Hey everyone..

Looking at doing a loop Round Lake To Cross Bay..

Should I start at Cross Bay and end at Round.. Or start at Round Lake and end at Cross Bay?

Suggestions.. Please

Thx DMan5501

Absolutely, yes

That route does have a fair bit of seasonal variety, though I don't know that it much impacts the validity of clockwise versus counter. I would say that the biggest variable is what time you are starting and what time you are finishing. It's easier to stay closer to the car at the Round Lake end meaning if a morning finish is important I would go clockwise. The first campsites on the Cross Bay entry are at Ham but those are outside of the BWCA (it does give some flexibility if the permit isn't available the day you wanted but is available the next day.) Missing Link campsites can fill up quickly so, if you are planning to stay there on the way out, get in early!

You didn't say what loop you are planning to do or how long you'll be out. Cross Bay-Snipe-Missing Link? Cross Bay-Snipe-Copper-Tuscarora? Farther? I did the 2nd & 3rd option starting at Cross Bay.

Boonie.. Thinking 4 - 5 nights.. Looking at Cross Bay-Snipe-Missing Link or the inverse. Thanks!

DMan5501

That will be a short, very relaxed trip. Snipe is a cool little lake. I've always stayed on the island site, but tarp options are limited. I've never done the Snipe-Missing link portage, but other than that it probably doesn't make much difference which way you go. I stayed on Missing Link once, site 548. I like elevated sites and it's flat on top.

Depends too on which permit you pull....
Crossbay-Snipe-Missing Link could be day trip so you'd really have time to sniff the roses with 4-5 days. For a Round start, don't rule out a Brant entry and loop back to Missing Link. Skip the long Tuscarora portage and do the Howl Swamp to Copper the Snipe-ML. Lots of options.

All good advice.

One thing to remember is that fishing on Snipe Lake is almost nonexistent. It’s a beautiful lake for chilling out though.

Paddled the Round, Missing Link, Snipe, Cross Bay, Ham route last year in July. The two portages into Snipe are longer than the others coming out (CCW route) so I liked it better for having shorter portages out. Base camped on Snipe for 3 nights. It's a great lake to explore (don't miss the narrows) and was super quiet in regards to traffic. Only saw two other boats the entire time at base camp. Stayed on the northern most site on Snipe (closest to Missing Link portage) after checking out all three of the sites on the west side of the lake. It is a lovely elevated site on a point. Great views!!! And I did manage to catch dinner one day in spite of it not being known as a great fishing lake (and I'm by no means a great fisherman) so there are fish to be caught.

Through-bushwack the Sora-Din-Mass-Ell-Iris-Fetters chain for the boys