Heading in this week and can't wait.

Looping N from LIS, and wondering about Loon and LLC - I've not been to this part of the BWCA and have always avoided motor lakes in the past. But curious what folks think motor traffic might be like up there given the current & unusual circumstances?

I've never been there either but the motor lakes I have crossed people were respectful of canoes thankfully.

Very little. The border is closed, and motors aren’t allowed on the US side of LLC. Most of the LLC traffic needs to cross the border to get there.

The majority of motor boats that I've seen on those lakes are shuttle boats coming from Crane Lake. With the Quetico closed and Canada to Americans, I'm guessing it should be a little lighter traffic but either way they never really bothered me. They zoom by really quick. Great area, you will love it!

Motors are allowed on the US side from the west end to Snow Bay.

Can be lot of motor traffic on Loon and Lacroix. Lot of it outfitters, but many fishing boats on Loon and up to the narrows on East Loon. Lot of routes inside the Loon Lacroix bulge though a lot of great routes! The run from Devils Cascade to the East Loon narrows is a hour at most, from there the interior is easily accessed via several potential routes. Beyond US outfitters on Lacroix there is the Lacroix First Nation fishing and guiding including float planes.

butthead

I’ve run into them on Loon... they were a little peeved I took their primo camp spot. But I did enjoy that spot... haha! On my way out up the Little Indian Sioux I found them camped where they had to pull up on a rock With their boat. Kinda felt bad for them for a second. That nice little inlet with sand beach would have been nice for them... it was for me. Haha!

wrestlencanoe: "Motors are allowed on the US side from the west end to Snow Bay."

Yes, I agree with this. Boats are allowed on Loon and on LLC on the US side but only to where Snow Bay starts. (and some were camped right on the edge of Snow Bay when we were there)

However, would those portages be open to US travelers? Are they Canadian businesses? I could see them being open for Canadian boat traffic if that's the case but....US?

nctry: "I’ve run into them on Loon... they were a little peeved I took their primo camp spot. But I did enjoy that spot... haha! On my way out up the Little Indian Sioux I found them camped where they had to pull up on a rock With their boat. Kinda felt bad for them for a second. That nice little inlet with sand beach would have been nice for them... it was for me. Haha!"

The inlet just past the East Loon narrows? I spent an afternoon and nite up on that campsite during a long lightning storm. Watching a group of fishermen in a motor boat.

butthead

I started a trip on crane lake then up the loon river, I’m going by memory, guessing the name. Worst canoeing I’ve done anywhere. I’d never do that again because of the very inconsiderate motor boaters.

jwartman59: "I started a trip on crane lake then up the loon river, I’m going by memory, guessing the name. Worst canoeing I’ve done anywhere. I’d never do that again because of the very inconsiderate motor boaters."

What happened? Get hit? Sounds like it was very traumatic experience!

My son and I started at Crane lake in 2017 and probably saw 8 motor boats the hours we were on the Loon River.It was also a Saturday so probably busier that other days. It is correct that they don't slow down for canoes but we expected that. I figured they probably wanted to stay on plane to avoid shallows and rocks? We could hear them long before we could see them and just pulled over to the side to wait it out. It was Just part of the journey that we accepted.