Hello,

We are contemplating a trip to McEwen as well as Glacier and perhaps Fauquier in early September.

Generally we enter Quetico through Batchewaung however, the McEwen trip is one more for sentimental reasons (my father used to go there in the 50's and 60's.) In past years I have been up to Louisa but that's as far as time allowed us.

So my question is in the interest of time (7 day trip) would it be a better route to go up through Louise or Cache Bay and down from Wet Lake.

Ease of portages and the time factor plays into my decision.

Also would like recommendations from outfitters would be helpful.

Thanks all in advance.

Hey, Tom--
Welcome aboard. We routed through McEwen in 2011 as a loop from Prairie Portage (put in on Moose in the US). Up through Agnes, Louisa, Glacier, et al, to McEwen, then on to Kawnipi. Don't like the Agnes-to-Louisa portage and have decided we probably won't do it again There's a beautiful campsite on Glacier a few hundred yards down the lake on the east shore. From McEwen we went east thru Wet to Sig and Saganagons into Blackstone--beautiful lake with few visitors. Made our way out via the Man chain and Carp to Birch and back to Moose/Ely. Total trip was 7 travel days, 80+ miles, 43 portages, per my wife's journal.

Don't think we'd try entry from the north side of Quetico for a McEwen visit. Your idea of a Cache Bay entry is good, but I don't know the outfitters on that side. If you go in from Ely, we've had great experiences with Piragis.

TZ

I headed in from Wet and preferred that. The last portages down into Louise were steeper. My favorite Q route. Saw no one - in late July - some years ago.

FWIW I entered PP, Man Chain, Falls Chain to Wet, through McEwen Chain, and out through Louisa, Agnes, Meadows, Sunday, and Basswood. 6 nights.

The easiest route to McEwen is definitely from Cache Bay. Seagull Outfitters is a great and convenient outfitter. Definitely get the tow to Hook Island - first one in the morning if you can, since the wind on Sag and Cache Bay can make paddling difficult.

It’s a moderately easy two day trip into McEwen up through the Falls Chain and Wet Lake. I’m sure people can sometimes make it in one long push if they’re efficient travelers, fit, and get an early start.

Sounds like a great trip and a nice way to remember your dad.

Hello all,

Many thanks for the great advice and route recommendations. Really appreciate you all taking the time to respond.

It looks like I will probably head in through Cache Bay and try Seagull Outfitters as recommended. Probably come out the same way I go in.

Again thank you for your prompt reply's.

Tom

Lost Lakes went into Mcewen in the Quetico video they did a few years ago. They were on a two week trip and came in from the North. Cut over after Kawnipi and then across to Louisa and Agnes. I would think for sure the easiest rout would be Falls chain and in from cache bay. Challenge would be making it a loop and not just an out and back.

Ryan

I agree with loop. You don't want to miss Gamp, Star, and Arp lakes at west end.

Somewhere on this forum within the last year, I wrote a very detailed post about McEwen. Maybe someone can search it, and post the link here?