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WonderMonkey
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Banksiana: "When I went through in mid-July beavers had constructed a dam farther down the creek than in any year previous. This raised the water levels for relatively easy paddling (with a couple of more dams to pull over) all the way to the portage. There is a 150 yard shallow section before the lower dam ending in a swift. It is hard bottomed and easy to walk."
Is there a name for that creek? I don't see one on the map. I'd like to put the actual name, if any, on my map so I can refer to it. A person in my group was calling it the Isabella River and that's what prompted me to to look at it again, even after notes you had given me, etc.
"Isabella Creek" is what it was called up in this thread.
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Banksiana
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Eyedocron: "XP it is. If full, go to the west end of Isabella and take two portages north. A decent campsite is on the SW shore just before the downhill portage."
A nice site but a tight squeeze for a group of six. I would rate it as 4 folks or less.
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billconner
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Still my favorite stretch - North Bay to Isabella. My don us instructed to put my ashes there.
I didnt think the site further north west across from pirtage to mon nsme was bad - plus not to high vluff jumping. YMMV. Narrows is best. Often see moose watering in morning.
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Eyedocron
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XP it is. If full, go to the west end of Isabella and take two portages north. A decent campsite is on the SW shore just before the downhill portage.
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Ho Ho
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I was on my iPhone when I posted last night and could not see Springer's pictures very well. That first one is the spot I was also talking about where you might have trouble in low water.
It's raining here on the Echo Trail today, and it looks like they're getting more rain up in Quetico. Rain rain rain!
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On The Loose1
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Thanks for all the help!! Much appreciated!! Can't wait to venture out and explore the area!!
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TomT
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Isabella Creek is what I’ve always used. It’s very twisty but always doable.
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Ho Ho
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I think whether you take Isabella Creek or the portages, the trIckiest part of this route is finding the little creek out of North Bay that goes up to the unnamed lake/pond. It's hidden behind reeds, keep searching an you will find the channel. In low water you may run into muck just north of there, but persevere, very soon you will come to a beaver dam and after you pull up and over it, the water is deep enough to paddle. There is another small rapids with beaver dam a little further upstream, after that you are on the unnamed lake/pond.
From there I would say take Isabella Creek to Isabella Lake. It looks marshy but generally has a good sandy bottom, so even in low water it should be no problem to hop out and line your canoe. The campsite in the narrows of Isabella Lake is vey pretty.
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Springer2
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Sorry the captions don't line up with the photos--haven't figured that aspect of posting on this board out yet.
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WonderMonkey
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Thanks for this thread, and others like it. I'm getting into the details of my trip and to know that one option or the other is what it is due to water height is good.
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Banksiana
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When I went through in mid-July beavers had constructed a dam farther down the creek than in any year previous. This raised the water levels for relatively easy paddling (with a couple of more dams to pull over) all the way to the portage. There is a 150 yard shallow section before the lower dam ending in a swift. It is hard bottomed and easy to walk.
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WonderMonkey
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Eyedocron: "We have also always used Isabella Creek. May have some shallow spots, certainly will have beaver dam pull overs, but this is Quetico fun. The only real portage is at the west end into Isabella Lake itself. Not long. Only one decent campsite on Isabella is at the narrows half way along, so allow ample time to move onward to other lakes."
Is that campsite named XP?
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WonderMonkey
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TomT: "Isabella Creek is what I’ve always used. It’s very twisty but always doable. "
Thanks. I think it would be interesting.
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Jackfish
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Our group of Boy Scouts went through Isabella Creek in 2003. Other than the occasional beaver dam drag-over, it was navigable all the way to the short portage into Isabella itself.
This is representative of what most of the creek was like (at least when we were there).
We're headed through there in July this year. I'll be interested to read your report to see how navigable it is this year.
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Springer2
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Here are a few more shots from September 5, 2011--my guess is the water levels will be about the same this June.
Headed for the river mouth
Stupid beavers--one more unnamed pond, then the river
The rocky ~50 rod portage from the river to Isabella Lake follows a pretty stream.
Headed out, 9/9/2012, the killer hill out of Side Lake.
Beaver dam on the river, 9/9/2012.
At the mouth of the Isabella River. 9/9/2012.
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WonderMonkey
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Eyedocron: "XP it is. If full, go to the west end of Isabella and take two portages north. A decent campsite is on the SW shore just before the downhill portage."
Thanks. That's along our intended path anyway so that works. I don't see a name for the two lakes (large ponds?) but they are between Isabella and Side, right? Campsite VT if I have it right.
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WonderMonkey
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Banksiana: "Eyedocron: "XP it is. If full, go to the west end of Isabella and take two portages north. A decent campsite is on the SW shore just before the downhill portage."
A nice site but a tight squeeze for a group of six. I would rate it as 4 folks or less."
And hammockers to boot. Would need the right mix of trees.
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Jackfish
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quote Springer2: "Sorry the captions don't line up with the photos--haven't figured that aspect of posting on this board out yet." Springer, it may not be you. It may be the settings on your computer. They're almost perfect on my end.
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kanoes
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i can give you an update before your trip...heading thru there may 18th.
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On The Loose1
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I'm dreaming of an upcoming Quetico trip in June. I have the maps piled up around me and I was wondering about one area of the trip. I'll be traveling from North Bay (Basswood Lake) north and then west over to Isabella Lake. Does anybody know if that creek connecting the unnamed lake to the southeast bay of Isabella is navigable? Or, is it wiser to take the 2 separate marked portages shown on the Fisher maps to get to Isabella? Also, how are the camping sites on Isabella? Thanks!
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billconner
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One of my favorite parts of Q. Just go - be ready to get out and pull canoe.
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Springer2
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Isabella Creek was navigable last September but if the dry weather continues it 's going to be a challenge getting to the river from North Bay--there are a couple of beaver dams at the start of the river that leave little water and lots of evil smelling mud downstream, and precious little landing or solid footing to get out and portage around. After you get into the river there are 2-3 beaver dam liftovers but the river is very pretty.
Heading in, early Sept. 2012
Heading out, early June, 2010
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On The Loose1
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Thanks for the information....and the pictures!! Looks beautiful! It will be interesting to see what the water levels are like in June this year. Pretty amazing how many of the northern Minnesota lakes are.....wondering about Quetico. Thanks!
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PineKnot
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You shouldn't have any problems getting to Isabella in June. I went that route solo last July. There were several pullovers as I paddled up the creek between the unnamed and Isabella. As a solo it was quite more tiring than I expected. There are two campsites I know of on Isabella. The first is on the left (southern) shoreline at the narrow pinch midlake. I didn't camp on this elevated site due to the great numbers of horseflies/deerflies all over. The other site is further down Isabella across from the portage. I pressed on and camped at a mediocre site on an unnamed lake on the way to Side.
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Eyedocron
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We have also always used Isabella Creek. May have some shallow spots, certainly will have beaver dam pull overs, but this is Quetico fun. The only real portage is at the west end into Isabella Lake itself. Not long. Only one decent campsite on Isabella is at the narrows half way along, so allow ample time to move onward to other lakes.
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