My son and I are planning to do some fishing on Mexican Hat Lake. What is the easiest and fastest entry point to Mexican Hat Lake? What is your estimate on travel time? We are experienced paddlers fully self outfitted and plan to double portage this trip. Thanks for all help and insight.

Mexican hat was a pass through lake for me but the campsite near the little falls / creek is very nice. I'm not sure how it stacks up against the other sites but I liked it. I don't remember getting to Mexican Hat in one day and stayed at Bunny lake my first night.

Your closest entry point to Mexican Hat is Leano Lake. If you get to Leano at the break of dawn and don't dawdle, you can reach Mexican Hat in a day (say 8 hours).

On my first trip through that area, I chatted with a couple of guys camped out on the falls campsite at Mexican Hat and they indicated they had made it there from Leano in one day and were planning a one day exit as well.

My last outing in that area I started my run from Bunny and made it to Mexican Hat by 3:00 in the afternoon. I was running solo and was dealing with a heavy downpour for well over half of the distance. I'd say that you'd easily be able to cut an hour off the time that I took over that stretch.

dd

Lol. Took my wife and I three days...low water obstructions....
Slippery rock landings...triple portaging on way in...but we're "old" and slow..
I guess. Still worth the trip for fabulous fishing and scenery on
Mexican Hat.