I am partaking of my fourth solo trip this coming September and was wondering for those of you that have left out of Round Lake and headed towards Town Lake how are the portages along that route? I am not concerned about their ruggedness; I am more talking about their ability to be located without having to heavily search for them.

This is a new area of the BWCA for me, but I have 4 nights and I would really like my first or second night to be on Town Lake. I would then work my way back spending my last night on Missing Link before exiting early the next morning.

Assuming you'll be using a Missing Link permit out of Round, you shouldn't have much for concerns as far as locating the portages along this route. The first two going in and out of Missing Link should be the toughest. Portage from Cherokee into Town may be the hardest to spot along this route. Depending on single vs double portaging and when in September, you'll want to get an early start to make it to Town before dark with a few less hours of daylight than in the summer to work with. There's plenty of backup campsite options along the way (Long Island, Gordon, Cherokee) if you do end up short of Town or if the one site there is taken.

If you feel like switching up the start or end (and don't want to do those Missing Link portages twice), it's about a mile walk on dirt road from the Round Lake parking lot to the Cross Bay parking lot.

So I just want to be clear. Your entry point is Missing Link? Brandt Lake entry also leaves from Round Lake. You intend to be on Town Lake just northeast of Cherokee Lake? I think it would be a long slog to get there in one day, but you do you.

The portages from Missing Link to Snipe Lake are rugged in places with a couple of tight corners. There is one rock face that may require you to put down your canoe and scramble down. They are not as often used as the one to Tuscarora.

The portage from Snipe to Cross Bay may require you to walk your canoe out into the stream a ways (50-100 feet) on the Cross Bay side. (Water level and beaver activity dependent.)

From Cross Bay to Karl are relatively normal get out and go up and down portages. Remember you are going up stream and uphill.

Take the portage from Karl to the west end of Long Island. It is a nice walk and will save you time vs. paddling around.

As I remember, the Long Island River can get shallow in low water. There may also be one more portage than you see on some maps.

The portage from Gordon into Cherokee is a nice walk. Don't let Cherokee fool you, it can get rocking and rolling in the afternoon wind.

I have not been over the portage into Town Lake. Others that have used that route (between Cherokee and Brule) have reported lots of mud but I don't remember if that particular portage is one of those.

Just as a note. The Cross Bay entry point is approx. a mile by foot from the Round Lake put in. I would consider returning through Cross Bay rather than going out over the Snipe to Missing LInk portages again. Get your gear out at Round Lake and move your car to Cross Bay and walk back to start your trip. Or walk back to get your car from the Round Lake put in when you arrive at Cross Bay at the end. We have done this a couple of times. (It also works great if your car is parked at Tuscarora Lodge.)

Hope you have a great trip.

As mentioned Town on the first night is doable but would require a good start and some determination. Second night should be no problem.

I've never had any problem finding any of those portages. The one from Rib to Lower George requires a bit of a paddle up the stream mouth, but it's easy to find once you do that.

If you take the alternate exit through Ham Lake and entry point #50, I recommend getting the shuttling between entry points done at the beginning of the trip. Otherwise I don't think it's any easier coming out that way if you have to walk a mile to your vehicle at the end (though parking at Tuscarora Outfitters rather than the public landing on Round would cut that walk in half). Also that last portage on the Cross River is just as challenging as the ones in and out of Missing Link in my opinion, just a bit shorter.

Sounds like a great trip!

Yes, to clarify, I will be on a Missing Link permit. I will be staying at Tuscarora and most likely hitting the water around 730 or so after partaking of their breakfast option they offer. I typically single portage anything less than 50 Rods so I feel pretty confident I can make it to at least Gordon on day one. I feel confident in reading through your responses that locating the portages on this route isn't going to be an issue and have me wasting time trying to locate them. Appreciate it as always!!

that's a long haul for one person. is it your mission to get as far as possible due to time contraints? you'll miss lots to look at by rushing.

in any case, the portage to Town is not that much different than most, pretty flat and not hard to find.
the campsite on Town is flat and rocky. we had a snack there before starting on the portages toward brule.

i thought Town was boring, there was some fish but we didn't catch them.
it wouldn't be a lake i'd spend multiple days on as there really isn't much in the way of bays or interesting shoreline. the portages toward brule are lovely. we were there in early May (the year the ice went out in March) and found many frozen mini-waterfalls. lots of jagged boulders. we found evidence of moose, wolves and smaller critters.

cherokee is a much more interesting lake to spend a few nights. you could day trip into Town and still have time to day trip other places. the portages to the temperances are also nice as is the creek that heads toward Ada.

I have four nights and wanted to meander as far as I can south from Missing Link in a day or two and then slowly work my way back to finish my last night on Missing Link.

When I solo, I honestly am perfectly content just sitting in camp watching whatever lake I find myself on. I don't fish all that much really, and I don't go out and explore on a regular basis. I just enjoy being in camp, sitting in my chair, watching the lake and just being at peace. LOL Might not be what most people like to do, but it suits me and what my goal is when I am in the BWCA. I prefer the remote lone campsite lakes as they offer a more secluded and remote feel then having people constantly passing by or seeing/hearing campsites from my campsite. I enjoy the challenge of long hard days to see where I am at physically and to simply challenge myself against the wilderness and what it has to offer and throw my way. I love the feeling of conquering the long tough portages most people avoid, sounds weird, I get it, it does LOL.

I think that is the uniqueness of everyone's goals when they come to the BWCA. Easy, tough, remote, busy.........every route has its own unique possibilities, and we get to choose which one we go for!

Town is a nice lake if you are after solitude. If you get there the first night and plan a second night on Town the lakes north of Town (Cash, Gunstock, Cleft, Jay and Ash) offer a pleasant day exploring. Maps show portages, but I doubt they are maintained.

I would also recommend staying on Cross Bay lake the last night and exiting through Ham to Cross River access. It is very scenic. I have started early and been out well before noon.

I have also always parked at Tuscarora Outfitters. I think they charge 5.00/day. I don't have to worry about my vehicle and it is a short walk from Cross River Access.

Enjoy! You have chosen a very nice area.