on that lake. There was also a huge walleye head and skeleton on the rocks at Singing portage. I assume during spawning something got it.
05/19/2015 01:20AM  
quote HighnDry: "
quote billconner: "We did it from Burke, through Sunday and Meadows. Very easy, didn't leave very early and got back look late afternoon. From northern North Bay, I'd probably go South-Jeff-East, at least one way, and try to not cross North later in the day. "

When I was in there I was wondering if you could get through to Agnes via Jeff. Didn't look like on my McKenzie but then I often doubt my maps when traveling. I was thinking that distance-wise it would be feasible if weather, conditions cooperated. If portage crews have been through, portages should be clear by the time one is in there. Just my two cents."

There is a fairly well established route from West through Jeff to Agnes. Difficulty depends on the creek and pond heading out of West. Chrismar map is the best reference for portages. McKenzie and Fisher are fairly error prone and leave out many maintained routes.

06/09/2015 04:43PM  
Did this trip, but through Meadows portages, a few years ago from N Bay. Left around 8:30 and had lunch at L Falls. returned via Jeff and was back mid-afternoon. You might try to go down the Basswood River if you are strong paddlers and and willing to leave early and get back late. We made the table and saw the pictographs. We took a few provisions and a tent just in case things went bad, but no problems.
Moonpath
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06/25/2015 09:52PM  
I have gone from Jeff to Agnes. You go from Jeff to East Lake to Agnes. The portages are not hard and from East to Agnes a bit steep but very doable. Jeff is the better fishing lake.
 
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