Hello all. For my 2022 trip, my 5th trip to Quetico, I have about 20-21 days of canoeing possible, in the last 3 weeks of August. I’ve never been to the southern part of Quetico, except for Shade Lake and Kahshahpiwi.

I’ll be entering from French Lake, heading south through Sturgeon, down the Maligne River to Tanner Lake, then into the Darkwater (aka Darky) River. From here, I’d like to get east to Kahshahpiwi, but there are so many route options in this section. Travelling solo, in good health, and average to above average shape, male, 57 years old. Fishing only occasionally, so that’s not a factor/attraction.

I realize it’s a huge area, but…Are there some lakes in this area that are so pleasant that I must not miss them? Cliffs? Pictographs? Just lovely spots? Any highlights? If you had 5-6 days to traverse the area, what would you recommend?

Current thinking: Wicksteed-Darkwater-Brent-McIntyre-Paulene-Marj-Joyce-Kahshahpiwi….but the small lakes between Argo and McIntyre are calling my name, too.

Thank you, solotripper. Yes, I have the Chrismar map. That’s the one in the photo. It has never let me down…well, it has only let me down once, due to the scale.

I’m currently looking at the burn intensity map from 2021 to help me plan. [url]https://queticosuperior.org/blog/mapping-the-2021-quetico-fires-where-blazes-bur
ned-and-where-to-paddle/[/url]

And I’m going to brew up a nice cup of tea and start reading your reports. Thanks again.

Thank you for the reports. I’ve changed my itinerary based on the burn map, location of pictographs, topography, and solotripper’s comments such as, ‘this is a lake I’d like to base camp on.’

My new route will be Minn-McAree-Black Robe portage to lac La Croix to see pictographs and climb Warrior Hill-
Then Bottle Lake- Iron Lk stop at Rebecca Falls- Curtain Falls-Crooked- Argo Lake either via single 950m portage, or through the Roland Lakes-
Cone-Elk-Hurn-Ted (more pictos)-
Fishhook/Earl -McIntyre-
Sarah-Side-Kahshahpiwi

I’m assuming if I stray into American waters or cross Bottle Rapids stream to get a better photo I won’t be tackled by Homeland Security agents hiding behind trees, right? 

Free navigation along the border.

Enjoy your trip. Should be a great route. Love the lakes from Argo to McIntyre, though the fire may make some of the portages and campsites problematic

As Solotripper notes route through the Rolands is quite pretty. The eastern most portage between Argo and Crooked has recently been a short portage into a pond choked with standing timber followed by a mid-length carry into Argo. Easy the last time I took it. Terrible the time before that (18" of fresh snow).

One suggestion is to consider the route out of the north end of Sarah into Kahshahpiwi. Very pretty and relatively untraveled. Irene has a really nice camp (figures prominently in Solotrippers trek of woe) in the middle of the route. Also features the tallest trees I've seen in the park on the portages between Irene and unnamed and unnamed to Kahshahpiwi.

Being flexible and having a few different routes planned is the key.

You have 20-21 days that should give you time to maybe a few camp days on lakes you love and spend other days just getting thru ones that are less than you want to spend time in.

Hopefully the weather won't be so hot that it becomes a problem and worrying about staying hydrated is becomes a focus and not just a part of the routine.