Howdy.

In a few days I'll be crossing Saganaga from west to east, and I'm wondering if anyone has insight about getting from American Point to the Granite River.

I'll be in a solo boat -- a Wenonah Advantage -- and unless it's just very calm I'm inclined to immediately dip south, toward Red Rock Bay, and hug the shore as much as possible until I reach Red Sucker Bay, even if it adds some time.

What have other folks tried?

Your plan is pretty spot on, but it will depend on the wind on your path. Although the big crossing leaving AP heading E is big water, it's entirely doable, even solo.
I did this paddle in May of this year while doing the Border Route from LLC to Lake Superior with 2 other guys. We had calm waters early in the AM and basically followed the border line on our maps for a path for most of the way before dipping S to Red Sucker Bay.

We lucked out on weather for most of the trip but had our only wind/layover day trying to enter Big Sag. When you get to American Point be ready with a map and compass, and make sure to cross it EARLY AM, if possible. As i'm sure you already know, the wind can turn this lake into an ocean in seconds...

Have fun and be safe!!

A long time ago I did the paddle from Cache Bay to the Gunflint Trail in an Advantage (accompanied by an extremely seaworthy tandem). The wind was roaring out of the north. It was frankly terrifying- though the lake was so big that the waves were more like swells than whitecaps (big but round not steep)- the main problem was that I paddled the entire way as hard has I could on the left side, often resorting to great big C-strokes to try and keep on point. The tandem could not keep pace and by the time I reached the shelter of the channel my left shoulder was toast. Took nearly eight weeks to recover.

Scariest ride I ever had was on Sag. Big East wind overnight subsided, but waves were still big. My SR Wilderness 18 with a load (and bowpaddler) is steady and tracks well in big water. We turned American Point from the West, headed South for Red Rock. Quartered into the waves about half mile out from the shore, but backwashing waves (what's the technical term?) periodically surprised me from the back. Just about pitched out headfirst a couple of times. Took about 45 minutes to make it into the lee of English Island. The dog never twitched.

We warned a couple of young paddlers who decided to camp early, but I don't think a couple with two pre-school kids believed us. Didn't hear of any swampings, though, so they must have taken shelter after checking out the waves.


Another trip on Sag had glass all the way - couldn't believe it. Must been a real high pressure system planted there.

I am not sure of your Advantage's freeboard, but a canoe cover would be a big help against taking in water. Check out CCS.

Thanks for the anecdotes and advice so far.

I don't mind paddling straight into wind and waves, but trailing or quartering wind and waves never feel super comfortable in the Advantage. Even with a pack behind me, the boat just gets really squirrelly.

Banksiana, I know my own version of getting exhausted on one side while trying to keep it straight as a stiff wind tries to push the stern around. Not comfortable.

"I did this paddle in May of this year while doing the Border Route from LLC to Lake Superior with 2 other guys."

Bdubr: What's the process like at the end of the Grand Portage? After the trail crosses MN 61, is the path to Lake Superior easy to find and follow? Did you stay in town?

I'd be really interested in hearing anything about that part of your experience.

I canoe Big Sag multiple times every year. I love that lake.

Going from West to East should be fine. Unless you hit the lake on a stormy day it is very easy to paddle across. You can just bee line it from Rocky Point to Munker Island, then follow the islands around the lake and it will dump you into the Granite River.

Staying next to the islands is the way to go. You will be out of the outfitters tow routes and, if a storm comes up, you can just paddle the shore lines on the leeward sides to stay out of the wind.

I can't stress enough to get across sag early in the day. The earlier the better.