BWCA Darkwater Lake to William via river - water levels Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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RC
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08/26/2018 09:14AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Does anybody have any information about going from Darkwater lake to William lake via the river (is it called Darkwater River?) portaging out of the northern end of Darkwater. Does this route depend on water levels being high?

Does the current affect navigation? If it does, which direction is the current flowing?
 
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toothmiester
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08/26/2018 03:47PM  
Not sure about current water levels but i have taken this route several times and is a nice way to get to Williams and is generally passable.
RC
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08/26/2018 08:21PM  
Thanks, I appreciate your advice toothmiester.
OldGreyGoose
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08/27/2018 01:56PM  
I have gone this way in the past, have read numerous trip reports, and believe it is "always" navigable. You will be going "upstream" from Darkwater but there is little or no "current."

Have a great trip !
--Goose
jphares44
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
08/28/2018 09:24AM  
We've gone this way our last two trips. In September 2017 we took this route in and out of William and had no problems. This past June we skipped Darky River but still hit that "William Creek" section, then did the Darky River route into Minn on our way out. Again, no issues. The water levels were certainly higher in June than we saw in September, but either way the levels didn't affect traveling this route. The only real noticeable difference was that we were able to avoid the two beaver dams as you get into William and paddle through in the higher water conditions.

As a side note, and maybe it's just me, but those last two portages along the creek before you get to the unnamed lake some refer to as "Cloverleaf Lake" are tough little buggers.

Have fun! We had fantastic fishing both trips, so hopefully you experience the same!
08/29/2018 07:35AM  
I’ve taken this way to William a few times in low water, not anything extreme low, but I don’t ever remember anything tougher than usual in my mind.

T
RC
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09/05/2018 03:38PM  
Thanks everybody. I really appreciate your very helpful info.
 
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