Is one route better than the other? Just don't want to get stuck in the mud!

When going to Badwater, you will be stuck in the mud. LOL!!! I'm always up to my waist in mud somewhere on the portage. As far as water levels up there, I don't know.

Via Red Pine or Your?

We just got back from a trip that included going from Sturgeon to Badwater via Bent Pine Creek (camping on Bent Pine Lake), Trail, Your, Fair, etc. I can supply some details if you are thinking of doing some of that. When do you leave?

Ho Ho

I was really interested in the portages out of Jean. Both routes look a little swampy in the beginning.

I don't remember anything really tough. Just take your time and don't fall.

On Trail to Little Pine last week my paddle partner Sunny Bear and I had great fun slogging through the boggish water. As mentioned, watch your step and take your time, keep a good humor and remember when you see the lake you are half way there. We found all of the "challenges" to be marginal at best and were anticipating greater obstacles on this, our first of many, Quetico adventures.







Of note, the marginal channels are seemingly very, very deep. Plant you feet carefully or, from experience, not even hippies will keep you dry!

I researched this last year thinking I'd do it this year but didn't. Result: the route from SW arm of Jean thru Boulder and Your "won" over the upper route thru Red Pine. Note, any route in this area is likely to suffer from low water or beaver activity/lack of activity. Frankly, the way I would prefer to go is not directly from Jean but rather down to Sturgeon and up Bentpine Creek. Much more interesting paddling the creeks, IMO. Note also Bentpine is a great fishing lake you miss by going directly out of Jean. The Red Pine route gives you several challenges -- one "swamp city" portage, one floating bog and faint trail -- and just getting into the first no name lake north of Ivy Island. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
--Goose

As my layover day for Badwater was taken from me by weather earlier in the trip, I decided to save this area for another trip also. I kind of feared what you described by looking at the maps. Perhaps we can get a group solo trip planned?

What were you thinking for a group solo?

It is definitely easier going via March instead of Red Pine. The problem with Red Pine are the creeks that can have little or no water.

quote OldGreyGoose: " "

Hey Goose, your map notes are great! Would you mind sharing the map directly to the west of this one? Thanks!

Very interesting