Turtle Flambeau Route

The second most used route for the He-Man canoe trip is where we pass through the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. It is easier than the circle route in that it has less portages and less up stream. But is about 10 miles longer (55 miles) and passing through the flowage which can be a challenge in bad weather.

We created this route when water levels were extremely low. Paddling up Stephenson Creek or the Trout river in low water conditions is really slow (lots of walking).

First Day

We carry our canoes from the Roloff Cabins to the Braatz's cabin on Trout Lake (Braatz's have been nice through the years to let us use their beach for our canoe trips)
Canoe south through both North and South Trout
Canoe down the Trout River, passing through Trout River golf course, Wild Rice Lake, Alder Lake, and Manitowish Lake.
Lake race is across Wild Rice Lake
Lunch is at the old 2nd night campsite just before Manitowish Lake
Travel through Spider and Rest Lake, portaging around the Dam at Rest Lake. The portage is in the city of Manitowish Waters.
Just after the portage, set up camp at the canoe site on Vance Lake.
Vance Lake is where we do the tug of war race.

Second Day

Canoe down the Lower Mantowish River to Turtle Flambeau flowage
Typically have lunch at the canoe campsite just before the flowage where the Bear River joins the Manitowish.
We have a favorite memory of in 2003 Dave's great idea of trying the non-navigable channel on the Turtle-Flambeau. We were treated to dragging our canoes accross a floating bog.
We find a campsite on the flowage. Favorite is the group site that is not on Big Island, otherwise we take one of the Big Island sites.

Third Day

Canoe Northeast out of the Turtle-Flambeau flowage
Canoe up the Turtle River through Lake of the Falls
At the portage/dam of Lake of the Falls is where we typically do the He-Man of the year thown-in.
We exit at the North end of Pike Lake. Starting in 2022, we started using the canoe landing just North of Hwy 51. Previously we would exit at the bar that is located just before the Hwy 51 bridge. They allowed us to park and use their landing as long as we are customers for them Friday night. The last time we ate at the bar, the service was super slow and the food was not very good. In 2022 it appears that the bar is closed.
The exit point is at Highway 51, just North of Mercer WI.
Our group swim is on Pike Lake.