So this is a multipart question.

First, If entering at Beaverhouse (coming from the US, not looking for customs advice), should I be checking in at the ranger station on Beaverhouse? Haven't done this in 20+ years.

Second, how good/bad is the portage into Badwater Lake?

Third, access to Omeme, West Cub, and Bearpelt lakes. How are the portages/creeks? Is it dependent on water levels? As there isn't a listed portage into Bearpelt is it a reasonable bushwack? Yes, I know that's subjective, but.... Plenty of experience, just not interested in a whole day excursion....

Fourth, essentially the same questions for Wildgoose and Eyelet off of Your lake.

Other than Beaverhouse I've never been to any of them. So... New ideas during the hard water season. Any info to keep me dreaming would be appreciated!

Cheers... May you paddle eternally.

Hi Barca,

Beaverhouse is a favorite entry point for our group. I can only guess how many times it's been, but it's in excess of 30 times.

If BH is your entry, you have two choices... you can paddle across BH to the ranger station, take care of business, then be on your way. OR... you can do what we do and drive to Atikokan the day before our entry, take care of business at the park headquarters, then stay overnight in Atikokan (typically at the White Otter Inn). We have about an eleven hour drive from the Green Bay/Appleton area so we get there by 3:00pm(ish). Gives us time to repack at the motel, get a bite to eat, then head into the park the next day at dawn's first light. We are able to head straight to the first portage to Quetico Lake without the stop at the ranger station and the extra paddling.

The portage to Badwater is a mile long trudge with ups and downs, rocky terrain, sometimes with running water on the trail, sometimes dry, solid walking trail and ankle-deep muddy stretches. There are two bogs that used to be WAY worse than they are now, but now are corduroyed which makes crossing them relatively easy. It's a pretty rocky last 100 yards down to Badwater, possibly with standing water in spots, but the landing is pretty spacious and the water is knee deep. Back in the day, this portage used to be a real bastard, but improvements have moved the needle to a little better. Now its "just" a bear. :)

One tip about the trail... after you get through the first corduroyed bog, you will make your way up hill to a rocky knob. This is almost dead center on the portage. We use the leap frog method of doing this particular portage so this is the spot we drop a pack and return to the beginning. A standard double portage will take you 1-1/2 hours. The leap frog method will get it done in an hour.

There is a waterway that takes you from Badwater to Omeme. Turn south at the first campsite on the point on the right about a mile down the lake. Paddle that bay and the winding stream through the meadow. You'll get to a couple short portages into Omeme. There is also a portage on the shoreline to the right of the landing for the Mile Portage, but we've never really looked for it. You'll have to check the maps.

Others will have to help you with the other lakes. Good luck with your trip planning!

I have tried to get into Wildgoose and Eyelet several times. It is definitely dependent on water levels and beaver activity. One year the beavers actually change the direction of the creek. A couple of other years there was a four foot high beaver dam and nothing but sand on the other side.

The first year I made it I had to bushwack the last hundred yards from the creek to the lake through thick alders And I had to portage about 50 yards on moose pasture to get into Eyelet.

The last time I tried which was not that long ago things were entirely different. It was the spring and the water was high. When I got near Wildgoose it was like the lunar surface. Clearly there had been a forest fire so it was actually easy. Going there I never got out of the canoe and coming back I had to pull it up two small rapids. The creek into Eyelet was also easier except for about three yards. When I got out of the canoe to get over the blockage I found it was floating and sunk up to my chest.

Unfortunately it was a miserable cold windy day so after getting there I simply turned around and went back to Your. The first time I was there I caught walleyes in both lakes.

Here is a link to my photos for that trip:
2022:https://photos.app.goo.gl/7WsLv1huXwLjeC4f9

I did Bearpelt Creek solo probably 35 years ago and then went all the way to Lac la Croix via Worsley and Namakan River. Even 35 years ago the creek was a major challenge with a lot of draggingand lifting. I tried to get back to Bear Pelt about ten years ago and decided that the portage between West Cub and Bear Pelt was too long and unmarked. The water level after the dam burst was way too low. I am sure you could just follow the empty river but I couldn’t see an end even though there were no trees near the river.