Length of Trip: 41 to 48 kilometres (25 to 30 miles)
Time Required to Complete Trip: 2 to 3 days
Number of Portages: 8 or 9
Arrangements could most likely be made with the fishing camp operator for the safe parking of vehicles for the duration of the trip.
Although the illusion of remoteness exists, the canoeist is never really far from help should an emergency arise.
This is a loop trip which can be made in either direction as no stream currents are involved. For this reason, portage locations are given from both direction.
Fishing for northern pike is good throughout this trip, especially at the base of rapids. Lake trout can also be found in some of the lakes.
An alternate route involves travelling east to the eastern limit of Earl Bay on McLennan Lake (Grid location 485980 - Map 73-P/16). A short lift-over of a few metres (yards) can then be made into Cratty Lake.
From the Cratty Lake end, this portage starts on the southeast shore of Gray Bay 75 metres (82 yards) northeast of the small inflowing stream. A slightly shorter version of this portage starts a short way up the inflowing stream after it becomes too shallow to navigate.
From the McLean Lake end, this portage starts at a conspicuous break in the shoreline vegetation 140 metres (153 yards) east of the outlet stream. This stream is in the western end of a small bay on the west-central portion of the lake (Grid location 482963 - Map 73-P/16).
From the McLean Lake end, this portage starts at a break in the shoreline spruce on the western side of the southern tip of a small bay (Grid location 474936 - Map 73-P/16).
From the small nameless lake, this portage starts at an obvious break in the shoreline vegetation on the northeast shoreline.
There are excellent campsite possibilities along the rocky south shore of this small nameless lake.
From the northern end of Hutchings Lake, this portage starts from a large rock immediately to the west of the inconspicuous inflowing stream.
From the southwest end of Hutchings Lake, this portage starts from the middle of a beaver dam in the small outlet stream (Grid location 447907 - Map 73-P/16). The portage trail is mainly east of the stream.
From the small nameless lake, this portage starts 20 metres (22 yards) east of the small inflowing stream (Grid location 446905 - Map 73-P/16).
From the most southerly bay of the small nameless lake, this portage starts 5 metres (6 yards) west of the small outlet stream.
From the north end of Versailles Lake, this portage starts immediately west of the small inflowing stream (Grid location 436893 - Map 73-P/16).
After paddling southwest to the end of Versailles Lake, two routes lead through Minuhik Lake to Davis Lake. The longer route involves two portages - numbers 6 and 7. The shorter route involves three portages - numbers 6A, 6B and 7.
From a small bay near the southwest end of Versailles Lake, this portage starts on the north shore opposite a prominent rock face (Grid location 371822 - Map 73-P/16).
From a small bay along the east-central shore of Minuhik Lake, this portage starts on the south side of the bay (Grid location 371823 - Map 73-P/16).
From a small bay near the southwest end of Versailles Lake, this portage starts on the south side of the small outflowing stream (Grid location 385845 - Map 73-P/16).
From a small bay along the east-central shore of Minuhik Lake, this portage starts on the south side of the small inflowing stream (Grid location 384845 - Map 73-P/16).
After completing either of these alternate routes, paddle west and north on Minuhik Lake.
From the northwest arm of Minuhik Lake, this portage starts 70 metres (77 yards) west of the base of rapids in the inflowing stream (Grid location 367867 - Map 73-P/16). There is good fishing at the base of these lovely but impassable rapids.
From the southern end of Davis Lake, this portage starts 140 metres (153 yards) west of the outlet stream (Grid location 367869 - Map 73-P/16).
Paddle up the northwest shore of Davis Lake for 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 kilometres (3 1/2 to 4 miles) where two different and well used portages to McLennan Lake are found.
From Davis Lake, this portage starts at a conspicuous clearing in a small bay on the northwest shore (Grid location 396915 - Map 73-P/16).
From McLennan Lake, this portage starts at a conspicuous clearing along the southeast shore (Grid location 395917 - Map 73-P/16).
From Davis Lake, this portage starts at a conspicuous clearing along the northwest shore (Grid location 402923 - Map 73-P/16). From McLennan Lake, this portage starts at a conspicuous clearing in a small bay east of the central narrows on the southeast shore (Grid location 400923 - Map 73-P/16).
After completing either of these portages to McLennan Lake, canoeists should travel about 10 kilometres (6 1/4 miles) northeast along the shores of the lake to the end point of the trip at the Government campground (Grid location 468988 - Map 73-P/16).
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