From the sound of your previous trip and if fishing is a priority it is really hard to pass up Kawnipi. My wife and I did Prairie Portage Agnes to Kawnipi to Silver Falls, Ottertrack back to Prairie Portage in 9 nights-10 days with a 3 night lay over at Kawnipi. Several other options getting out and they are all nice but to be fishing on day 2 or 3 is pretty handy. Man Chain and McEwen Creek are beautiful. Tow to P.P. and pickup at Indian Poratge.

DentonDoc wrote on Mar 10^th, 2015 at 2:41pm:



That would be down the Falls Chain.......

I think if I were doing it, I'd loop the opposite direction and start on the Gunflint.  Mentally, I think of the section that runs up the Falls Chain to McEwen and then back toward Agnes via Glacier/Louisa as "downhill." This has appeal to me when loaded heavier at the beginning of a trip.  The down side of this option is that it puts you on the Man Chain nearer Labor Day when it is almost certain to have more traffic.

dd

I have been looking at options for my routes this year, and I have been all over the board.  The route that I have been looking for some reason has been bothering me, and probably for no decent reason. Our group typically pushes hard for a day or two gets in the middle of the park and then slows down and slowly works our way out. For example, we have done Ferguson, Conmee, Camel, Poohbah. You get the idea the deeper into the park, less chance of crowds the better.
This year I have been looking at doing a loop through Lousia up to Glacier and then back down the Man Chain and back out again. We have 9 nights in the park (Last day in park is Labor Day), so I believe we have plenty of time. I believe my hang up with the route is the perceived notion that I am too close to two different entry points. Am I crazy?  If I choose the route is there a better direction to do the loop? Ely or Gunflint? (I only chose Ely because I have experience there.) Any other tips about the area?  My experience in this area is limited from PP to Agnes.