We have secured a permit for Moose Lake OP in mid-July. We are looking at possibly going to the South Arm of Knife and I was wondering if we take the shuttle on Moose to Birch, how long it will take to complete this trip? Also wondering how long it would take if we modified our permits and went through Seagull and did that direction instead of going through Moose?

Similar question to a response I just posted:

In 2020 two of my daughters and I took a tow to the Sucker portage. We paid a little extra to get a sunrise tow and left by 5:00 am and we made it to site 1449 by noon. Three paddlers in our SR Q 18.5 and we are not fast paddlers but we also didn't linger much along the way as we wanted to avoid afternoon winds as much as possible.

We spent the first three nights of our 16-night trip at this site and enjoyed the area very much. Wishing you an awesome adventure too!

Hopefully others will chime in with a comparison of the other option you are considering as I haven't done that route.

Did Moose to SAK in 2015. Unfortunately, it looks like I lost my recorded tracks from that trip. I believe the paddle from Sucker portage to campsite 1431 took us around 5 hours single portaging with a short lunch stop. Looks like it's about 13 miles, most of it paddling (5 shortish portages). Taking the tow saves at least an hour and a half (6 miles to Sucker portage).

I've never done Seagull to SAK in one trip, but it's definitely going to be longer. Close to 17 miles to same campsite if you start at Seagull outfitters at end of lake (save a mile by starting at the public boat launch to the south). I think 7 hours would be a good bet. We can usually get to campsite on Ogish in 4.5 hours (785 on island) and then our day trip to Eddie Falls is about 2 hours, but usually we are trolling for fish.

Either way will be a great trip. If you haven't been in the area before, I'd recommend keeping your current permit and getting the tow up the lake. There's a number of campsites along the route so you can always stop early if needed. Travelling along the border is fun.

You didn't ask about a Sag entry, but with a tow to American Point, it looks like you can make it to SAK in 5-6 hours. You can loop back through Ogish and Seagull.

Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE.

But if you do some searching here on the site there are many that ask the same question with lots of answers. Tow saves you 2 hours give or take of paddling right away. There are a fair number of boats that take that route, both motor permits for Basswood and such as well as outfitters doing tow drops and pickups.

SAK from Sag trip report

bop07267: "We have secured a permit for Moose Lake OP in mid-July. We are looking at possibly going to the South Arm of Knife and I was wondering if we take the shuttle on Moose to Birch, how long it will take to complete this trip? Also wondering how long it would take if we modified our permits and went through Seagull and did that direction instead of going through Moose? "

We did this exact route in 2019. We took a tow From EP 25 (LaTourelles) leaving the dock at 7am and arrived at our campsite near Thunder Point (#1460) at Noon. Our group of 4 early 30s guys single portaged and had a moderate wind in our face.

cyclones30: "Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE. "

Planning for this, this summer. I've never before gotten a tow. I do believe it's much easier to get a tow out than to try to coordinate a town in.

wanderingfromkansas: "

cyclones30: "Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE. "

Planning for this, this summer. I've never before gotten a tow. I do believe it's much easier to get a tow out than to try to coordinate a town in."

A return tow. You have to commit to a certain day and time and the tow boat will meet you at the pickup point. If you decide to get a return tow, and are considering tipping your pilot, remember to bring cash with you on the trip so you have it at hand when you get back to the outfitter.

tow's are not cheap but if you have the $$$ by all means get a tow ,
i've done 1 trip from moose to the SAK all others seagull to SAK(no tows) , mainly i like the seagull route because once seagull is behind you (get in the water at sunrise) it's all relatively short paddle's and portages (which is easy on the body) never done the Sag route we never get a tow and seagull is big enough , never would want to paddle SAG.
when any of us make our dates , none of us know what the wind will be and from what direction and it can be one long-ass paddle from west to the SAK (eddy falls area) if the wind is in your face. believe me ;)
all are good choices , jasper falls is a nice visit and the flowage from Annie to SAK is beautiful too :) and your basically in the SAK once you hit Annie lake IMO.

Did this trip during COVID and camped near Thunder Point. Tow left at 8am. We got to camp at around 3pm. Triple portage and IT WAS CROWDED!!

TechnoScout: "Did this trip during COVID and camped near Thunder Point. Tow left at 8am. We got to camp at around 3pm. Triple portage and IT WAS CROWDED!!"

+1 on it being crowded

Kendis: "

wanderingfromkansas: "

cyclones30: "Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE. "

Planning for this, this summer. I've never before gotten a tow. I do believe it's much easier to get a tow out than to try to coordinate a town in."

A return tow. You have to commit to a certain day and time and the tow boat will meet you at the pickup point. If you decide to get a return tow, and are considering tipping your pilot, remember to bring cash with you on the trip so you have it at hand when you get back to the outfitter."

Actually you can get reception from the pickup point lol - I called up LaTourell's on my way back after I decided a tow would be well worth the money.

Kendis: "

wanderingfromkansas: "

cyclones30: "Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE. "

Planning for this, this summer. I've never before gotten a tow. I do believe it's much easier to get a tow out than to try to coordinate a town in."

A return tow. You have to commit to a certain day and time and the tow boat will meet you at the pickup point. If you decide to get a return tow, and are considering tipping your pilot, remember to bring cash with you on the trip so you have it at hand when you get back to the outfitter."

I hadn't thought of this. Is it customary to tip tow drivers?

wanderingfromkansas: "

Kendis: "

wanderingfromkansas: "

cyclones30: "Yeah, fastest possible route is likely a tow on Sag and paddle/portage in from the NE. "

Planning for this, this summer. I've never before gotten a tow. I do believe it's much easier to get a tow out than to try to coordinate a town in."

A return tow. You have to commit to a certain day and time and the tow boat will meet you at the pickup point. If you decide to get a return tow, and are considering tipping your pilot, remember to bring cash with you on the trip so you have it at hand when you get back to the outfitter."

I hadn't thought of this. Is it customary to tip tow drivers?"

yes

Yes on tipping if you can swing it. Especially if they're helping you carry across the first portage and other extras above and beyond "hop in the boat" and driving you there.

when a friend of mine would go into canada for a fishing trip , he always brought a carton of Marlboro reds with for tipping.