BWCA Man Chain area Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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01/24/2017 08:14PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
After several trips to BWCA we're finally going to try a trip to Quetico. We're planning on a tow to Prairie Portage and I'm thinking of going through Emerald to Plough or Littlerock lake. Littlerock Lake looks interesting from the satellite view, but I can't tell if there are any decent campsites there. Has anyone camped in that area? We're trying to avoid through trip areas. Any help is appreciated. After our last trip I owe my husband a less stressful experience. Thanks
 
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Eyedocron
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01/24/2017 08:55PM  
My PP map does not show any campsites on Littlerock Lake, not even secondary ones. I have been through this area three times over the years, and Emerald is a very nice lake if you are not into an adventurous tour. Several nice campsites there, but not remote, if that is your desire.
01/24/2017 09:09PM  
I laid over on Emerald in 2013. there's a beauty of a site at the east end near the Plough portage. The lake is definitely colored different there. I fished pretty hard for a day but it was slow. Nothing of note but it looked real fishy if you know what I mean.

I spent a night on Birch Lake and loved it there also. Carp Lake seemed very busy with campers as I passed through.

01/24/2017 10:49PM  
Thanks, we passed through Birch and Carp to Kekekabik before, but didn't have Quetico permits. There were some pretty barren areas up until the South arm of Knife so the area makes me a little nervous. We're also considering the Pines loop up toward Silence and Mcneice. The Quetico and Beyond book mentions a lot of old growth pines in the area which we usually enjoy seeing. Agnes seems like it might be a little busy so not sure if it is a destination to avoid crowds. Do we need a different permit to go that direction?
01/25/2017 06:58AM  
There's been some burns in that area around McNiece since that book was written.

A nice intro to the Q loop would be through North Bay of Basswood then east into Shade Lake. From there you have two loop options. Go up the S chain to Agnes and then down and out Sunday or Poacher LK. On this route you can swing by Louisa Falls which is really fantastic especially if it's a day you can swim. There's a "bathtub pool" of water about five feet deep where you can stand under the falls.

Or, go north from Shade through McNeice then either to Kahsh or Yum Yum before looping back to North Bay. This way would definitely be more rugged with less people.

Another option is to go from North Bay through Jeff and East Lakes to Agnes. Pretty remote area with nice sites on East Lake. You still get to visit the falls too.



billconner
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01/25/2017 08:09AM  
Are you looking for a loop or base camp destination?

Yes, heading towards Man Chain is a different permit than Agnes, Kashapiwi, Sarah, or Basswood River. 5 different entry points from PP. Different concept from BWCA - Q entry points are points or lakes that you head toward and pass through - first or second day usually.
01/25/2017 02:23PM  
I've done the short and extremely steep portage from Plough up to Little Rock. Despite being about 5 rods it is very hard to get gear up the hill. Good luck! Rumor has it there is a campsite on the point just north of the portage. Another short portage over to Amik Lake and then a 3rd portage from Amik down to Plough. I'd camp on the 5 star camp on Emerald and day trip to those lakes if I were you. Enjoy!
Lailoken
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01/25/2017 10:04PM  
I did Old Pine Loop two years ago solo, and was hard/low use portages. Man Chain nice 5/6 loop.
01/26/2017 04:57PM  
Thanks for the info. I found a Man chain map I had from before. It looks like we will need to backtrack if we want to go to Emerald and the Man chain unless we want to go all the way to Ottertrack. Amoeber looks like a nice lake too so we may make a side trip down there.
 
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