Planning a trip out of Sawbill for 8 nights, 9 days in June. Saw a post earlier today about a route suggestion that peaked my interest. I also put another route together as well. But not sure which to go with or if maybe a 3rd option? Looking for some suggestions on a trip to do some fishing, take in the scenery and get some solitude.

Your bottom option will get you solutude really fast. I did a solo trip up to Zenith and Wine and did not see a soul until I came back across Zenith - Lujenida and enteted Alton.

You will find solitude on the Frost/Louse River route.....and some challenges. They are tough routes but rewarding. The Lady Chain is a great paddle also.....not many people until Grace and Beth if you're coming from Polly, which can be busy.

There is one more route that I can think of that you should consider. It has less strenuous river travel, but could have as much solitude.

Entry 14 - Little Indian Sioux North (LIS)
Day 1 . LIS to Shell or Lynx. Travel with the current on the LIS going out. LIS River, (Portage), LIS River, Upper Pauness, Lower Pauness, Shell Lake (There may be a beaver pond to paddle between LP and Shell), Little Shell Lake, Lynx Lake.
Day 2. Lynx to Oyster. (The longer portages here will take you into a more remote area, but Oyster my be busier as it can be reached from Entry 16.) . Lynx Lake, Ruby Lake, Hustler Lake, Oyster Lake.
Day 3. Oyster to Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. Oyster Lake, Rock Lake, Green Lake, Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. This will be an easier day. Find the small panel of pictographs on Rock Lake. Gebe has several nice campsites.
Day 4. Gebe to Finger Lake. Gebe, Gebe Creek, Pocket Creek, Pocket Lake, Finger Lake. Gebe Creek is a beautiful paddle with a couple beaver dams. Pocket Creek has more rocks as you get closer to the Pocket Lake portage. Finger Lake has a couple good island campsites. We took the southern most one on the southern Island. There is a panel of pictographs right in the campsite. Stay an extra day here.
Day 6 Finger to North/South Lakes. Finger Lake, Beartrack Lake, Little Beartrack Lake, Eugene Lake, Steep Lake, North/South Lake. (You could pick a spot to stop and break this day into 2 an spend more time out here.) . If you look at the lake elevations, this is kind of a rollercoaster day. But, the portages are very interesting walks in the woods so you don't really feel it that way.
Day 7. North/South to Loon Lake. Here you have a choice to stay on the smaller lakes or head out on the big Lac La Criox if you are tired of all the portages. So either: North/South Lake, Lac La Criox, Loon Lake (You will encounter motorboat traffic on both LLC and Loon Lake). OR: North/South Lake, Section Pond 3, Slim Lake, Little Loon Lake.
Day 8 . Loon Lake (Little Loon Lake) to Entry . Loon Lake, LIS River, Portage (Devil's Cascade), Lower Pauness, Upper Pauness, LIS, portage, LIS, Entry.

Other than the first day, none of the days of travel are too long. Leaving time for some fishing and exploring. This is one of the prettiest paddles around. We saw no one from the time we left Oyster until we headed out on LLC. You need to know that you might encounter engine sounds from the Canadian side of LLC.

I haven't done the Frost River - but it's on the bucket list!

On an earlier trip through the lady chain/Louse river, we stayed one nite on Afton, which is the terminus of the Frost river (for all intents and purposes).

We had a couple guys show up on Afton late in the day, in a bit of a panic, as it took then all day to make it down the frost, going WITH the current. We let them buddy up with us as there is just ONE campsite on Afton, and honestly the younger one looked a bit traumatized!

I've also done the LIS North trip, and it is a MUCH easier trip in terms of portaging (less of it, and easier), and availability of campsites.

Unless you are very confident in your abilities, and plan on getting up very early in the day to hit the Frost hard, I'd avoid that one as a solo.

Michwall2: "There is one more route that I can think of that you should consider. It has less strenuous river travel, but could have as much solitude.


Entry 14 - Little Indian Sioux North (LIS)
Day 1 . LIS to Shell or Lynx. Travel with the current on the LIS going out. LIS River, (Portage), LIS River, Upper Pauness, Lower Pauness, Shell Lake (There may be a beaver pond to paddle between LP and Shell), Little Shell Lake, Lynx Lake.
Day 2. Lynx to Oyster. (The longer portages here will take you into a more remote area, but Oyster my be busier as it can be reached from Entry 16.) . Lynx Lake, Ruby Lake, Hustler Lake, Oyster Lake.
Day 3. Oyster to Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. Oyster Lake, Rock Lake, Green Lake, Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. This will be an easier day. Find the small panel of pictographs on Rock Lake. Gebe has several nice campsites.
Day 4. Gebe to Finger Lake. Gebe, Gebe Creek, Pocket Creek, Pocket Lake, Finger Lake. Gebe Creek is a beautiful paddle with a couple beaver dams. Pocket Creek has more rocks as you get closer to the Pocket Lake portage. Finger Lake has a couple good island campsites. We took the southern most one on the southern Island. There is a panel of pictographs right in the campsite. Stay an extra day here.
Day 6 Finger to North/South Lakes. Finger Lake, Beartrack Lake, Little Beartrack Lake, Eugene Lake, Steep Lake, North/South Lake. (You could pick a spot to stop and break this day into 2 an spend more time out here.) . If you look at the lake elevations, this is kind of a rollercoaster day. But, the portages are very interesting walks in the woods so you don't really feel it that way.
Day 7. North/South to Loon Lake. Here you have a choice to stay on the smaller lakes or head out on the big Lac La Criox if you are tired of all the portages. So either: North/South Lake, Lac La Criox, Loon Lake (You will encounter motorboat traffic on both LLC and Loon Lake). OR: North/South Lake, Section Pond 3, Slim Lake, Little Loon Lake.
Day 8 . Loon Lake (Little Loon Lake) to Entry . Loon Lake, LIS River, Portage (Devil's Cascade), Lower Pauness, Upper Pauness, LIS, portage, LIS, Entry.


Other than the first day, none of the days of travel are too long. Leaving time for some fishing and exploring. This is one of the prettiest paddles around. We saw no one from the time we left Oyster until we headed out on LLC. You need to know that you might encounter engine sounds from the Canadian side of LLC."

Just did that route in reverse last June. Stayed on Finger 2 days....had 2 other groups in there on 2nd day. Otherwise, saw very few people. Had Hustler to ourselves for last 2 days but then met people on exit day on Little Shell, Shell and Pauness.

cowdoc: "

Michwall2: "There is one more route that I can think of that you should consider. It has less strenuous river travel, but could have as much solitude.

Entry 14 - Little Indian Sioux North (LIS)
Day 1 . LIS to Shell or Lynx. Travel with the current on the LIS going out. LIS River, (Portage), LIS River, Upper Pauness, Lower Pauness, Shell Lake (There may be a beaver pond to paddle between LP and Shell), Little Shell Lake, Lynx Lake.
Day 2. Lynx to Oyster. (The longer portages here will take you into a more remote area, but Oyster my be busier as it can be reached from Entry 16.) . Lynx Lake, Ruby Lake, Hustler Lake, Oyster Lake.
Day 3. Oyster to Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. Oyster Lake, Rock Lake, Green Lake, Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake. This will be an easier day. Find the small panel of pictographs on Rock Lake. Gebe has several nice campsites.
Day 4. Gebe to Finger Lake. Gebe, Gebe Creek, Pocket Creek, Pocket Lake, Finger Lake. Gebe Creek is a beautiful paddle with a couple beaver dams. Pocket Creek has more rocks as you get closer to the Pocket Lake portage. Finger Lake has a couple good island campsites. We took the southern most one on the southern Island. There is a panel of pictographs right in the campsite. Stay an extra day here.
Day 6 Finger to North/South Lakes. Finger Lake, Beartrack Lake, Little Beartrack Lake, Eugene Lake, Steep Lake, North/South Lake. (You could pick a spot to stop and break this day into 2 an spend more time out here.) . If you look at the lake elevations, this is kind of a rollercoaster day. But, the portages are very interesting walks in the woods so you don't really feel it that way.
Day 7. North/South to Loon Lake. Here you have a choice to stay on the smaller lakes or head out on the big Lac La Criox if you are tired of all the portages. So either: North/South Lake, Lac La Criox, Loon Lake (You will encounter motorboat traffic on both LLC and Loon Lake). OR: North/South Lake, Section Pond 3, Slim Lake, Little Loon Lake.
Day 8 . Loon Lake (Little Loon Lake) to Entry . Loon Lake, LIS River, Portage (Devil's Cascade), Lower Pauness, Upper Pauness, LIS, portage, LIS, Entry.

Other than the first day, none of the days of travel are too long. Leaving time for some fishing and exploring. This is one of the prettiest paddles around. We saw no one from the time we left Oyster until we headed out on LLC. You need to know that you might encounter engine sounds from the Canadian side of LLC."

Just did that route in reverse last June. Stayed on Finger 2 days....had 2 other groups in there on 2nd day. Otherwise, saw very few people. Had Hustler to ourselves for last 2 days but then met people on exit day on Little Shell, Shell and Pauness."

We also did that route in reverse, great trip! Here is a link to my YouTube slide show from the trip: LIS Trip

Both of your pictured routes will find you solitude to an extent. Do you want to travel every day or have a few layovers?

cyclones30: "Both of your pictured routes will find you solitude to an extent. Do you want to travel every day or have a few layovers? "

Honestly haven't decided on that part. From my understanding the second one I posted, the more nothern route, would give me 2 layover days. Where I am assuming that the route that takes me across both rivers from east to west will not allow for any.

singlebladecanoe: "

cyclones30: "Both of your pictured routes will find you solitude to an extent. Do you want to travel every day or have a few layovers? "

Honestly haven't decided on that part. From my understanding the second one I posted, the more nothern route, would give me 2 layover days. Where I am assuming that the route that takes me across both rivers from east to west will not allow for any."

Then choose the one with at least one layover day.

There are lots of reasons for needing a layover.
First and foremost, I hate making a trip into a "death march" where I have to cover so much ground or I won't get out on time. I do mostly travel trips and I have never planned a trip without a layover day.
Second, it dangerous to be forced to paddle on a day you should stay in camp because of the wind. Or a small injury that could use a day to heal or will become debilitating if you keep pushing?
Third, it gives you the flexibility to stop early one day, change your plans for where you want to stay if you find a nice spot. Or just take a day trip to a spot you wouldn't visit if you had to stay nose to the grindstone on your route. (e.g. When you get to Malberg at the end of the Louse, take a day trip to see the pictographs on Fishdance.)

Are Grace and Beth typically crowded/busy lakes? Thinking of spending some time there in Sept.

Michwall2: "

singlebladecanoe: "

cyclones30: "Both of your pictured routes will find you solitude to an extent. Do you want to travel every day or have a few layovers? "

Honestly haven't decided on that part. From my understanding the second one I posted, the more nothern route, would give me 2 layover days. Where I am assuming that the route that takes me across both rivers from east to west will not allow for any."

Then choose the one with at least one layover day.


There are lots of reasons for needing a layover.
First and foremost, I hate making a trip into a "death march" where I have to cover so much ground or I won't get out on time. I do mostly travel trips and I have never planned a trip without a layover day.
Second, it dangerous to be forced to paddle on a day you should stay in camp because of the wind. Or a small injury that could use a day to heal or will become debilitating if you keep pushing?
Third, it gives you the flexibility to stop early one day, change your plans for where you want to stay if you find a nice spot. Or just take a day trip to a spot you wouldn't visit if you had to stay nose to the grindstone on your route. (e.g. When you get to Malberg at the end of the Louse, take a day trip to see the pictographs on Fishdance.)


"

Very good points, thank you

NoFishNoDinner: "Are Grace and Beth typically crowded/busy lakes? Thinking of spending some time there in Sept."

Beth is typically a busy lake. It is small with nice scenery (hills) to the south. A cliff jumping spot by the east end. The fishing is SMB with lots of smaller ones for the kids to catch. Campsites are nice with good landings and nice tent pads. And there is one very short portage and a medium length portage to get there.

Grace is less busy simply because of the extra 280 rd. portage to get there. That 7/8 of a mile intimidates many. The campsites are OK but not as nice as Beth. The scenery is just as nice (I think). You can find a site outside of the paddling path on the north lobe of the lake. I think there are also walleye in Grace along with the SMB.

If you find Grace full, it is not hard to get to Phoebe Lake.

9 days? I'm jealous already. I did the frost river last May. My recommendation would be to make sure its high water. I paddled over 5? beaver dams or so that would of required a pull over if the water was just a foot lower. Getting in and out of your canoe takes its toll. Then last September I stayed on Malberg during low water and the Louse River looked impassable. Also, either way you go, I would stop on Wine. I loved that lake and I hammered the lake trout. I posted trip reports of both and also did videos on youtube if you're bored. Have fun.

Ajoutdoors: "9 days? I'm jealous already. I did the frost river last May. My recommendation would be to make sure its high water. I paddled over 5? beaver dams or so that would of required a pull over if the water was just a foot lower. Getting in and out of your canoe takes its toll. Then last September I stayed on Malberg during low water and the Louse River looked impassable. Also, either way you go, I would stop on Wine. I loved that lake and I hammered the lake trout. I posted trip reports of both and also did videos on youtube if you're bored. Have fun. "

Thanks, Link to your youtube channel? I would like to check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2__qBlJRzAsYDSYXNEHyQ?view_as=subscriber

Or just search "Adam Risius" if the link doesn't work

Ajoutdoors: "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2__qBlJRzAsYDSYXNEHyQ?view_as=subscriber


Or just search "Adam Risius" if the link doesn't work"

Awesome thanks. Just subed

Michwall2: "

NoFishNoDinner: "Are Grace and Beth typically crowded/busy lakes? Thinking of spending some time there in Sept."

Beth is typically a busy lake. It is small with nice scenery (hills) to the south....
And there is one very short portage and a medium length portage to get there.


Grace is less busy simply because of the extra 280 rd. portage to get there. That 7/8 of a mile intimidates many. The campsites are OK but not as nice as Beth...
You can find a site outside of the paddling path on the north lobe of the lake.

If you find Grace full, it is not hard to get to Phoebe Lake."

I will say that Beth has always been full when I've paddled though but Grace has been open. That campsite on the north lobe of Grace is my favorite! Nice view down the lake and the only traffic is boats coming out of Ella and that is pretty slim traffic.