This is our first time doing Stuart River and I am looking for some advice for things maybe you wished you would've known going into Stuart.

I am going to try to convince the group to single portage the first big one, but I might get some push back. Maybe we should do 1.5 portage?

Favorite campsite on Stuart?

I think we will layover at 2 different sites throughout our 7 day trip. Would you recommend Stuart being one of them?

From Stuart to Iron: I've heard the portage from Stuart to Fox is even harder than the first big one, and I've heard the Dahlgren is beautiful. So I am wondering if we should take the Dahlgren and go all the way around to Iron? I know its a lot more paddling but we aren't exactly crunched for time.

Here’s a link to my solo trip through Stuart. I ended up doing 1.5s for most of the longer portages.

Video Trip Report

You’re right about the Stuart-Fox portage. That one just about did my dad in. Lots of stepovers which are tough for a guy with an artificial knee. There are probably 25 of them along that portage, some a good 18-24” tall. When I go back there someday, I plan to spend one night on Stuart, a night on Rush (?) I think, the one with the island on it. Good fishing there too. Then I’d move to Iron the third day. I would just say trip the Dahlgren, that’s too much work taking the Dahlgren/Boulder route to get to Iron IMHO. I think you’ll have a great time, enjoy your trip.

Tony

brux: "Here’s a link to my solo trip through Stuart. I ended up doing 1.5s for most of the longer portages.


Video Trip Report "

Great video. Enjoyed the music!

Great Video-

agree on the FOX portage. Rooty/Rocky little sob that tests your ankles and knees especially if you going to IRON/ or out in one day.

Stuart is worth the effort, I love that lake. I wish I would have known how long it would take to get there, 8 hours for us I believe with the wind to our back. Also, Rush is a great SMB lake! 1/4 oz jig with a chartreuse twister and a blade caught more really nice Smallies than we could count! Lots of nice eater size Walleyes on Stuart. Look for the campsite on the biggest island when you first get there. Pretty nice as I remember. Have fun!

Yep here too on the fox being rough. Stuart is cool and 3rd night on iron would be real easy going. Leaving iron to exit can be done on one good day,but even with food pack being lighter, 2 days would allow time for a leisure exit no matter which way you go home.

Wierd, I don't remember the portage to fox being all that bad. It was definitely pretty! That first portage on the route is long, but easy. Campsite 1824 on Stuart is my favorite, particularly for a larger group. The hike up to the overlook is worth it. Great view.

Stuart took us about 1.5h slowly single portaging during a thunderstorm (with hail on the drive there!). Stuart lake itself is very pretty and due to the 1 permit per day at EP19, you are almost guaranteed solitude. We stayed at 1824 and there was plenty of room for a larger group and a really nice rockface to hang out on. I could have easily stayed another day if time had permitted. It only took us a few hours to get up to Iron and we spent two days there, but it was fairly busy considering we hadn't seen a soul until we got to Iron. We struck out on at least 5 sites before finding one that worked (12-2pm). We day tripped to the falls which were very pretty, got in some good fishing, and watched some beautiful sunsets. Last day was a total slog to Nina moose fighting a headwind the entire way. Everyone was totally shot by the time we arrived. Agnes alone took 2h to get down. We stayed at 1786 on Nina Moose which offered good shelter from the thunderstorms and high winds. I took it as payment for the beautiful 3 nights prior to that. You're going to love the route. Pic is from Iron.

Stuart will not disappoint and is worth the effort. My wife and I did EP 19 to EP 16 last June with a layover on Stuart. It took us about 6 hours to get to Stuart by double portaging. Going in late June, our second night on Stuart we were the only ones there! Dahlgren portage is worth the hike on your day off. Enjoy and can't wait to see a trip report!

https://familytreklust.blogspot.com/2018/07/bwca-2018-10-years-480-rods.html

https://youtu.be/qorCiMdY4z8

The campsite on the northernmost point of Stuart is great. Tons of eater size walleyes just off the site after dark when we were there. Pretty lake. We went out the long portage, seems like it would be much easier coming in.