I have a trip planned for the second week in October. We'll put in at Sawbill and head north to Cherokee via Ada Lake and Cherokee creek. I'm hoping we'll be able to keep going to Long Island before turning around and heading back to Sawbill via North and South Temperance and Jack and Kelly Lakes.

I'm just curious what input anyone has on this route. I've been told Temperance River feeds Kelly from the north, so traveling north to south would be good. And I guess there's an old mine entrance between Kelly and Jack? Anything else of note along that route or things to be aware of? What do you guys usually see for weather in October?

We'll do three nights. Four people, two canoes. I'll be the only one who has done BW before, but will be my first time as primary trip planner. Already had to put the brakes on puppies and rifles for target shooting coming along! XD

Thanks!
John

Some of the portages will challenge the new folks. There are some mucky ones from Sawbill to Cherokee. The two from Cherokee to North Temperance are a piece of work. I would plan that as a day from Cherokee to South Temperance. The first, to Sitka goes over the Laurentian divide and is very steep for a long ways. The Sitka to North Temperance is not so bad, but feels that way after the first one. The North to South Temperance is easy.

IMHO camps would be on Cherokee, South Temperance and Burnt. The days are short and may be cold. Making short hops gives you a chance to get dry and warm up in the warm afternoon. If you travel fast and get to Cherokee early, Long Island Lake is an easy afternoon day trip. Gordon and the Cross River ought to be real pretty in fall.

Direction you do this in doesn't really matter. The Temperance River section has no travel with any current. You pass by all of that on the portages. Going clockwise is more likely to give you the time to day trip to LIL.
Enjoy! It is a wonderful part of the BWCA.

That's a good thought to remember the shorter days. I'm used to going in July or August. Thanks!