BWCA Entry #14 Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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09/08/2022 11:21AM  
Looking for any advice or observations for this route later this month.
Little Indian Sioux > Pauness Lakes > Loon Lake > Heritage Creek > Heritage Lake
Lynx or Shell Lake> back to Pauness and Indian Sioux River.

Time? Portage? Lake Levels?
 
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09/08/2022 11:41AM  
At a guess, maybe 10-12 hours of travel time for the whole loop at a decent pace...less if you single portage. So if this is an overnight...very doable travel days.
09/08/2022 11:47AM  
I realize it is a farely small loop but would be doing a few basecamp layovers
9 days total.
Have always entered at Kawishiwi and know nothing about these lakes. Anyone have anything for me?
09/08/2022 01:55PM  
Stop at Devil's cascade
Hike the SHT
I wouldn't stay on Loon just because there are motor boats on it.
Maybe go over to Fat for some LT fishing.
09/08/2022 05:22PM  
The lakes just to north (and south of LLC) are pretty cool - with 9 days, even several layover days, I'd swing further north.
bombinbrian
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09/12/2022 08:12PM  
If you have 9 days you could make a heck of a trip up through, slim, over to beartrxck, finger, thumb and down and arond
09/12/2022 08:26PM  
The water levels on LIS usually are not a problem even during drought years. I double portage so it usually takes me a little over 3 hours to get to Shell. Another short portage gets you to Little Shell and Lynx. Lots of day trip possibilities from Shell. 9 days is a long time. Are planning to base camp? Fish? Hike?
A nice day trip could take you to Heritage, Loon, up the LIS to Devil’s Cascade, Lower Pauness and back to Shell. A shorter day trip go to Little Shell, Lynx, Heritage and back to Shell. All those lakes are places I’ve seen moose. A little more strenuous trip might be to head to Hustler for bass and northern. You also could hike portions of the Sioux Hustler Trail as well.
flytyer
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09/13/2022 10:11AM  
This is one of my favorite trips-have done more than one. Beautiful river where we have seen moose. Easy 60 rod portage on LIS. Had a bear on Pauness once. Must see Devils Cascade. Have stayed on Loon Lake - had a super campsite with a sand beach. Only saw one motor boat on Loon. Heritage Lake had good northern fishing and Shell Lake had good walleye fishing. Stayed at the Island Hilton campsite on Shell Lake.
09/13/2022 02:12PM  
Gorgeous area- the E. bay of Loon has a gorgeous campsite and I only saw a motor boat once in 6 days there.

There is a fair bit of poison ivy along the portages and in some of the campsites....everything I found is noted on the maps here.

09/13/2022 02:32PM  
Going in 14 on the 17th. Loon, Finger, Lacroix, Crooked, Basswood, out at Fall 10 days later. Look for a white and yellow pair of solo paddlers if around on first part of route. I've been through your area couple times. I think the good points were mentioned. The portage from Loon to Heritage caused some mutiny in my family....be prepared....and make sure not to make a wrong turn where the Sioux Hustler Trail crosses.
MikeinMpls
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09/13/2022 05:07PM  
Suggestions:

Go into Little Shell from Shell. Fish the wall on the west side for awesome bass action.

Hike around the area on the Sioux Hustler trail.

The narrows between Little Shell and Lynx are pretty cool, too. Kinda cute...go there, you'll see what I mean.

Day trip to Agawato Lake...it's eerie. Kind of the lake version of a haunted pirate ship.

Mike
Deeznuts
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09/18/2022 07:48AM  
If you have multiple days consider extending your trip out a little further to Hustler and beyond. Beautiful, secluded lake with some stellar pike fishing, access to the souix Hustler, and you can also check out emerald lake, which is one of the clearest on the west side.
It is all dependent on the amount of portaging you intend to do day to day. If you have 9 days you could easily do a larger loop. We did ep 14-hustler, layover day, hustler-gebe, gebe-takucmich via LLC, Taku-fat-eugene (try to stay on fat if you can!), Eugene- Loon, layover day, Loon- ep14.
In total we covered about 50-60 miles in an 8 day period and most days (except the first) we had camp set by 2 or 3. We got lucky with the weather and diligent planning led to few snags and some awesome campsites (without expending extra energy). Good luck and happy planning!
09/21/2022 07:18PM  
I know everyone like different types of trips, but with the number of days you have I would really look at going a little further like others have suggested. Even traveling for 4 hours every three days you could really cover more area and see more. I personally like Deeznuts itinerary, but you could just do a portion of that if you want more layover days.
 
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