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       So Hegman or Angleworm
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 12:00PM
So Hegman or Angleworm

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Tman 09/11/2016 09:02PM
Haven't done the Angleworm portage but have done the portage from Angleworm to the Hegman lakes several times. IMHO that portage is long but not overly difficult as long as it has been fairly dry. If not, you can get some very swampy sections in the middle.


The area is one of my favorites and is worth the work. As others have noted it is usually not crowded. However, this July we came into Angleworm from the north and found it packed. There were 9 canoes within sight of each other (including us) on the south end when we arrived early afternoon! That was the most canoes we saw the entire trip. All of the campsites were taken except the very north site and the lousy one at the very south end. We ended up stashing the canoes and hiking the Angleworm trail up to the campsite at Whiskyjack Lake. It turned out to be the best night of our trip. Definitely a case of turning lemons into lemonade.


Have a great trip!
TuscaroraBorealis 09/11/2016 08:35AM
Agree with jwartman, both are tough but worth the work (if you're willing ). We went through South Hegman a years back and had a great trip. Trip report
jwartman59 09/10/2016 10:54AM
both entries are among the most difficult in the bwca, that's why there are usually permits available. if you single portage i'd use the angleworm trail and pack as if you are backpacking. the trail from tease has a long section of knee deep mud, the sucky kind. it's nice country and worth the work. i have often seen all the sites on angleworm occupied, something to consider.
schweady 09/09/2016 01:55PM
Angleworm entry portage is long, but the portage between Angleworm and Trease (on the way to the Hegmans) is a bear. We did the latter on our way out to avoid doing that long walk over again. Not sure if we would do it that way again. Pick your poison.
HappyHuskies 09/09/2016 12:53PM
+1 what bapazian1 said. I too like Angleworm and have not found the portage difficult, just long. If you go pack light.
I also have never found it terribly crowded, though there are a fair number of day hikers on nice fall weekends.


I like it well enough that i am going in for a short trip this weekend. Are there other permits available ... sure, but I still enjoy Angleworm every once in awhile and it's been three years since I was last there.


Have a great trip where ever you go. Tough to beat a trip into the BW in September!
bapazian1 09/09/2016 11:22AM
I've done the long portage on Angleworm before. Personally (this is very subjective) I think the portage is easy other than the distance. The bogs on the portage all have nice boardwalks and it's not to hilly. If you pack light and single portage it really isn't to bad. If you pack heavy and double it could take you the better part of the day.


I like the Angleworm area. Beautiful and sort of secluded as not many people want to do the long portages into it. With that being said though, as others have said, there are probably other permits available with easier options.
Grandma L 09/09/2016 10:02AM
quote mc2mens: "Boy, I would think that there would be many entry points open this time of year. I've been to both of these lakes many times for day trips and they get a lot of day trip traffic, especially the Hegman Lakes. If I were doing an overnight trip, I would choose almost any other lake than these two. "
I agree - lots of open permits
egknuti 09/09/2016 08:58AM
Angleworm can be accessed through South Hegman. While it's a shorter distance than the Angleworm trail, it's still a long way. You might have some canoe traffic on the Hegman Lakes but should see little traffic on Angleworm. If you get an early start you will avoid most of the day trippers.
mc2mens 09/09/2016 07:37AM
Boy, I would think that there would be many entry points open this time of year. I've been to both of these lakes many times for day trips and they get a lot of day trip traffic, especially the Hegman Lakes. If I were doing an overnight trip, I would choose almost any other lake than these two.
tagout 09/08/2016 10:51PM
My wife and I are trying to plan a quick trip for next week. It looks like So. Hegman has an opening as well as Angleworm. Can you get to Angleworm through So. Hegman and avoid the 640 rod portage (but take the 460 from N Hegman)? What is the best route? It looks like Angleworm, Gull, Beartrap and Thunder are all nice lakes to visit.