Thinking something different this summer, typically would go up the falls chain from the east. Thinking now we may want to head into the Robinson from Prairie Portage and spend the week in that area, never been in this part of the park.

Kett seems like the most direct route. How are these portages going in via Basswood? What about Nub vs. Tuck? Is one of these a better way into Robinson?

It looks like a pretty moderate to heavy day to get to Robinson, or am I underestimating this route?

I have been there via Sarah. Once you reach Sarah, the going is very easy. Very nice area with several nice campsites. I think fire got the Gardner's Mountain area, but I don't think much else has burned. I have not returned since 2019. Was one of my groups favorite trips.

campnfish: "Thinking now we may want to head into the Robinson from Prairie Portage and spend the week in that area..."

Campnfish... just checking to see if you have an RABC permit from last year that will allow you to enter Canada (and Quetico) from PP or Cache Bay until the end of 2025. You might not be aware that if you don't have an RABC permit, they are not processing those permits at all right now which makes entering at those two entry points impossible.

Jackfish: "

campnfish: "Thinking now we may want to head into the Robinson from Prairie Portage and spend the week in that area..."

Campnfish... just checking to see if you have an RABC permit from last year that will allow you to enter Canada (and Quetico) from PP or Cache Bay until the end of 2025. You might not be aware that if you don't have an RABC permit, they are not processing those permits at all right now which makes entering at those two entry points impossible. "

Yes we do.

The Kett track into Robinson is the most direct route and you can get there in a day, but it will be a long, tough one. We were double portaging. There are some big hills in there - especially the Wall (you'll know it when you see it). The short portage into Nub, I believe, or the no name is pretty steep. Underestimating? That depends on your conditions and how you travel. It's not a heavily used route but the portages are clear and easy to find/follow. We did not do Tuck at it adds unnecessary miles paddling portaging and takes you out of the way.

We did it last year, got a tow to Lincoln Is. (from Williams & Hall on Moose Lake) on a Sarah entry permit. Yes, you can go directly to Kett/Robinson without hitting Sarah first - or Basswood River on that permit. On checking in at PP, we gave Ranger Jason our itinerary as just that and there was no problem at all. In case someone tells you cannot do that.

Fire did hit the Gardner's Mt. side, but from our observation, not heavily. The worst part of that area that we hit burnwise, was the no name, Cone and the center of Brent lake. We looped from Robinson up Crooked into Argo, Brent, McIntyre and out Sarah to Basswood.

pd

PD, how did you get your Quetico permit and still get a tow to Lincoln Island? I've never really noticed, but is there a motor portage on the US side at PP, is that how you get the tow?

campnfish: "PD, how did you get your Quetico permit and still get a tow to Lincoln Island? I've never really noticed, but is there a motor portage on the US side at PP, is that how you get the tow?"

A Lincoln Island tow starts at the outfitter on Moose Lake. First stop, Prairie Portage. They should drop you off & you walk down to the Ranger Station...you get your permit, and they swing over to pick you up in front of the Station (your boat having done the motor portage on the US side.) Maybe 45 minutes of time motoring, total.

Tuck is less direct than Nub. There's one rub to Nub. That would be the rotting moose carcass in the water right at the Kett takeout to head NW towards Nub. Might just be bad enough to go the longer way through Tuck.

This photo is of the delightful source of the aroma, taken May 25, '25. Looked like it was going to get worse before it got better.