BWCA Hook to Big Rice Lake Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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04/24/2021 06:06PM  
I spend a lot of time on here looking for new places to go, would like to bring the family up at some point and was looking at EP6, Slim Lake. My question is, the river going from Hook to Big Rice Lake, is that passable. Looking at it on one map on a different site, it looks like it goes all the way through, but on the map here, it looks like it dead ends just outside of Hook. Has anyone gone through there instead of taking the long portage. For reference, if it matters for water levels, I usually like to go early/mid September. Thanks everyone!
 
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cyclones30
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04/24/2021 07:53PM  
Just looking @ google maps it looks like the half on the Big Rice side is possible. The other half almost looks nonexistent in places
BigCurrent
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04/24/2021 09:05PM  
From my experience, if there is a portage, it's there for a reason. All the times that I have tried to avoid a portage by taking a river it turns out to be a bad idea. On top of that I would assume by September the water levels are probably at their lowest points of the summer in most years.
TuscaroraBorealis
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04/25/2021 07:24AM  
Its been half a dozen years or so since we passed through there.... but, we even encountered fairly deep water at points along the portage and I still remember the 'river' you speak of being unpaddleable. I suppose there's always a chance that beavers or, something could alter that but, I would count on doing the full portage. Actually, its a pretty neat portage and, its mostly a matter of overcoming the length. However, there were a few spots where you have to pay close attention because it was easy to lose the trail. As I recall, there was a nice spread of pink lady slippers along the way but, they would probably have withered by September.

If you haven't done so already? Check out my trip report from that area. Big Slim

04/25/2021 08:59AM  
Any river is passable! But this one would not be worth the effort especially with a family. Yes, the portage is long but that’s about it.
04/25/2021 09:03AM  
Sounds like you had a great trip!! I guess I was inquiring about the river more for a day excursion, something different, maybe had some neat views to see, wasn't so much to avoid the long portage, looked like there were some smaller ponds to explore, maybe see some wildlife. If we went this way, would probably stay on Hook or Keneu and day trip, do some fishing, relax. Looks and sound like a great first trip for the family!
04/25/2021 02:35PM  
You can easily day trip to Rice and LaPond. This is a great area to see moose. Another option would be to hike portions of the North Arm Trails that are in the Boundary Waters.
04/25/2021 03:37PM  
Many years back I skied parts of the creek to get to Big Rice. The flow out of hook begins with a decent drop and a very narrow thread of water. Thick forest and difficult to get through just carrying skis- would be hard to bushwhack with a canoe. Was not able to determine canoe navigability in my foray. Doubtful would be my guess. Cool area. I tried to replicate this route about five years back but the ice on the creek was already suspect when I got to it.
cyclones30
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04/25/2021 05:42PM  
wolf24: "Sounds like you had a great trip!! I guess I was inquiring about the river more for a day excursion, something different, maybe had some neat views to see, wasn't so much to avoid the long portage, looked like there were some smaller ponds to explore, maybe see some wildlife. If we went this way, would probably stay on Hook or Keneu and day trip, do some fishing, relax. Looks and sound like a great first trip for the family!"


Looks very Moose-y if you do the half from Big rice that looks passable. Likely very few people get in there
 
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