Hello.

I recently posted for advice on accessing the Southeastern portion of the park. Thanks Jimbo for the response.

I was also wondering if anyone has any advice, tips, things to see, etc on the route going in at Beaverhouse, down Quetico River,Three Mile, Wolseley, Bearpelt Creek, Bearpelt Lake, Badwater, Quetico, back out through Beaverhouse.

This seems like a very doable 5 night trip, 6 day trip. Any thoughts? Overly ambitious?

I expect some of the area to be fairly rough due to under use. I'm aware of the pictos on Quetico. I was wondering if there was anything else of note to check out (such as a side trip down to Ivy Falls being worthwhile)?

Thanks.

Aaron

There is a campsite on an island right at Ivy Falls, as I recall.  There is a complete lack of privacy (few trees) so it might be best used as a lunchtime stop.  It's kind of pretty there.

Yes, if you kept moving everyday, I wouldn't think you'd have much trouble completing this route in 5 days.  The current heading up Bearpelt Creek can be formidable after big rains.  Its serpentine nature makes it particularly challenging for solo paddles... you just get up a head of steam & then you have to pry yourself off the bend, straighten out, & get going again.  If you are looking for solitude, this is a great route.  I doubt you'll see anyone once you've left Wolseley and then, again, until you reach Badwater (or, more likely, West Bay).  The portage into Badwater can be a bit tough to find.  The cliff campsite on Badwater offers a great view.  There's another such cliff campsite & view on the east side of West Bay on Quetico (though I prefer the nearby island campsite myself, just SE of the narrow strand of sand that separates West Bay from the main body of Quetico).

Walleye fishing along the Bearpelt Creek strand of lakes is pretty good, especially early in the season.  Also, some of the beaver dams along the way are quite remarkable structures.

I suspect Solotripper, Jim J, & a few others who frequently paddle this area can add quite a bit to my comments.

Jimbo   8-)

Thanks a tonne Jimbo. Our group typically moves everyday, but do try and leave enough time in the day to fish, relax, swim or whatever folks feel like doing. I'm wondering if you are aware of any campsites on Three Mile or the Quetico River? I'm also wondering if Beaverhouse to Ivy Falls is a doable shot in one day.

Seems like it would be a fairly long haul. Rivers are so hard to judge for time.

Again, thanks for the information.

Happy paddling!

Aaron

Park1 wrote on May 15^th, 2011 at 9:04pm:

I'm wondering if you are aware of any campsites on Three Mile or the Quetico River?

When you say "the Quetico River", are you just talking about the stretch between the falls into Beaverhouse and the main body of Quetico Lake?  If so, there are no campsites there.

There are some campsites a short paddle past the fast outflow of the falls on Beaverhouse and there are some not very far in on Quetico Lake, though.

My apologies; I should have been more clear. The route we are heading on goes west from Beaverhouse down the Quetico River to the Namakan River to Three Mile Lake.

This is the section of the Quetico River that I was inquiring about.

Aaron

Park 1 - please let me know how this route goes.  I hope to get to that south west end of Beaverhouse and maybe into that part of the Q river this September.

Aaron,

There are one or two campsites on the far SW end of Beaverhouse.  There used to be more but there was some serious blowdown damage on that side of the lake a few years back.  There's a pretty decent island site along that west wall towards the north end.  I don't recall any sites along the Quetico River.  There are allegedly a couple sites once you reach the Namakan, though we didn't find them (nor did we look too hard).  There are a few sites on Three Mile Lake but these receive considerable use from the locals.  They generally feature so-called "improvements", such as fish cleaning platforms, cached chairs, boats, etc..  Technically, though, these campsites aren't even IN the park, so I guess I can't beef too much about folks not following park regs.

There are a few decent sites on Wolseley (actually surprisingly few given the size of the lake).  By the way, that portage into Wolseley is very short, very flat & - at one time - featured one of the largest ant mounds I've ever seen.  I wouldn't want to upset those buggers.

You'll have the current with you as you drop down from Beaverhouse but - as you mentioned in an earlier post - those portages see VERY little usage so plan on spending extra time on them. The Namakan, however, will be flowing AGAINST you; it can be very powerful depending on the season & recent rainfall.  Nevertheless, with an early start, I would think you could make it down to the Falls to camp.   At least I managed to persuade park officials to give me a Three Mile Lake permit even though I accessed the park via Beaverhouse several years back.  They merely requested that we "make reasonable progress to the EP".  As the fishing was pretty good on the western end of Beaverhouse, we felt it would be "unreasonable" to progress any further on Day One.  I'm thinking it was Day Three before we got to Three Mile Lake.

Park1, so there's another issue for you.  You'll want to talk with park officials re: which entry permit to request.  Technically, if you enter on a Quetico Lake permit, you need to "enter" the park (ie. stick your foot into Quetico Lake) there.  Same thing with the Cirrus Lake EP, also accessible from Beaverhouse.  Technically, either way would mean miles of "backtracking" for you as there is no "Beaverhouse Lake EP".   Something tells me that not all park officials are as amenable to friendly persuasion as the ones I encountered years back.  Could be an issue for you (on the remote chance you were stopped) but probably not.  Maybe you should request the Quetico Lake EP, then make the mad dash to SW Beaverhouse before the B'house ranger spots you.

Sorry to complicate matters.  You probably already have a notion as to how you were going to handle this.  I'm not sure I'd change whatever that was.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

I did a trip from put-in at 3 mile to Wolseley, up thru Bearpelt Creek/Omeme/Badwater, but went into Sturgeon and up thru Jean Lake and out at Beaverhouse.

Depending on time of year/water level, paddling Upstream on the Namakan can be a problem. I went in May, and on the ride over to put-in on Mile we crossed the Namakan River. In those high water conditions, they're was no way I would attempt a solo trip upstream, and even seasoned tandem paddlers would of been at risk.

Why not let the current work for you, at least on the Namakan. Quetico river shouldn't be a problem, at least you have portages.
Early start on Beaverhouse and you'll be on Badwater mid afternoon. Stay the night and head into Omeme. Couple of nice campsite there. Check out my trip report, I described my camp spots pretty well.  Look on Q-PCD, you'll see plenty of known campsites or potential ones. Omeme/Bear Pelt get little usage. Waldo fishing is excellent in there.
Bearpelt creek should be a nice little float trip down with a few pullovers.

Coming out out on Wolseley, there's a nice campsite due east of the portage into Bearpelt creek, on a point. You can see it from the water.

I'd say one long day from Wolseley to W. Beaverhouse going with the current. A few nice campsites on  W.Beaverhouse or you can paddle down toward  takeout and find plenty.

Depending on time constraints/weather, I think this route would accomplish the same thing but give you a little more wiggle room if needed ;)

No campsites, or nice ones I'd stay at after leaving BH till Wolseley.

You can get there in one good day OK. For what it's worth the Ivy Falls Island campsite is actually outside the park, and heavily used anyway. Worth a look and fishy if you feel like visiting. The whole area around 3-Mile and Wolseley is used by the outfitters & guides on LLC. There's access to 3-Mile from a connecting lake to the southwest next to a road. So you'll see canoes and boats stashed in the area. Don't get me wrong though, it's an interesting area and a fun travel day.

Jimbo's right about Bearpelt Ck. Once you start up it you should expect solitude. Lots of logging artifacts along the creek all the way to Badwater. Try to spend some time on Omeme and Badwater. Both have some nice campsites and fishing. If you didn't get enough exploring and feel like you've got the time exit from Badwater thru Robin. Not much for group camping that I remember along that route (BW-R). I've solo camped on Robin, but it's not a very big site.

Couple notes about Jimbo's & Solotripper's posts;

Personally I won't sweat the EP thing Jimbo talks about. You can call the park office and explain your intent and they'll probably welcome you to stop on BH. Talk to Park Office yourself.

The Namakan current could be strong in spots. But the bridge ST saw the Namakan River from crosses below Lady Rapids and you'll see nothing like that from Quetico River up to 3-Mile.

Plan B (unusual high water), If you feel like the current on the Namakan could ruin your trip. Get an outfitter to drop you off at Wisa Lake and paddle into 3-Mile.

JJS,

Good info about the current above Q-river. I just assumed the flow was that strong all the way up. Thanks for catching my mistake.

I was headed to Wisa that time. Easy paddle from there to Wolseley.

Thank you for all of the valuable information.

If the water is unusually high for late July I think I will reverse the loop and go through Badwater and end going down the Namakan River. I don't expect that the water will be too high this time of year, but hey, who knows with weather? I'm in Thunder Bay and the bush is as dry as I've ever seen it for this time of year. I don't think we have had one Spring shower and the moisture from the little snow we had is all but gone. Looks like a very bad forest fire season in the making.

Could any of you that have been through the area tell me what logging artifacts are along the Bearpelt that are worth checking out and where I might find them. That is one of the reasons I chose this route... rapids and falls on the rivers, interesting artifacts and amazing pictos on Quetico. I like trips that have nice scenery and natural beauty mixed with interesting artifacts from our past... who doesn't, eh?

Thanks again for all of your help thus far.

Aaron

Jimbo & ST, Didn't mean to counter your info. I was rushing earlier to met someone and was probably a bit direct. If you only knew about the Namakan River from the bridge crossings at Lady Rapids and Snake Falls, you'd think it was a decked white-water boat trip.

The trip down Quetico River is fine too. Portages are placed where you need them and should be used.

The bit about the EP deadline. I hear more about that here on QJ then I ever experienced from talking to Park Personal directly. Maybe I'll get busted some day cause I'm not moving fast enough and they think I'm a scoff-law (pick a smiley face), or somebodies having a bad day and I catch their wrath. But I haven't met an anal (Barny Fife) type QP ranger yet. BWCA, that's a different story. I have there. Anyway that's why I suggested talking directly to the park office. They're usually pretty cool and just want you to enjoy your trip.

Carry on.  8-)

Park1, Rusty logging chains, old sluices, and anchor rings near the portages on Bearpelt Ck. You're carrying around remanents of dams the logger built. Between Omeme and Badwater you can find some foundations in the meadow area. Quetico River probably had logs run down it too. The Quetico River along the portage from Quetico Lake back to BH looks like it did. Don't miss the rusty old car in the pines at the Q-BH carry. There's upright logs that supported an old road as you start your trip from the parking area on BH.

PK1,

JJS has it covered with the advice/description of the logging remnants etc.

There's a really nice campsite 2S on Omeme. Here's a pic of logging chain on Bearpelt creek.


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just by the way, float planes use 3 mile lake as a landing pad - they fly in tourerists to ballast those fishing boats you'll see

I've gone down the Malign to Lac La Croix to Namakan R and then up Quetico River to Beaverhouse once - don't recall any campsites on the Quetico R.  I'd add another recommendation for going down Namakan and up the Quetico R - campsites on West end of Beaverhouse are hard to find