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MarshallPrime
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01/19/2023 12:36PM  
We are thinking about driving up from Indiana along Lake Superior into Canada and then driving west to Kawnipi. We usually enter through the Falls Chain and go north.

If we want to get there FROM THE EAST, where is the best plan? Is there an outfitter that we stay at then enter? Do we take the Wagiag, and if so, how do we get to it? I've done limited searching so far, but can't find much about where we check in or enter. I read something about Mack Lake, but it wasn't real clear.

Thanks for your time.
 
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Jackfish
Moderator
  
01/19/2023 01:48PM  
You'll need to pick up your permit at a ranger station, so that means Cache Bay (which you've done before) or Dawson Trail. I've heard of fly-in trips to Mack Lake (landing outside the park boundary), but you still need to get your permit.

If you paddle south from Dawson Trail, you'll encounter a couple two-mile portages pretty close together.... or you could paddle west on Pickerel and then head south to Kawnipi. Either way, it's a long paddle.

You might try an outfitter that does fly-ins to Mack Lake to see if they can pick up your permit for you. Sorry, but I don't know of any to recommend.

Good luck.
MarshallPrime
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01/19/2023 02:05PM  
Ok, I thought I had read somewhere that you could get into Kawnipi faster that way but WAY more driving for us. I could be wrong.

The falls chain is beautiful but takes us usually 2 FULL days to get to Mackenzie Bay on Kawnipi. Just looking for a faster way in if possible, even with more driving.

What is the best way into Kawnipi other than the falls chain from the South or East? West and North doesnt really help us based off of where we are coming from.
thinblueline
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01/19/2023 04:20PM  
Flying into Mack Lake is the only other way I've ever heard to get in there from the east.
01/21/2023 09:39PM  
Flying into Mack lake would be the only quicker option than falls chain. I did a Mack lake loop into Kawnipi back in 1992. We entered at Cache Bay. It was definitely not quicker. Was a trip worth doing though.

Ryan
cburton103
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01/22/2023 06:34AM  
I don’t think outfitters are typically allowed to land on Mack Lake, since it’s in the park. I’ve heard these flights typically land on Clay lake, then you paddle out the creek, down the Wawiag a bit, then up Mack Creek into Mack Lake. The Wawiag into Kawnipi is a full day, especially since you have to paddle something like five miles into Kawnipi before you are allowed to camp.

A few years ago I entered at Cache Bay, paddled to the eastern side of Saganagons, then up a route that crisscrosses the Quetico park border through Ross, Munro, etc and into Mack. Then my next travel day we proceeded on to Kawnipi. That was a worthwhile and minimally traveled route. There were 2-3 other groups on Mack that got easy access there from an outfitter, and I don’t think they flew in. I’m not sure which outfitter they used or what the logistics were. Either way, I enjoyed the route we took. But it was harder and took longer than coming up the Falls Chain or Agnes for sure.
MagicPaddler
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01/22/2023 08:58AM  
I have entered the park on the Wawiag It is a logging road from the north then a full day of bushwhacking to get to the Wawiag below the rapids. Then crown land camping for the night. Then it takes nearly a full day to get to kawa Bay which you are not supposed to camp in. It is not the fasted or easiest way in. If you want the rest of the story dig out your Fall2017 BWJ page 68 by Darrel Brauer. It was a lot easier than our bushwhack into McKenzie.
MarshallPrime
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01/23/2023 02:22PM  
Thanks for the info everyone, I just booked our Cache bay/Falls chain entry and we will make the trek. It isnt bad at all, beautiful and a great adventure. Just wondered if there was a faster way.
Ive not made it back into Kawa bay because you cant camp there and the trip is a long one but Ive heard their are huge smallmouth back in that way...any truth to that rumor? I would think they are bigger now because of the closing of camping in that area.
portagedog09
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01/23/2023 03:48PM  
cburton103: "I don’t think outfitters are typically allowed to land on Mack Lake, since it’s in the park. I’ve heard these flights typically land on Clay lake, then you paddle out the creek, down the Wawiag a bit, then up Mack Creek into Mack Lake. The Wawiag into Kawnipi is a full day, especially since you have to paddle something like five miles into Kawnipi before you are allowed to camp.


A few years ago I entered at Cache Bay, paddled to the eastern side of Saganagons, then up a route that crisscrosses the Quetico park border through Ross, Munro, etc and into Mack. Then my next travel day we proceeded on to Kawnipi. That was a worthwhile and minimally traveled route. There were 2-3 other groups on Mack that got easy access there from an outfitter, and I don’t think they flew in. I’m not sure which outfitter they used or what the logistics were. Either way, I enjoyed the route we took. But it was harder and took longer than coming up the Falls Chain or Agnes for sure. "


cburton - Magic Paddler and I are planning a foray into the far east side of the park like you're describing, specifically in the Ross-Mack area but from Kawnipi. I think we'd be interested in your route and portage locations between whatever lakes your path took you on - could match up with some of our intentions. Do you have any info you could share? Thanks.

pd
cburton103
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01/25/2023 09:52AM  
MarshallPrime: "Thanks for the info everyone, I just booked our Cache bay/Falls chain entry and we will make the trek. It isnt bad at all, beautiful and a great adventure. Just wondered if there was a faster way.
Ive not made it back into Kawa bay because you cant camp there and the trip is a long one but Ive heard their are huge smallmouth back in that way...any truth to that rumor? I would think they are bigger now because of the closing of camping in that area."


I've only paddled through Kawa once, and it was on an odd weather day with slow fishing. But we mostly picked up a few pike casting and trolling. I have no doubt that there are plenty of good smallies back there as well, but I'd have a hard time imagining the fishing being significantly better than other parts of Kawnipi. My trip through Kawa was around June 1, 2019.
cburton103
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01/25/2023 09:54AM  
portagedog09: "
cburton103: "I don’t think outfitters are typically allowed to land on Mack Lake, since it’s in the park. I’ve heard these flights typically land on Clay lake, then you paddle out the creek, down the Wawiag a bit, then up Mack Creek into Mack Lake. The Wawiag into Kawnipi is a full day, especially since you have to paddle something like five miles into Kawnipi before you are allowed to camp.



A few years ago I entered at Cache Bay, paddled to the eastern side of Saganagons, then up a route that crisscrosses the Quetico park border through Ross, Munro, etc and into Mack. Then my next travel day we proceeded on to Kawnipi. That was a worthwhile and minimally traveled route. There were 2-3 other groups on Mack that got easy access there from an outfitter, and I don’t think they flew in. I’m not sure which outfitter they used or what the logistics were. Either way, I enjoyed the route we took. But it was harder and took longer than coming up the Falls Chain or Agnes for sure. "



cburton - Magic Paddler and I are planning a foray into the far east side of the park like you're describing, specifically in the Ross-Mack area but from Kawnipi. I think we'd be interested in your route and portage locations between whatever lakes your path took you on - could match up with some of our intentions. Do you have any info you could share? Thanks.
pd"


Replied to your email - in short for the readers, paddledog and Magic Paddler are much more adventurous than I am, and I hope to read an interesting report on the lesser traveled lakes around the Mack Lake area!
jbarth
member (14)member
  
01/30/2023 09:53AM  
I have been down the Wawiag six times. Go through Canoe Canada in Atikokan. Much easier.
cburton103
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01/30/2023 01:13PM  
One comment on the Wawiag - it might have been the cool, gray, light drizzle day, but I found the scenery much less interesting than lakes up there. It’s a route I probably wouldn’t personally choose to do again, although I enjoyed the rest of my trip.
jbarth
member (14)member
  
01/30/2023 02:19PM  
You can't camp in Kawa Bay??? What! Where did that come from??
toothmiester
distinguished member (104)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/31/2023 10:17AM  
For anyone who is interested I flew into Clay lake last year and headed down the creek into the Wawaig. That did not go well and I would not recommend it the creek was full of log jams and very difficult passage. We did make it to Kawa bay but we were exhausted.
deancal20
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01/31/2023 10:25AM  
I believe the camping restriction came from First Nation. This area is a sacred area to them and Quetico PP is honoring their request.
MarshallPrime
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01/31/2023 11:20AM  
jbarth: "You can't camp in Kawa Bay??? What! Where did that come from??"


My understanding is (if my picture works) this is the area where you can no longer camp...maybe back around 2018 or so is when they made the change. It is big trip to just go back there for a day trip so we have not tried it in my past 2 trips...we plan to this year mid June. Camp somewhere on the main body of Kawnipi and then fish back there near the Wawiag for a day trip.
jbarth
member (14)member
  
02/01/2023 07:43AM  
Thanks Marshall:
I am very surprised as they would do this now ignoring the last 100 years. By the time you get to Kawa Bay you are shot and now you have to go another hour, and if you are facing a strong west wind you are going nowhere. There are some good camp sites there. I have been down the Wawiag five times and once up the wawiag and took the portage to Belair then into McKenzie. Very cool. Canoe Canada is the best as I will be going with them this summer for trip number 60 and 61.
Enjoy, Jim Barth
02/01/2023 06:20PM  
The 3 campsites in the picture are closed. I stayed in the blue flagged site where the river comes out into the bay on that trip in 92. We hammered the walleyes for days in that bay! It had always been in my bucket list to go back and stay in that campsite. My understanding now is that is the site where they had the village. Closed now though.

Ryan

jbarth
member (14)member
  
02/02/2023 06:49AM  
Thanks for the input. I stayed at the island a little further down, Very flat and all grass. Back in the 60s and 70s Powell lake resort was running. The owner Tony Massarro would motor down the wawiag for day fishing, I believe the resort is now closed.
 
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