I've got an entry permit for July 27 (Mon) and will be at a Clearwater bunkhouse Sunday night. Plan is a 4-day trip, moving each day. My trip partner and I are reasonably fit, single-portaging, strong paddlers. We've never been in this section of the BW and are looking forward to some new territory. My other trips this year involve a lot of base-camping so packing light, moving, and seeing new things are the priority, with a little evening fishing.

I'm curious about the feasibility of these options. Will we struggle to find campsites any particular day? Is it too ambitious or not ambitious enough? Any tips to the area? We'd like to be off the water mid-afternoon for some relaxation and fishing. Johnson Falls is a must stop.

Since all the guidebooks list these as options, I'm assuming a separate entry permit for Pine isn't necessary if we go through McFarland. Is that correct?

Option A: Day 1 (Clearwater-W Pike-E Pike ), Day 2 (E Pike-John-Little John-McFarland-Pine), Day 3 (Pine-Johnson Falls stop-Canoe-Alder-E Bearskin-Moon), Day 4 (Moon-Deer-Caribou-Clearwater)

Option B: Day 1 (Clearwater-W Pike), Day 2 (W Pike-E Pike-John), Day 3 (John-Little John-McFarland-Pine), Day 4 (Pine-Little Caribou-Caribou-Clearwater)

Option C: Day 1 (Clearwater-Caribou-Little Caribou-Pine), Day 2 (Pine-Canoe-Alder), Day 3 (Layover, explore Canoe, Crystal, Spaulding, Bench), Day 4 (Alder-Moon-Deer-Caribou-Clearwater)

As long as you aren't resupplying or camping outside the bwca, then the loop is fine on one permit.

I think campsite availability this time of year is likely going to put all your options in play. If you find a campsite on east or west pike available, I would stay there. I think going down into Canoe and Alder might present campsite availability issues. Get some feedback from Erik at Clearwater.

Enjoy the trip

Yep, call Erik and/or listen to certain early episodes of their Tumblehome podcast. Tons of info on that area.

Yes to the podcast, tons of good info from both guys on this route. If it was me, which I'm not biting off that much! I'd go option B, seems like the other routes would be a bridge too far, but I don't know a thing about your drive!

I would think campsite should be ok going that direction. Pine is big water and the wind will matter, you might be going against it coming down to the falls, but it worth every stroke to enjoy it.....

Enjoy my dog shooting the rapids!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqHGmfFjqXY

I've not done it, but from the sound....any trip that involves the Pine-Canoe portage is in the ambitious category. Plenty of people do it, but then that's what they recall about it too.

Here’s the way my group did it.
Day 1: Clearwater to West Pike.
Day 2: East Pike
Day 3: Pine
Day 4: Johnson Falls and Caribou
Day 5: out

I would not have wanted to miss the fishing on West or East Pike. Also had time to fish on Pine and Caribou. I had time to fish each evening and some mornings on those lakes. pine is a really pretty lake and well worth staying on.

salukiguy: "Here’s the way my group did it.
Day 1: Clearwater to West Pike.
Day 2: East Pike
Day 3: Pine
Day 4: Johnson Falls and Caribou
Day 5: out


I would not have wanted to miss the fishing on West or East Pike. Also had time to fish on Pine and Caribou. I had time to fish each evening and some mornings on those lakes. pine is a really pretty lake and well worth staying on. "

If you had to pick one, would you choose West or East Pike? I definitely want to stay on Pine to fish and visit the falls. Not sure I'll have the time to spend a night on both W and E Pike.

(Also, who decided to name lakes so close to each other Pike and Pine? How does one start a petition to change the name of Pine to something else like "Really Long Lake"?)

CoffeeInTheWoods: "

salukiguy: "Here’s the way my group did it.
Day 1: Clearwater to West Pike.
Day 2: East Pike
Day 3: Pine
Day 4: Johnson Falls and Caribou
Day 5: out



I would not have wanted to miss the fishing on West or East Pike. Also had time to fish on Pine and Caribou. I had time to fish each evening and some mornings on those lakes. pine is a really pretty lake and well worth staying on. "

If you had to pick one, would you choose West or East Pike? I definitely want to stay on Pine to fish and visit the falls. Not sure I'll have the time to spend a night on both W and E Pike.


(Also, who decided to name lakes so close to each other Pike and Pine? How does one start a petition to change the name of Pine to something else like "Really Long Lake"?)"

I like them both but I caught a bunch of bass right from the camp on top water on East Pike and that's my only experience with bass and top water so I'm partial to that.