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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum 16-Iron Lake Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| RoJo |
06/12/2023 05:50PM We just went in 16 last Sunday, double portaged and made it to LLC at about 2:30, after getting on the water from the entry point at 7:00 am. Went to Iron Tuesday early and still had a challenge finding an open site. |
| Freeleo1 |
06/12/2023 05:32PM We made it to Boulder Bay the first evening about 4 pm double portaging with about a 9am start. It takes a long time to get to EP 16 if you are coming from Ely, so count that in as well. We were happy to find the other campsite on the Island across from Bottle portage open. Every campsite on the Boulder river and Tiger bay were taken. I think the Tiger Bay sites are almost never available unless you get really lucky and get there early also. The next morning we portaged into Iron and fought through the narrows against a strong wind funneling through there. It took us a lot longer than we thought it would due to fighting the wind, so take that into account if trying to get into Iron late in the day. We ended up at the island campsite near Peterson Bay. Several of the other sites were occupied by about 1 or 2, but we passed a few less desirable spots that were open. |
| Bushman |
06/09/2023 11:05AM Agnes is very popular and can be tough to get a site. It's kind of in that sweet spot for distance away from the entry. "just far enough". When I went that way my destination was Tiger Bay. There were some spots open in Boulder Bay but we passed them up and when we got to Tiger Bay all the spots were taken so we backtracked just a tad to the island site north of Boulder Bay. It was just three of us in a 20' Wenonah Seneca that took some time to get through the Moose River with all it's winding back and forth but we made the island site by 2pm. We double portaged and I had my father with me who only carried a small tackle box due to some heart issues he has. We didn't want to overtax him so he enjoyed a leisurely stroll down the portages. Later that evening we went out fishing and the spots in Boulder Bay were full. |
| OMGitsKa |
06/09/2023 09:47AM I only went to Iron from Stuart but we did go out of Iron to EP16 in one day. Took about the whole day but honestly wasn't too bad, the river section was the slowest. Start early and send it I guess. LLC is a beautiful lake as well though so posting up for a day or two wouldn't be a bad option. Campsite 1839 - the western site on Three Island is a beauty! |
| Lawnchair107 |
06/08/2023 03:00PMmgraber: "I wouldn't want to get to Iron late in the day, it can be very busy. A couple of years ago we got to Iron around 3 and it was full up. We talked to some folks who had come from Crooked that had checked all campsites from Friday bay to Iron and they were all full, and the wind had picked up to the 30mph range which made backtracking to LLC impossible with 4 ft rollers. We ended up using a decommissioned campsite illegally the first night, and due to 40 mph winds the second day, we shacked up with a nice man and his son the second night as they were leaving in the morning early. After many years and over 300 nights in canoe country, we found this to be the most unsatisfying start to a trip ever. I hadn't been to BW in quite awhile as we had been tripping in Quetico. Things are probably better now, but I'd still get there as early as possible or stay at any camp near Iron if mid afternoon was approaching. It could also have few visitors, who knows?" Iron's availability is a crap- shoot. One of my all-time favorite lakes, but with boaters having the option to drop off paddlers at the Bottle Lake portage, this lake can get full at all times of the day. |
| mgraber |
06/08/2023 02:11PM I wouldn't want to get to Iron late in the day, it can be very busy. A couple of years ago we got to Iron around 3 and it was full up. We talked to some folks who had come from Crooked that had checked all campsites from Friday bay to Iron and they were all full, and the wind had picked up to the 30mph range which made backtracking to LLC impossible with 4 ft rollers. We ended up using a decommissioned campsite illegally the first night, and due to 40 mph winds the second day, we shacked up with a nice man and his son the second night as they were leaving in the morning early. After many years and over 300 nights in canoe country, we found this to be the most unsatisfying start to a trip ever. I hadn't been to BW in quite awhile as we had been tripping in Quetico. Things are probably better now, but I'd still get there as early as possible or stay at any camp near Iron if mid afternoon was approaching. It could also have few visitors, who knows? |
| Jackfish |
06/08/2023 12:45PM Rich, have you seen the maps information right here on this site? Click on the map and then expand it. Might be helpful for you in your planning. |
| Richwon4 |
06/08/2023 12:33PM Thank you....we will be up there through the 4th of July. |
| portagerunner |
06/08/2023 12:21PM Double portaging you're probably looking at 8-9 hours to get close to Iron depending on which portage you take from LLC to Iron. Having single portaged this route I would shoot for Boulder Bay. The campsites around that area are pretty solid too. Given the popularity of Iron, getting there in the evening or late afternoon can limit your campsite options. Depending on the time of day and month you're putting in may affect your daylight hours you have to work with. |
| Richwon4 |
06/08/2023 12:11PM Anyone have a double portage estimate...we double portage but don't waste time. We are entering 16 Moose River North and headed to Iron. I'm all for a potential stop on Northern Agness or Boulder Bay but prefer Iron. Thanks everyone. Any campsite potential is great also. |
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