I'm headed up LIS this summer and will be camping on Lynx or Shell. I think a day hike from Shell to Devil's Cascade would be fun. Any advice on the best place to hop on the hiking trail? Other than right at a portage? It looks like from my maps that the trail comes right to the shoreline in several spots. What is the best spot to leave canoes and grab the trail? How about hopping on the trail at Little Shell vs. Shell. Will it add a significant amount of time? Too much for a day hike?

I recall seeing it when we portaged from Shell to Heritage. It was fairly open there if I recall and could handle canoe stashing. That was many years ago.....just sayin'.

Photo shows the trail involved, couple of ways.

butthead

quote Goldenbadger: "I'm headed up LIS this summer and will be camping on Lynx or Shell. I think a day hike from Shell to Devil's Cascade would be fun. Any advice on the best place to hop on the hiking trail? Other than right at a portage? It looks like from my maps that the trail comes right to the shoreline in several spots. What is the best spot to leave canoes and grab the trail? How about hopping on the trail at Little Shell vs. Shell. Will it add a significant amount of time? Too much for a day hike?"

Between Little Shell and Shell there is plenty of space to stash a canoe. I wouldn't worry about where you put it as long as it is away from the portage. You shouldn't have any problem getting to D.C. If you want to shorten your hike, paddle to the Shell to Heritage portage and pick up the trail there.

Thank you, everyone. I wanted to avoid leaving canoes at a portage so we don't clog it up. And also so no one worries about what happened to us with canoes just left somewhere with no one around. If there's plenty of room at a portage, I won't feel as bad stashing them there.

Is that stretch of trail we'll used? Trail conditions? Well marked?

I backpacked it last April. Conditions were very wet. While much of that is seasonal, I would expect to get wet feet or more. I believe the trail gets light traffic, but is easy to follow. It is a back-country trail that is more rugged than most portages, but not so bad.

I think this is a great idea to spice up a trip.



John

There's plenty of space to leave your canoes at the Shell-Little Shell portage. Cross over the creek and you shouldn't have any problem finding the trail.

I hiked to it from the Shell-Lower Pauness portage. It took maybe 20-30 minutes each way.