BWCA Entering at Lac La Croix Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Quetico Forum
      Entering at Lac La Croix     

Author

Text

Jackfish
Moderator
  
01/14/2020 11:43AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
What is the most common, or most likely, way to get to the Lac La Croix EP? I know one can drive south off of Highway 11 by taking the same road that leads toward Beaverhouse. That option is about 45 miles on gravel. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing that.

What are the other options? Costs? Travel time?
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
01/14/2020 01:09PM  
In 2007 Piragis helped us set up a fly-in to LLC--we had made a last-minute decision to visit the Q and didn't have time to apply for an RABC permit. It was a wonderful trip (Report here).

It wasn't crazy expensive then (no idea what it would cost now) and was worth every penny. Flying over Canoe Country gave us a new perspective on an area we love, and the LLC entry let us explore a part of the Park we hadn't seen.

TZ
01/14/2020 02:15PM  
I assume that you mean the Lac La Croix ranger station that services entry points 41-44.

You can take a tow from Crane Lake (Anderson Outfitters, for instance) to the Canadian customs station on Sand Point Lake and thence down the Loon River to Lac La Croix and the ranger station. The tow boat will then take you to your entry point. I did this once several years ago, so I don't know current costs.
01/14/2020 03:59PM  
The last I checked it was $200-300 per/person depending on whether you had your own canoe for a tow from Crane lake, stop at customs and stop at ranger station. I think most get to their entry point by 12:00 on the first tow shuttles of the day.
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/14/2020 07:22PM  
I’ve used Andersons many times and always had great service. They are the way to go. I generally get to Bottle portage by 10:00am. We stay at Pine Ridge motel or their cabin right across the road from Anderson. Great lodging choices. We always bring a to go breakfast to eat on the boat ride.
Castaway
distinguished member (218)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/14/2020 09:32PM  
I've done both. In 2017, to save the significant tow expense, we drove to the Ranger station from Highway 11. Took over an hour but the gravel road was in good shape the whole way. We parked at the Ranger station. They have a fenced and locked parking area but had no lock when we were there. No issues leaving the car there for the week. Those logistics were the easy part, paddling was the hard part. Paddling Lac La Croix was doable going east heading to Poobah, but heading west coming out was impossible until late in the day. The lake was rocking and rolling and forced us to ditch in a bay on the far east side for at least 3 hours, then paddle into a good headwind to make the Ranger station before dark. I read posts here from others that got back to the Ranger station in late afternoon to find the station closed and their car stuck in the locked lot until the next day.

Last year, we used Anderson's for a tow to Bottle. Stayed the night before at the hotel across the street. Definitely easier, quicker, and more money but a more memorable trip too. I can't afford that kind of trip every year but I would recommend anyone to try it at least once. The motel was only $30 a head but the tow runs $265 per person round trip. We rented a canoe from Mark, otherwise it is another $100 to transport your own canoe.

From my experience, if I can't afford a tow, I might try driving to the Ranger station again but only for a route to Poobah or maybe Minn from the north. I would not try it for any other entry and I would have to allow extra time for the good possibility of getting wind bound on Lac La Croix.

01/16/2020 08:41PM  
I would agree with Casraway a drive in was what we did about 10 yrs ago in May. Unlike him we had no wind issues on LLC but did one afternoon on some interior lakes.
01/17/2020 08:02AM  
I use Zups . I get to Crane Lake the day before I enter, and take the afternoon shuttle to the resort on Lac La Croix. Zups offer a package that provides a nights lodging, dinner, and a breakfast that is very reasonable . You are on the boat by 7:am, from there you head to the park office to get your entry permit. By 8am you can be at any entry point. I believe the cost for the lodging and the meals was an additional $99 , the food is great! Another advantage is that Mark will share his knowledge of the area with you., and he knows his stuff.
RunningFox
distinguished member (230)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2020 06:42PM  
What Wallee said. I do likewise. Zup’s has a walk-in freezer so I re-freeze my food before entering the next morning. The last boat leaves Scotty’s Marina on Crane Lake at 3:30 pm. which puts you at Zup’s at 5:15.
01/18/2020 11:15AM  
Pete, if you decide to go this route give Zups plenty of lead time to match you up with another group doing the Tow option. Keeps cost down considerably. The boat ride itself is worth the experience , along with the two mechanical portages. Pretty neat experience...
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/18/2020 03:31PM  
If freezing food is a concern, you can do that at Andersons. Just ask when you check in. They have a big freezer and always have available space.
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
01/18/2020 06:54PM  
Anyone entered Q at LLC on a day paddle from LIS? Seems possible in seven or so hours of travel - 15 miles (that's with the triple portage calculated in) to Zups, another two to the ranger station. Loon can get rough, but it's short and I've crossed it in white caps quickly. And it's a nice paddle.
PineKnot
distinguished member(2021)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/19/2020 10:02AM  
I did a 2-week solo trip late May-early June a couple years ago. Entered at EP16 with a BWCA permit. Spent two nights camping in BWCA, the second night almost due south of the LLC ranger station. Was spent after paddling into a 5-10 mph NW wind for two days.

Next day, we paddled to the ranger station, got permit for McAree and paddled with about a 3 mph westerly wind and made it into McAree around 6 pm for night three. Exited the Q via Bottle Portage and back to my vehicle after 14 nights total visiting WIcksteed, Darky, Argo, Crooked etc....

Had a really nice trip, but it was a lot of paddling....didn't enter via LIS because I didn't want to have to get back to my vehicle at the end of the trip having to paddle the entire expanse of LLC....getting to the LLC ranger station from EP16 and then back to EP16 from Bottle was enough paddling for me....too much to really want to do it again...

Have also done the tow from Zups as well, but it was quite expensive for my son and me. Probably worth it, though, if I think about it enough.
gopher2307
distinguished member (192)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/09/2020 08:00PM  
I'm currently looking at a very similar trip to what is being discussed here, but have some permit logistics questions. My trip options are:
1) EP 16 to LLC to Iron to Crooked (visit Rebecca Falls) to exit at Mudro
2) Crane Lake Tow to Bottle Portage to Iron to Crooked to exit at Mudro

I do like the idea of getting an RABC, and a Quetico permit to go along with a BWCA permit, so I have flexibility along the border route with where to camp and fish. The freedom of doing what I want to do is a big reason of going. I understand that option 1 above largely prohibits this, because I'd need to paddle up to the LLC ranger station to get the permit...which I won't be doing.

I can get the RABC, fishing license/card, and Q permit...which BWCA permit would I need for option 2 above? Is all of this legit with dual permits? Do I need to stage out entry dates and is going back/forth technically entering/exiting multiple times?
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/10/2020 05:49AM  
It seems your option 2 means your trip begins the Quetico, so I would say an EP 71 From Canada - usually available and only one you can get days in advance. You'd probably get away with a EP 12.
AussieShep
distinguished member(709)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/10/2020 03:43PM  
Did this in 2001 using a fly-in from Canoe Canada. They can pick you up afterward as well from your exit point. We paddled up the Maligne through Tanner to Sturgeon. Costs a bit more but the flight was immensely enjoyable.

Is this your solo trip? I seem to recall paddling upstream against the Maligne was a bit challenging in spots with two paddlers in their mid-thirties. If I recall correctly there were some areas with significant current and no available portage.

The only thing I would change is to have the pilot set you down near the mouth of the Maligne. We were about an hour west of there. If there's a significant headwind you could add two unnecessary hours.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next