Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Granite River Route
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deerfoot |
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SaganagaJoe |
I can only comment up to Devil's Elbow coming down from the north side, but the thread I've linked above covers this area pretty good, including where I found the walleyes. Devil's Elbow itself is great bass fishing, just make sure to fish the American side unless you have the Canadian licenses, etc. As far as navigating on Saganaga - once you leave Sag Falls, keep the shoreline on your left side. Look for a large, obvious rocky cliff (larger than it's surroundings) when you're headed west from the falls toward the channel. Once you reach that you should see the point at which you turn and head south, through the narrows where the motorboats are allowed to go, until you hit the channel. Just don't turn into any bays on your left and you won't get bewildered, as I have been many times on Sag. |
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SaganagaJoe |
quote Captn Tony: "Great route, I've done it twice. Should not be a problem in 4 days unless the wind comes up on Big Sag." For the most part, given you'll be coming from Sag Falls, unless you swing out into Big Sag for one of the island campsites, there's only going to be a few places where you have large stretches of water to think about, and hence where the really bad paddling conditions would be in a strong wind. including an open stretch between the southern end of Clark Island and the channel, depending on where the wind is coming from. I've paddled into the wind for the entire duration of the channel before. But there's enough options to get out of the wind to where I feel a tow boat isn't necessary. The earlier you get up in the morning, the better. If you time it right, Saganaga can look just like this: |
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OregonDave |
Starting out from Magnetic Lake, all the camps were taken so we portaged into Larch Lake and took the one remaining near the portage on the south side. |
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Jackfish |
And we camped three nights. First night at the sandy beach campsite that was mentioned about. The 2nd and 3rd nights at the same site in "the elbow". My son and I can make some miles when we want to so, in order to shorten your last day, you might consider staying one night at the elbow and another night closer to Sag. |
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Captn Tony |
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S. Murphy |
Thanks! |
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MikeinMpls |
I've done this route at least a dozen times. Let me know if you require more info. Mike |
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johndku |
We hit some big wind, but I'd recommend this trip. Longest portage is 100 rods, and you won't have to travel very far on any given day. Are you getting a tow at the end from Sag Falls, or paddling on Saganaga back? Sag is a big lake and can get pretty rough. Nice campsite on the north side of Clove Lake with a sandy beach. Don't be tempted to run any of the small-looking rapids. You can find a couple of border markers on this route, I remember one just after the first portage exiting Gunflint Lake. Have a great trip. |
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northallen |
The only current is at the portages. The rest is open water. As stated, lots of good fishing and the forest is coming back nicely ten years after the burn; great bluberry patches. I have some pics in my album if you want to check them out. |
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quote wrestlencanoe: "Me and my son did this 2 weeks ago as part of our border route. We went upstream from Sag to Gunflint. Saw only one group camping at Devil's Elbow and another group at the portage from Granite Bay to Granite Lake. The portages are short but very slick the day we did it from all the rain. Here are some pics of the Clove Lake site. I think it We stayed at that site last August. Wonder why somebody rearranged all the rocks around the fire grate to put the sitting area facing away from the lake..... |
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wrestlencanoe |
was affected by the blow down last year. Little Rock Falls |
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wrestlencanoe |
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Mad_Angler |
quote S. Murphy: "We are planning to head to BWCA August 1-4 and our outfitter recommended the Granite River route entering at Magnetic Lake and going to Saganaga. ..." I did this trip in 2014 as a large family trip. It was me, my wife, our 4 daughters, one husband, one fiancee and one of my daughters' friends. The girls were in high school and college. It was a great trip. We did it in a week but we only paddled every other day. Blueberries were all over the route and August 1-4 should be about the right time for them (bring empty plastic containers for taking lunches to work. Those containers are light and relatively crush proof.) Ask your outfitter for a marked-up map. Our outfitter was Seagull Outfitters and I still have that map. The marks were very good. |