Hi All,
We have a EP14 permit reserved for early August and currently our only plan is to enter at said EP and then exit at EP 16 7-9 days later with some layover days in between. I've looked at the maps a bunch and with all the route options I'd like opinions on what route is your favorite for scenery? For instance, If we do the northern route through Finger you could take the unofficial portage to Fat but then you miss the lakes around Steep, then you have the choice of making your way south through Geb or LLC missing one or the other? On top of that if you do the northern route I just mentioned you would miss Lynx, Hustler etc when you head to EP16.
This is a first time for us to EP14 but we have been in and out of EP16 before but just up to LLC and back.
Not looking to do a ton of backtracking just to hit all the lakes just looking for opinions on the most scenic lakes and must sees are for route planning.
Thank You

Sounds like you'll have to do variations of that trip two or three
(or four?) times... :-)

Both times that we went in at LIS, we came out Stuart River. The first time, we took the southern route - Shell, Oyster, Agnes, LLC, Iron, Stuart... The next time in, we did the northern route - Loon, Snow Bay, LLC, North, South, Finger, Pocket, LLC, Iron, Stuart... I loved the smaller lakes a bit more, but that southern route was my first ever BW trip, and it holds its own special memories.

schweady: "Sounds like you'll have to do variations of that trip two or three
(or four?) times... :-)

Both times that we went in at LIS, we came out Stuart River. The first time, we took the southern route - Shell, Oyster, Agnes, LLC, Iron, Stuart... The next time in, we did the northern route - Loon, Snow Bay, LLC, North, South, Finger, Pocket, LLC, Iron, Stuart... I loved the smaller lakes a bit more, but that northern route was my first ever BW trip, and it holds its own special memories.
"

You are probably right, it's just an EP that will require several trips! I am leaning towards a more northern route while hitting all the smaller lakes like you mentioned.

oops. Had to make an edit: "...that *southern* route was my first ever BW trip..." Either way, you can't go wrong.

Hit Devil's cascade on Day 1 as that's one of the main "scenery" items around there. Slim is a very cool, almost spooky lake when we were on it last. You can go north from Slim and not do the unmarked portage. The islands of LLC are cool and you could spend a few days in that area. Takumich, Gun, etc are also nice secluded spots. Finger is cool, Gebe chairs, etc. Lots of options

I did the clockwise loop back out EP 14. Lakes that stand out for me are Gun and Finger. The chairs on Gebe are worth a stop too.

Instead of coming out on EP 16 just return via Little Indian Sioux (South through Green/Rocky to Oyster then Hustler)- then you can hit the lakes on both the northern and southern route.