If the ice clears, I'm hoping to find my way to Winchell around 4/20. It'll be a short 4 day solo and I'll be single portaging.I've not been to this area, though I was just west on the Frost River loop in '22. What's your favorite or preferred route through that area and why?

Caribou, Horshoe & Gaskin are awesome lakes but, during the permit season, I'd dare to claim that area is also usually a relative zoo with plenty of people around. You should pretty much have those lakes to yourself if your able to go in April.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Caribou, Horshoe & Gaskin are awesome lakes but, during the permit season, I'd dare to claim that area is also usually a relative zoo with plenty of people around. You should pretty much have those lakes to yourself if your able to go in April."

Good route Paul…

But I’ve done the Brule/island lake route a number of times. Going through the Cones was a common place to see moose. Lots of options!

Brule through the Cones is a nice route. Brule is just beautiful but can get rough. From the Bruce EP you can you can dodge some of the wind by utilizing some of the islands if the wind is right. If its looks bad there are many good sites where you can pull up, read a good book and wait until the wind dies in the evening. In April you won't have to worry about finding a place to camp. Once you are on the first Cone lake wind should be much less of an issue. Nice Island site on that first lake. Lots of moose for sure. Even saw two swimming across a wide section of Brule on a calm day.

A good way to get there by staying on small lakes is to enter at Lizz and then from Horseshoe to through Allen, Pilsbery, Henson, and Omega. If there is any wind this route will be nice and it also make it easy to stay close to shore during cold water season.

I entered on May 4 one year with plans of doing a bigger loop, but ended up camping on Horseshoe for 2 nights because I was the only one there and it’s usually extremely busy. I did a day trip paddle to Gaskin and then the smaller lakes and spent my l3rd night on Caribou. I saw 4 moose and 2 wolves and a bear on that trip and the only 2 people I saw were rangers clearing portages.

I have done a couple different routes through this area.

Loop - In at Lizz Lake, pass through Horseshoe for a chance to see moose, head through Gaskin to Winchell. Climb the path to the top of the cliffs, find and climb the waterfall on the south shore. Out through Ogema and Kiskadinna to Muskeg and Long Island there are some great campsites on the east end of LIL. Head through the little visited route Cave/Ross/Sebeka Lakes. Banadad has a great campsite on the west end. Head out through Rush/Little Rush/Skipper back to Poplar Lake. Rockwood Outfitters has a bunkhouse for pre/post trip needs.

End-to-End.

Entries 50 and 47. Go end to end either direction. If starting at 47. Start the same as above through Long Island Lake. Keep headed west then north through Karl Lake. Keep going north through Lower George Lake to Rib and Cross Bay Lakes. (You can turn west at Cross Bay to head through Snipe to Missing Link Entry.) Cross Bay Lake is your entry point. Keep going north to Ham Lake and out at the Cross Bay River entry point. You are about 1/4 mile from Round Lake. (The starting point for the Missing LInk entry.) Tuscarora Outfitters are a great place to stay pre/post trip. You can turn this route around and go from 50 to 47.

Hope you can get in by April 20!

Michwall2: "I have done a couple different routes through this area.


Loop - In at Lizz Lake, pass through Horseshoe for a chance to see moose, head through Gaskin to Winchell. Climb the path to the top of the cliffs, find and climb the waterfall on the south shore. Out through Ogema and Kiskadinna to Muskeg and Long Island there are some great campsites on the east end of LIL. Head through the little visited route Cave/Ross/Sebeka Lakes. Banadad has a great campsite on the west end. Head out through Rush/Little Rush/Skipper back to Poplar Lake. Rockwood Outfitters has a bunkhouse for pre/post trip needs.


End-to-End.


Entries 50 and 47. Go end to end either direction. If starting at 47. Start the same as above through Long Island Lake. Keep headed west then north through Karl Lake. Keep going north through Lower George Lake to Rib and Cross Bay Lakes. (You can turn west at Cross Bay to head through Snipe to Missing Link Entry.) Cross Bay Lake is your entry point. Keep going north to Ham Lake and out at the Cross Bay River entry point. You are about 1/4 mile from Round Lake. (The starting point for the Missing LInk entry.) Tuscarora Outfitters are a great place to stay pre/post trip. You can turn this route around and go from 50 to 47.


Hope you can get in by April 20!


"

Thanks Y'all! I think I'll be shooting to come from Poplar and make a loop, how big I'm not sure. Weather will determine if I get in at all. It's not looking good as of today but who knows.