Hello!

I am planning a 4 day trip for the end of July/start of August for me and 2 other group members, all in our 20s. We have gone to BWCA 3 times together and are looking for a new route this year that has a little more challenge to it. Although with the high water levels and crazy currents, I am having some concerns about river travel. We are planning to start at Kawishiwi Lake, up to Polly, across Phoebe River to the Lady Chain Lakes and ending at Sawbill. Does Phoebe River have any concerning rapids or currents that we should be aware of?

If anyone has any tips, tricks, or advice for taking that route and what to expect, it would be greatly appreciated!

You'll be fine. I did the Phoebe and Lady Chain back on May 14th and the water levels were a little high but good. I'm sure they are even lower now. The only issue I had was I had to line up some rapids through a chute heading into Knight lake because it was too fast to paddle but I'm sure that's fine now too because the water is lower. Also, keep an eye out for the channel cut through the rock garden after the 144 rod portage from Hazel lake. It is on the north side or river left if you are heading upstream. I went through this area last fall as well and did not know about the channel then. I ended up portaging through that rock garden, not fun. A photo of the rock garden. It's from last fall so the water will be significantly higher. It's a beautiful area to explore.

Beautiful route. It was my first 25 yrs. ago.

Rivers is a bit of a misnomer for the Phoebe River. Pencil lakes with places where the water falls down to the next pencil lake is a better description.

High water will be a blessing as to travel to Lake Polley. Between Square and Kawasachong Lakes you will need to pull over a couple of beaver dams. There is one larger beaver dam that you will need to portage around as you approach Kawasachong. Higher water will help you avoid the delta into Kawasachong Lake. You should have no trouble as you paddle the Phoebe River between Lake Polley and Hazel Lake.

After you leave Hazel Lake and portage back to the Phoebe River you will soon encounter a rock garden. As you look at it from the seat of your canoe, it appears there is no way through. Especially in low water. However, at satellite view reveals a channel cleared in the rocks.



Head to the northern shore of the river and you should see it.

There is only one spot that may give you a bit of trouble after that. Between Knight Lake and Phoebe Lake there is a narrow channel that has some current. It may require some power strokes in this spot to get through.

Take the longer 280rd. portage from Grace to Beth Lake. The portages through Ella Lake are rocky and often muddy when wet. The longer portage has some ups and downs, but is usually dry with better footing.

Hope you have a great trip.