I'm planning a trip in July out of Ely. Well, Ely is where my truck will be parked. So I am planning a route to paddle back to Ely. I'm thinking I'll come in on Fall Lake to Winton. I could take out at Winton and then walk Hwy 169 back to town or looks like I could paddle the Shagawa River upstream to Shagawa Lake and pull out at a beach right in town.

Anyone familiar with this river? Google Earth shows a couple, maybe more, rapids but they don't look like a big deal. A few box culverts to paddle thru but that's no problem...I'll have a bowperson who will take the brunt of the spiderwebs in the face:)

Am I missing anything?

Rapids will require a portage. I've only been down the river to enjoy the rapids so I don't know if there are portages around them.

Thanks Banks

Park your vehicle at Fall Lake and paddle back to there. Good landing, great parking spots.

Harv: "Park your vehicle at Fall Lake and paddle back to there. Good landing, great parking spots. "

I don’t think that is a option For BeaV He will get back to Ely by canoe or on foot... I’m guessing by canoe...

walllee: "

Harv: "Park your vehicle at Fall Lake and paddle back to there. Good landing, great parking spots. "

I don’t think that is a option For BeaV He will get back to Ely by canoe or on foot... I’m guessing by canoe..."

Ha, good guess walllee!

Harv, my truck will be parked at an outfitter in Ely because they are giving me a lift to Voyageurs National Park. I kinda like the idea of having to fight a little flowing water at the end of a tiring paddle trek.

I've waded a portion of it fishing for smallies. I parked off 88 and waded towards Fall Lake. The paddle seems do-able to me.

JD

Just a follow-up to my original question...going up the Shagawa River is doable. Did it yesterday in a little over an hour. We did have to get out of the boat and walk some of the little rapids. Maybe under higher flow it would be better. Some of the spots we could have push-paddled ourselves up if there was a little more depth to the river. Never portaged...instead just walked and got wet from the waist down. I'd recommend using a beater wood paddle you don't mind having to repair afterword's.

A local on the river commented that the flow was pretty low right now.

Thanks!