If you depart from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the Seagull river and head north toward Saganaga, how serious are those rapids? Is it possible to get a 16ft motorboat through?

Thanks!

Yes, if the water is seriously low, probably not, but there are buoy‘s and boulders to see just go slow and it sometimes helps to have a pointer person on the front. Been through that area many many times you’ll be fine.

CanoeViking: "Yes, if the water is seriously low, probably not, but there are buoy‘s and boulders to see just go slow and it sometimes helps to have a pointer person on the front. Been through that area many many times you’ll be fine."

Thanks so much! I've always launched at the Cook Co access and have never ventured over that way. I assumed it was navigable all the way from trail's end campground up to Sag but just wanted to double check. Appreciate the quick response!

thegildedgopher: "

CanoeViking: "Yes, if the water is seriously low, probably not, but there are buoy‘s and boulders to see just go slow and it sometimes helps to have a pointer person on the front. Been through that area many many times you’ll be fine."

Thanks so much! I've always launched at the Cook Co access and have never ventured over that way. I assumed it was navigable all the way from trail's end campground up to Sag but just wanted to double check. Appreciate the quick response!"

Your welcome. Trails end campground is higher up from the river but from Voyaguers you’ll be fine.

Well now I am more worried. I had reached out to VCO with this same question before posting here and just heard back. They were much less encouraging. And the fact that they had money to make by being more encouraging but opted for caution has me second guessing:

“If you do not know the route we do not recommend traveling the rapids at any time. The actual path a boat can travel is about 1.5 boat widths. The rest is a boulder field that your lower unit would not love. During the early parts of the season it can be pretty convincing that it looks like easy travel. When the water is high, all of the rocks are under water.”

thegildedgopher: "Well now I am more worried. I had reached out to VCO with this same question before posting here and just heard back. They were much less encouraging. And the fact that they had money to make by being more encouraging but opted for caution has me second guessing:


“If you do not know the route we do not recommend traveling the rapids at any time. The actual path a boat can travel is about 1.5 boat widths. The rest is a boulder field that your lower unit would not love. During the early parts of the season it can be pretty convincing that it looks like easy travel. When the water is high, all of the rocks are under water.”"

Hmmm…they rent out motorboats, and we took them from the outfitter to Sag. You do need to be careful, but they do it all the time with their tows. I guess it depends on your motorboat?

CanoeViking: "

thegildedgopher: "Well now I am more worried. I had reached out to VCO with this same question before posting here and just heard back. They were much less encouraging. And the fact that they had money to make by being more encouraging but opted for caution has me second guessing:



“If you do not know the route we do not recommend traveling the rapids at any time. The actual path a boat can travel is about 1.5 boat widths. The rest is a boulder field that your lower unit would not love. During the early parts of the season it can be pretty convincing that it looks like easy travel. When the water is high, all of the rocks are under water.”"

Hmmm…they rent out motorboats, and we took them from the outfitter to Sag. You do need to be careful, but they do it all the time with their tows. I guess it depends on your motorboat?"

I know, kind of puzzling to me. I explained we had a basic 16ft boat / 25hp motor. They suggested launching every day at the cook co access, but we want to have the boat on a dock and ready to fish at all times. At any rate, I think we’ve managed to find another spot that will suit our needs well.

I wonder if we are crossing wires. To be extra clear, I am referring to the narrower arm on the west side of the image. VCO told me they bring their rental boats across the street to the cook county access for their customers who want to fish Sag.

We did it back in 2020. During Covid when the BWCA was shutdown for overnight stays, we rented a cabin at VCO and took our aluminum boat up and down those rapids. It can be a bit daunting, but the water was high when we did it and we got through with no issues.

thegildedgopher: "I wonder if we are crossing wires. To be extra clear, I am referring to the narrower arm on the west side of the image. VCO told me they bring their rental boats across the street to the cook county access for their customers who want to fish Sag.


"

We are talking about the same place. They must have change their operation then. We did the same as A1t2o. Just have to be careful. We lifted the motor as high as it would go to and still work and had a pointer person in the front, we had no problem. Low water may be a different sorry.

My brother and I took out a lower unit (his) during a spring trip. Water was not unusally high, nor low. It's dicey in there.

Mike

I agree with Mike. We did this trip last year. We took the river down and spent the majority of the time with the motor up. After seeing the rapids for ourselves, on the way back in we just went to the public landing and walked back to our vehicles at Voyageurs. Good Luck!