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      The road out of Red Lake     

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Alan Gage
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07/23/2012 12:46PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
So it sounds like it's no longer possible to get a little 2wd vehicle all the way down the road to Leano. Is the road awful the entire way or is there somewhere closer to Red Lake (Onnie?) I could make it to?

Anyone ever put in on Red Lake itself and paddle into the park? Looks like it would probably be an extra days paddle.

Trying to avoid a shuttle if I can. I'd like the option of A: leaving early if I so desired, or B: Staying an extra few days if I desired. Neither of which would really be possible if I had to meet the shuttle on XX day at X:XX time.

I suppose another option would be to hire a shuttle in and paddle out to Red Lake.

Alan
 
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Alan Gage
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07/23/2012 02:11PM  
Oops, I missed Claire's response in this thread - http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=516095&forumID=292&confID=1

So it sounds like Onnie might be doable.

Alan
 
bogwalker
Moderator
  
07/24/2012 08:08AM  
When are you going Alan?

I'll be going up in August and could report on road to Leano. Last year there were plenty of 2 wheel drive vehicles in the Leano lot-maybe the road is a lot worse this year but I kind of doubt it. There were really only 2 or 3 places where a 2 wheel drive would have trouble, one was a beaver dam that tended to make the road wash out in places, the other was a rather washboarded section as you got near to Leano.

If you are concerned check with Harlan on shuttling you.
 
Alan Gage
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07/24/2012 01:04PM  
Thanks Bogwalker. If I make it up this year it will be late August/early September (finances and work schedule still a bit up in the air). I'd appreciate at road reports.

Will definitely be calling Harlan for a shuttle if need be, but it would be nice to not have to.

Alan
 
solotrip
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07/24/2012 08:50PM  
Hey Guys,

Beaver dams are not the issue with the road anymore as all the culverts past Onnie Lake have been pulled...that's the good news.

However, in pulling the culverts, the new low level crossings are extremely steep, requiring high clearance vehicles to get in.

I've yet to see a car in at Leano this year and would advise against it.
 
Alan Gage
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08/29/2012 09:17PM  
OK, just got back. Had no problem getting to Onnie in my old Caravan. First 10 miles is really nice until you get past a lodge, then it's more of a single lane and not well maintained. Ground clearance wasn't an issue. Some steeper areas and washing in areas but not bad. The biggest problem on the way to Onnie is probably the size of rocks used for the road. Pretty big by gravel road standards and some quite jagged looking. I was most worried about cutting the sidewalls on a tire.

Took about an hour I suppose to make the drive from Red Lake.

Don't know what it's like after Onnie other than Harlan said it's considerably worse.

Oh, and the road is marked as "Flat Lake Road" in real life. Not what my maps showed.

Alan
 
09/14/2012 04:06PM  
Map calls the road Suffolk Lake Road and Road sign calls it Flat Lake Road. I missed that one meself.

Take the Flat lake Road!

SunCatcher
 
dentondoc
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09/14/2012 05:03PM  
quote SunCatcher: "Map calls the road Suffolk Lake Road"

I think my map calls it Suffel Lake Road (and it does swing around the north side of Suffel Lake before it reaches the Johnson Lake EP), but Flat Lake is nearer the road intersection where you turn off (and go south of Flat Lake).

In any case, I was watching my GPS and not the signage so much. After I reached Leano, I switched the GPS off and it wasn't used again for several days. (I seem to be able to navigate lakes easier than backcountry roads.)

dd
 
09/14/2012 07:44PM  
you are correct Wayne

SunCatcher
 
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