Got a permit for EP 68 from June 5-9. Hoping to fish Pine and West Pike pretty hard, as well as visit Johnson Falls. I'd also like to visit some of the trout lakes in the area as well. Has anyone brutalized themselves on those portages?
Is there anything I should be concerned about? Water level conditions? Do the campsites fill up quickly on these lakes? Thanks for any help! I'm getting excited!

In that area, the portages that run north-south tend to be very steep. East-west portages are much flatter. Be careful around the Royal River area if water is still high. Pine Lake campsites tend to fill fast...the Pike Lakes are less used in general.

If you you need to make an audible and do a shorter loop, you can cut down to Pine from West Pike via that long portage. It's a tough one, but doable.

If you haven't checked it out already? There's some comments in the maps section describing the portages & campsites.