Just checking to see if anyone has been through here lately. Looking for a water level report, I hear the lakes between Bower Trout and Swan can get low. If anyone has some insight as to how long it takes to get from the entry point to Swan Lake it would be much appreciated. We are headed in there this Saturday.

Our group of 6 did this route a couple of years ago in late July. Water levels at that time were not a problem. I recall that double portaging, it took us roughly 3 1/2 hours to get from the entry point to the middle campsite on Swan. The portages were pretty easy, exempt one landing close to Swan that had a huge fallen tree that made loading and unloading a pain. This is a beautiful area. You will enjoy it as we did. Have a great trip!

There are 3 spots on Dugout where you will have to get out and walk your canoe through narrows where it is shallow and rocky. It's pretty easy though. Grab the middle site on Swan. Hard to see from the lake but a really nice elevated site.

The rocks on Dugout can be a little tricky against the current. The entrance to B-T will be boggy. The burn area is neat and great berry picking. It has been a great year for berries, nice and cool, so be sure to stop and look even this late in the season. Also nice area for birding. I'd recommend not getting your heart set on a certain site. The site on Swan everyone references is really nice (see some pics below), but everyone knows it and targets it. The portage to Vernon is long but not difficult (may be a little wet), and there are more sites there. The one by the portage is also nice (and well-known). There is flowing water there and SMB can be caught from shore. It takes about 3 - 5 hours to get from EP to Swan, depending on your portage style, water levels and muck around the EP. If Sawn is full, push on to Vernon, another hour or so.
It's a really pretty area - you'll have a terrific time!
Swan Middle site, 2008

Landing to B-T

wolf kill en route to EP (moose skeleton)

Swan Lake

B-T EP 2011

I agree with what others have said. I was there 2 years ago with my then 9 yo daughter. It took us about 4 hours from car to Swan.
we stayed at the 3rd site because the middle one was occupied. They left early the next morning and we had Swan to ourselves the next 2 nights.

Just got back a few days ago from doing that exact trip.

Be very cautious of the landing of the portage on the west side of Bower Trout. Use the boardwalk! Otherwise you may sink waist deep into muck.

As mentioned there are 3 areas of shallow water where you'll likely have to get up and walk your canoes through.

Generally speaking: all the portages are slightly overgrown. Most have muck and boulders, with slight elevation traveling westward to contend with (some more than others) but, really nothing at all serious.

Swan is a beautiful lake, and the high rolling hills around Bower Trout are very scenic.

HAHA not may sink to your waist you WILL and hip boots are not high enough
I actually think I was into my arm pits in June the first of two unexpected dunkings that day