BWCA EP16 to Fish Stake Narrows in a day, timing Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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Wolfee
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
09/13/2021 10:47AM  
Anyone paddle EP16 to FSN in a day, or have a rough idea how long it might take?

I was thinking it probably around 10-11 hours total, double portaging w/ an hour for lunch/water breaks. Does that sound about right?
 
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09/13/2021 11:23AM  
Wolfee: "Anyone paddle EP16 to FSN in a day, or have a rough idea how long it might take?

I was thinking it probably around 10-11 hours total, double portaging w/ an hour for lunch/water breaks. Does that sound about right?"

Yes. If the wind isn't to bad
PeaceFrog
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09/13/2021 11:26AM  
I would figure on 10 or 11 easy and that is with good weather, tail wind and experienced paddlers. So many variables. It's roughly 18 to 19 miles to the Narrows. When are you going?
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
09/13/2021 01:13PM  
With high water and a south wind and single portages....could be 9 hours. If the opposite of all those...could be more than a day. Or anything in between
Wolfee
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
09/13/2021 03:22PM  
Thanks everyone, that confirms what I was thinking. Do-able, especially with good conditions/wind - but it would be a long day...
Hammertime
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09/13/2021 09:01PM  
Sounds about right, but I think that estimate is on the upper end.

I’ve made a couple trips into tiger bay, both taking somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 hours double portaging. We are definitely not trying to make time out there either.

If you don’t feel like going all the way I can’t recommend the campsite on the island at the mouth of tiger bay enough. Absolutely 5+ stars.
09/19/2021 10:07AM  
I'd second the above comment. You can figure that if you move along at an average pace, you could reach Agnes in 4 1/2 hours. However, water levels are low on the way up to Nina Moose. There are at least 5 lift-overs on the river from put-in to Nina Moose. You may be also have to pole your way into Nina Moose at it's northern end. So factor that part of the journey into your calculations. After you reach Agnes, it's another two hours probably to paddle to the top of Agnes and navigate the two portages into Boulder Bay. It's about 45 minutes with little to no wind to reach the pictos area and maybe less than a half hour from the pictos to get into Fish Stake Narrows. Under the best conditions, that would total up to a little less than 8 hours. If you factor in an hour lunch break, it would be 9 hours. YMMV.
Wolfee
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
09/20/2021 10:36AM  
Just got back, figured I'd update this thread for future searches. It took me 8.5 hours to get from the parking lot to Fish Stake Narrows. That was with a roughly 10-15 mph tailwind pushing me down Agnes and LLC.

I forgot to mention in my original post that I was solo. Used a double-bladed paddle for most of the trip. Also, lunch was mostly on the go, but stopped for a 15-20 minute break. Double portaged, and I didn't really rush. Stopped to check out the pictographs for a bit too.
prizes14
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09/25/2021 08:10AM  
I'm a fairly fast single portaging solo paddler who just did this route and it only takes me 3 hours to get from the Entry point to Agnes Lake and about another 3 to get to Fish Stake Narrows. Of course wind would add another 2 hours.
 
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