We are considering a trip starting on the Northern side of Quetico.  I've got two families going with teenagers - four canoes.  We are planning on driving up through Fort Frances.  How are these entry points - any recommendations?  This is our first trip to Quetico - been to the BWCAW many times.  I tried searching the forum under Sue Falls and only came up with one post

Welcome aboard!

Both are fine entry points. I guess it just depends on what kind of experience you and your group have and want. You will do more portaging from the Lerome entry, but none are challenging until you get to Sue Falls portage, long and downhill going in, long and uphill when leaving. There are a few campsites enroute, if for some reason you don't make it to Cirrus on your first day. In order to see Sue Falls, you will need to hike the trails around it.

Pickeral Lake can provide a challenge when the wind is up. It leads to several routes. You could camp at French L in the campground, but you will want to get an early start, to get as many miles as possible, before the winds come up. There are no portages until you leave Pickeral. If you are fishermen, you may want to troll your way across.

OS comments are good.  

We went in Lerome/Sue Falls 5 yrs ago.  I would do it again, esp. now that my kids are older & can carry more!  Here's the trip report:
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If you want solitude, it's harder to find on Pickerel.
Good luck!
-Tom

Water levels would be a concern when considering Sue Falls / Lerome entry.  If its low water, the sue falls portage would be the easiest one en route to Cirrus.  Depends on what kind of memories you want to make.   ;)

Lerome Lake (Sue Falls) entry is definitely more work.  You are in and out of the canoe a lot and finally you get to Cirrus and Sue Falls.  The best campsite in the area had a blow down about 4 years ago and that is too bad.  Consider what others have said.  Pickerel is a wonderful but large lake.  We have stayed there many times and it is a good thing to stay at Dawson Trail Campground the night before.  Also, you can check in the night before.  And check out the Ranger Station.  Then leave very early to go west across Pickerel.  We went in with 3 canoes and 2 kayaks many years ago with 2 families when they were teens.  Stayed in the mid lake area where all the islands are.  Had a great beach campsite for all to hang out on.  It is only a ways away from the Dam and portage south into the B lakes.  We fished along the river there one day and had good fishing.  B lake chain is fun also.  Good luck.  Kim

Wow, Great -Thanks for the info.  That gets me stoked for this trip!  I still don't know which way we'll go - both seem like an adventure in the making - just what my soul needs.  Do you have any recommendations on plastics or other fishing lures for fishing Quetico?  With out being able to use gulp I'm at a loss.

MK631 - I can't read your trip report - I just run into this message "Warning ... You can't get here from there anymore!"  - What's up with that?

Why not use Gulp?

ahh, ya, I guess I was assuming that gulp was organic - since its made from fish.  But anything I can find on the web it seems like its OK.  So scented plastics are OK - for some reason I thought those were banned as well???

FishTale wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 12:20am:

...MK631 - I can't read your trip report - I just run into this message "Warning ... You can't get here from there anymore!"  - What's up with that?

Hmmm -- I'm at a loss on that one --- I just tried the link & it worked.  Maybe it was a temporary problem...

-Tom