My wife and I have a permit for August 11-18, Entry Point, Prairie Portage. We travel light, single portage, we don't fish. We would really like to find a route where we would see fewer people, the fewer people the better. This is our first trip to Quetico after many trips to the BWCA. We have had enough of the crowds in BWCA and we are seeking some solitude. Also, any advice on specific campsites, good swimming and/or beaches would be appreciated.

It's easier to avoid people in Quetico. I had good luck in finding solitude along the chain of small lakes between Louisa Lake and McEwen Lake. From Prairie Portage, get an Agnes entry permit and get past Sunday Lake and Agnes. Past Louisa Falls people will start to thin out very quickly.

Rick,
What is the entry with your Prairie Portage Ranger Station? Agnes,Kashapiwi, Sarah, Basswood River, Carp ?????? What Number?

I've gone through PP every year and in all directions - obviously some more than once - and after day one, I don't see anyone or maybe one or two parties in passing. You can get to Isabella or beyond on first day heading toward Kash or Sarah entries, beyond that you should have no trouble avoiding most other campers. The year I went up to Carp I saw no one till the Falls Chain.

Face it that between PP and above Louisa Falls, heavy (for Quetico) traffic - could pass by 4 to 6 other groups in early August. Beyond - you might see a few canoes go by at a distance.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how much solitude there is. I recall that there is about 1/3 the number in Quetico as in BWCA.

And if you really want wilderness and solitude, I'm told try Wabakimi - another 2-3 hours past BWCA. The math says 1 there for every 400 or so in BWCA/Quetico.

number 61, Agnes

So, with Agnes as your entry you have 2 choices, throught Burke and the Meadows portages into Agnes or through Burke and North Basswood and the S chain into Agnes. After Agnes you can go anywhere you want.
You could come back by way of William & Hurlburt & Trant into Kashapiwi.....then back into North Bay of Basswood...depends on how many portages you want to take. Beautiful area!

If you get into the lakes between Agnes and Kash, you should bump into very few others. Also, further north into the big Kawnipi bays will provide solitude. Good luck!!

The route from Agnes - Kawnipi - Kahshapiwi provided me with 5 days of not seeing another soul just a few years ago. Great area!

Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. After reading your responses and studying the maps, I am thinking about taking the S-Chain north instead of Agnes. Do you think there will be many people paddling the S-Chain? Not sure where to go once I get in the S-Chain, maybe Grey, Yum Yum? (or we could just paddle straight up Agnes) How long does it take to paddle from the south end of Agnes to the north end?

I haven't done the entire S-Chain but I have done Agnes. The length of time to paddle her depends on two things -- your fitness level and the wind direction. She can be a bear if you're paddling into a strong headwind. Good luck!

I think the letter of the law in regaurds to your permit is that you can go where ever you want after reaching Agnes...I don't think you are suppose to start the S chain towards Agnes and then go to Kashapiwi instead.

Go all the way up Agnes, into Kawnipi, and back down Kash. Or hook east and come back down through McEwen and Louisa. You will probably see another party or 3 per day on the average.

Travel similarly as you with my wife except we fish. Some good options by others so far.

In 2008 we had the same entry. Went into Agnes first day--was at Louisa Falls for Lunch and camped near there---then the zoo showed up :) But once you head north on Agnes and get past the Agnes to Silence Portage there is barely anyone. Most people do the S-CHain loop. We were on the North end of Agnes--over to Reid--Woodside--Trant--Kashipiwi---NorthBay--then back to PP. Woodside looked like we were the only ones to camp on it in a few years. Had north end of Agnes, Woodside, Trant, and Kash all to ourselves.
2008 trip report

Here is my report form that route. Ignore the idiots I met North of Louisa Falls--our trip was awesome still.

Have fun.

T

Least traveled option to Agnes would probably be North Bay into South and then West/Jeff/East, went through there in 08 and the portages showed considerably less use than the S chain. Agnes might get a bit busy but if you head through Silence and into Reid or Trant and Hurlburt there will be much less traffic. Kawinipi and Kahshahpiwi Creek lakes will gather some traffic, but you can find isolation in back bays. The route out of Kahshahpiwi through McNeice sees more traffic now that beaver dam blow out has made the portage towards Side long and difficult. There is a lightly used route from Kahshahpiwi into the north end of Sarah (through Irene), very pretty, there are portages into some of the little lakes off of the route that are almost never traveled. From Sarah you can head to Tuck (some traffic through here) and then into Kett to feel isolated again for your last night. If you cover ground easily another alternative is to head to McIntyre from Sarah and then west through a series of unnamed lakes (very pretty and lightly traveled) into Earl and then Ted. Drop me an email if you have questions.

It will be a great trip