Going to Argo in August...Party of six..
What is the best camp site and easiest route from Bottle portage? One has knee problem..

Bottle to Curtain for certain, not because it rhymes. I prefer the Roland Lake cutoff rather than the single carry into Argo. Pretty route.
Lots of campsites, sometimes folks are reluctant to name a favorite if they are not familiar with a poster.

I agree with the route suggested by GraniteCliffs, although I have not been up through the Rolands. The single 160 rod portage between Crooked and Argo is not the best choice for someone with knee problems because it has a tough granite ledge to climb up midway and, as if I remember correctly, a steep entry into Argo.

Stay away from the small island site roughly at UTM N-5345000 and E-588400 (NAD27). The climb to the campsite is very steep.

Direct portage from Crooked is by far the quickest way to Argo. The portage can be a little muddy at the very start but otherwise just a steady uphill climb except for the one large rock previously mentioned (not a problem). Curtain Falls to the portage is about 30 minutes. The portage takes 15-20 minutes one way.

Going through the Roland chain requires 4 easy portages but puts you out on the very Northeast corner of Argo. The best campsites are in the center portion of the lake so you have to paddle a couple miles to the south.

Going directly from Crooked will save you at least a couple of hours.

5* campsite is on the southeast side of the northern most island separating the east and west side of Argo. Another good campsite(smaller) is on the 2nd small island south of the campsite previously noted. Another 5* is on the south side of Birch island.

Argo is the prettiest lake I have ever seen. Water is crystal clear. By August the lake trout will be very deep. SM will be hard to find but you should have some success going down the Siobhan River and into the area just before you portage into Roland.

A Quetico trip for me is not complete unless I can spend some time on Argo. When we base camp on Crooked, we portage into Argo just to get 5 gallon containers of drinking water (no filter necessary) and to swim.

Cardinal, are you base camping in the BW or Q? Wondering about the Argo trip and permitting.

I base camp in the Quetico on the north side of Crooked.

Used to do a loop from Bottle, through Roland chain, Argo, Darky, Minn & out at Black Robe, but have found that I have more quality fishing area than I can handle for 8 days by staying on Crooked and doing a day trip to Middle Roland, Roland & Argo when I want a change of pace. Only two portages with all our stuff and we are done for the week. More fishing time and less time moving camp.

I go every year in early June.

quote CardinalNation: "I base camp in the Quetico on the north side of Crooked.


Used to do a loop from Bottle, through Roland chain, Argo, Darky, Minn & out at Black Robe, but have found that I have more quality fishing area than I can handle for 8 days by staying on Crooked and doing a day trip to Middle Roland, Roland & Argo when I want a change of pace. Only two portages with all our stuff and we are done for the week. More fishing time and less time moving camp.


I go every year in early June.
"

CardinalNation,

I will be going to that area in Sept. Wuld you mind sharing any of your knowledge about fishing Crooked, Rolands and Argo? I tried emailing you but the link did not work

quote CardinalNation: "I base camp in the Quetico on the north side of Crooked.


Used to do a loop from Bottle, through Roland chain, Argo, Darky, Minn & out at Black Robe, but have found that I have more quality fishing area than I can handle for 8 days by staying on Crooked and doing a day trip to Middle Roland, Roland & Argo when I want a change of pace. Only two portages with all our stuff and we are done for the week. More fishing time and less time moving camp.


I go every year in early June.
"

Agree with time to Argo is shorter via the one portage. Roland chain is very pretty, and worth the visit sometime, however. Unless the knee issue is severe, less packs for him should be considered if on the 160 if efficiency to Argo is the real goal. The island camp is very good, but very steep with sliding rocks impeding your efforts to get to the top of an elevated camp facing generally west/south.

Here is a marked up map of Argo

The eastern portage into Crooked is passable and shorter than listed. It's about a 90 rod carry to a beaver pond, a cool paddle through drowned and burned trees and then a short carry into Crooked.