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Scouts211
member (18)member
  
01/10/2017 01:28PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Starting to plan for an early fall trip and we are considering putting in at EP 62 Clearwater lake and doing a loop of Caribou, Little Caribou, Pine, East and West Pike lakes. Any input on this route would be appreciated, which loop direction would be best, etc...

Happy Paddling!
 
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bottomtothetap
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01/10/2017 02:34PM  
1. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
2. The two eastern-most campsites on Caribou Lake are nice--we stayed at the more west-located of the two.
3. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
4. The campsite on Little Caribou is also very nice but can be hard to get. Recent-years water quality in Little Caribou has not been great either.
5. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
6. On West Pike, the bass fishing can be pretty good between the island and the southern shore.
7. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
8. We stayed at the island site on West Pike and enjoyed it.
9. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
10. Bass fishing was good in the western, skinny part of East Pike Lake.
11. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
12. Prepare to be wind-bound on Pine Lake--especially if your route takes your direction of travel from east to west on Pine.
13. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
14. The eastern portage between Caribou and Clearwater Lakes can be a tester!
15. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
16. There is a trail to the top of the Clearwater's palisades--worth the effort for a great view. The trail can be hard to spot from the lake. Ask the staff at Clearwater Lodge and they can give you tips on finding the trail.
17. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
18. Southern shore toward the east end of Caribou Lake is also good for bass fishing.
19. DON'T MISS JOHNSON FALLS!
20. Relax and enjoy--a great area to take a trip!

In addition to the above, I might emphasize that you should not miss Johnson Falls :) Be sure to take in the upper and lower falls.

Here is a video I did about our trip to this area. There is also a trip report on this forum entitled "Wandering to West Pike Lake." Have fun!
TuscaroraBorealis
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01/10/2017 07:34PM  
Here's some information about that area towards the end of the report.

....and, if you haven't heard? Johnson Falls is not to be missed. :) Be sure to check out the colossal cedar below the falls too!
01/11/2017 09:02AM  
While I've only been to that area once, I'd agree the Johnson Falls recommendation(s). If you are looking to do any day hiking, check out the Border Route Trail. There are several places you can get on as you travel around Caribou, West Pike and Pine lakes. It wouldn't be that hard to accitendally follow it to Gogebic Lake going between Caribou to West Pike.

Regarding other waterfalls, I think there is a low flow set of them along the portage between Pine and Vale Lakes.
01/11/2017 10:22AM  
When you travel from Pine to East Pike, you will technically be outside of the BWCA. Usually travel outside of the BWCA will require a new permit before reentering the BWCA. This will not be the case for you. The rules that surround "continuation of trip" allow for short stints out of the BWCA, as long as you don't wander too far off the path. No going to vehicles or outfitters. Weather you choose to take the more difficult 230 rod portage from McFarland to East Pike or the easier path through Little John and John lakes, you will be following any and all BWCA regulations.

Any further questions about the legality of leaving and reentering the BWCA should be directed at the Forrest Service.

There is an amazing over look of West Pike lake on the Boarder Route Trail (BRT). From the West Pike to Pine portage, walk west on the BRT. There are others and I haven't seen them all, but this is my favorite so far.

And really don't miss Johnson Falls, it is a special place. Don't forget there is an upper and lower falls. The upper in a heavy flood year was quite an awe-inspiring experience.
01/12/2017 12:44PM  
We did that route back in 2011. You can view my trip report here.
01/12/2017 08:31PM  
We have gone from Clearwater to Pine the last 2 years. Pine can be very difficult when there is a strong west wind. ( Actually last year both Caribou and Clearwater were also challenging and stressful on our exit (east to west) as the wind was strong, waves high, and we were with inexperienced paddlers).

Johnson Falls is beautiful, but with last years storms, there were a lot of trees down across the trail. I don't know if they have been cleared at all. Maybe someone else here or Clearwater Lodge would know about that. if you camp on the east end of Pine I would suggest seeing the falls as you enter/ exit the west end. It is a long way from one end of the lake to the other,especially on a windy day.

The trail that runs next to campsite 6 on Pine was ok on the way up the hill. We tried hiking the BRT west from there but it was so overgrown that we didn't get too far.

On Caribou the trail over to Clearwater between campsite 5 and 6 was steep and wet, but clear. For us the portage on the west end by site 1 was better, tho it was really muddy.

It is a great route. Enjoy it.


YumDinger
member (25)member
  
01/13/2017 01:03PM  
There are stocked brook trout in Vale lake if you can handle a steep/tight climb.
01/14/2017 07:09AM  
quote YumDinger: "There are stocked brook trout in Vale lake if you can handle a steep/tight climb. "


When were you up there? Last year we looked for that trail but didn't see it. We didn't look too hard and never got out of the canoe, but couldn't really tell where it was.
TuscaroraBorealis
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01/14/2017 07:30AM  
quote 4keys: "
quote YumDinger: "There are stocked brook trout in Vale lake if you can handle a steep/tight climb. "



When were you up there? Last year we looked for that trail but didn't see it. We didn't look too hard and never got out of the canoe, but couldn't really tell where it was.
"


It's just a bit east of the lone south shore campsite. We needed to paddle right on shore to find the trail.
01/14/2017 04:34PM  
quote TuscaroraBorealis: "
quote 4keys: "
quote YumDinger: "There are stocked brook trout in Vale lake if you can handle a steep/tight climb. "




When were you up there? Last year we looked for that trail but didn't see it. We didn't look too hard and never got out of the canoe, but couldn't really tell where it was.
"



It's just a bit east of the lone south shore campsite. We needed to paddle right on shore to find the trail."


That explains it. We didn't get too close to that campsite. If we go there again we will look for it.
CrazyLoon
member (22)member
  
01/25/2020 02:27PM  
Going to pick up on an old post here instead of opening a new one. Been into Quetico a dozen or so times over 25yrs. Going to be making my first trip into the BWCA in May this year and with a greenhorn thats never even been in a canoe before. He cant cross the border otherwise we'd be in the Q and wouldn't have any questions.

Looking to get away from the motor lakes, lodges and roads got me looking into the northeast corner and Clearwater Lake area. Any new suggestions or information about this area besides "Don't Go See Johnson Falls".. Preferred outfitter? Good Basecamp Lake? Fishing lakes for two terrible fisherman using our kids zebco poles.
TuscaroraBorealis
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01/25/2020 05:15PM  
Little Caribou is probably the best basecamp nearest Johnson falls. But, I wouldn't count on it being available. Caribou is a good fishing lake.
moustachesteve
senior member (84)senior membersenior member
  
02/19/2020 02:31PM  
Hi All - Resurrecting this thread again...sorry in advance for a lengthy post but more info helps you give better advice. I'm planning a trip using EP62 and likely will go through Clearwater Outfitters for at least a canoe rental if not additional outfitting. I've read countless trip reports (especially Tuscaurora Borealis'), checked campsite ratings, scoured MN DNR Lake Finder, etc but some additional input would be welcomed.

The group will just be me and my wife. We arrive May 29th and will enter the following day. I have PTO flexibility so trip length is undefined, hence the inquiry. It will be 5-8 days. We are both in decent shape but she is a beginner paddler and I'm not great on a canoe either. I have a few BWCA trips under my belt but nothing recent and most of my paddling is via kayak. The big water east-west lakes worry me so I'd like to know what's realistic to work into a 5 day timeframe vs 8 day timeframe - obviously dependent on wind/weather.

Priorities: fishing (walleye, lake trout, brook trout, and maybe SMB for her to stay entertained) is the top priority, then scenery (Johnson Falls, BRT overlooks, palisades), then solitude. I'd imagine that going in prior to schools letting out will mean we won't be overrun with other paddlers in the area.

The loose plan for now is to base camp 1-2 places over the course of the trip rather than making a new camp each day. I'm targeting the east end of Clearwater/Caribou, Little Caribou area for camps due to a central location for the lakes I'd like to visit. I know for sure that we'll visit Clearwater, Caribou, Little Caribou, and West Pike en route to Gogebic. My question is whether Mountain Lake would be worth a visit or if that's outside the realm of a daytrip with beginner paddlers and east-west orientation. The views it offers are appealing, as are the lake trout. Furthermore, a trip to Mountain could open up Pemmican for brook trout as well, but that's a hike and the return trip (assuming west wind) gives me pause. I guess we could base camp on Mountain too? Alternatively, we could check out Vale or Gadwall off Pine for brook trout, but those share similar concerns and would sacrifice the views on Mountain for whatever Pine has to offer.

I've read that each of these small brook trout lakes has difficult portages so I'm considering just hiking to them with a fly rod to shore fish. Would I be selling myself short by doing so?

Sorry for rambling. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!
02/19/2020 05:10PM  
Check out the Tumblehome pod cast number 002 for a boat load of info for that area
TuscaroraBorealis
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02/19/2020 06:36PM  
If you're not against walking in the water; then I think you should be ok heading up to those lakes without a canoe. Since the hiking trail skirts most of the lake, Gogebic will offer the best opportunities to fish from shore.
cyclones30
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02/19/2020 08:48PM  
Blatz: "Check out the Tumblehome pod cast number 002 for a boat load of info for that area"


Yep, you won't find better content on that area than from Adam and Erik. (and the Clearwater website to a degree)
thegildedgopher
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02/20/2020 12:38PM  
Steve, just a thought -- I'm not sure what those stream trout fisheries are looking like given the changes to stocking. I read in December that none of those lakes were stocked in 2019. They were already on an every-other-year plan, which means for lakes like Pemmican that are stocked on odd years, they haven't been stocked since 2017.

I have always wanted to fish brookies in the BWCA, but it seems like the trip to Ontario might be time better spent until they get the stocking sorted out.
moustachesteve
senior member (84)senior membersenior member
  
02/20/2020 03:29PM  
thegildedgopher: "Steve, just a thought -- I'm not sure what those stream trout fisheries are looking like given the changes to stocking."


That's a good point. I'd forgotten about that. Some of them were stocked in 2018 and stream trout are the one type of fishing that my wife enjoys, so I'll probably still make the hike and bring a fly rod to Gogebic.
thegildedgopher
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02/27/2020 03:37PM  
moustachesteve: "
thegildedgopher: "Steve, just a thought -- I'm not sure what those stream trout fisheries are looking like given the changes to stocking."



That's a good point. I'd forgotten about that. Some of them were stocked in 2018 and stream trout are the one type of fishing that my wife enjoys, so I'll probably still make the hike and bring a fly rod to Gogebic."


Awesome, I'll be really interested to hear how you do and might bug you for some specifics as the kid and I will be up 12 days later. If you're able to find a decent spot to fish from shore we might hike up.
 
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