Is the Vern River navigable all the way from Vern Lake to Weird Lake? There aren't any portages marked in that stretch on any maps, so I'm wondering if that means one can paddle the whole way.

If so, about how far is it from Vern to Weird?

Not in the normal sense of the word navigable. Here are some quotes from past threads from folks who have tried it, I think a few actually made it:)

I made it through about 20 years ago and will never, ever do that again. I seemed like a great idea for the first couple of miles and then we had to drag canoes up and over endless downfalls. We were bruised, blooded, and exhausted - so much for the short cut.....
Makes for some great stories, though. Whenever I get together with my college pals, eventually someone will say, "remember the Vern River" and we relive it all again.



My wife and I made it through years ago too. ( post blow-down) We would NEVER do it again. I posted on this subject a few years back. It's a shin-tangle of downed trees, and when you do get back to the river to paddle the banks are steep and there's no good way to launch. I usually encourage people to get off the beaten path, for it's rewarding. I don't encourage anyone to do the Vern R.




Yep, a great attitude got me half way down the river, the second half I used unbridled anger that this @#$%& river was not going to defeat us. I believe our colorful language could be seen from outer space. However the anger was occasionally broken up with maniacal laughter at our predicament, as the light faded, temperatures dropped, and mosquitoes closed in for their feast. I believe the laughter was an attempt to keep from crying for members of our ill fated group.

But hey, 20 years later and I am still laughing just typing the above: no longer maniacally though.

Did I mention the leeches? They were probably attracted to our bleeding shins from being bashed on hidden boulders as we dragged the canoes through the shallows in the dark....




My dad always says "sure, you can do the Vern river, you probably just won't enjoy it." I'd say it's impassable for all but the most determined. I just talked to a group of experienced BWCA trippers who tried it last week and they turned back about halfway through.


I guess you can draw your own conclusion from the quotes above):

LOL, thanks Lindy. That does, indeed, help me make up my mind about possibly attempting to navigate the Vern. I enjoy a good challenge, but that sounds like too much for me.

NEIowapaddler: "Is the Vern River navigable all the way from Vern Lake to Weird Lake? "

Here is a video depiction of what it might be like to go down the Vern River.

An older thread.

But you can get up there quite a ways before it gets dicey and it is beautiful with good fishing. Highly recommended...I see you got a Homer permit. Let us know how you like the area.

lindylair: "But you can get up there quite a ways before it gets dicey and it is beautiful with good fishing. Highly recommended...I see you got a Homer permit. Let us know how you like the area. "

I agree with Lindy. Beautiful paddle down and back with some good fishing.

Will do! Looking forward to it already. I strongly considered going in at Lizz, but Homer seemed to check all the boxes for what I'm looking for this year. I don't like moving camp every day, so I'll probably move 2, maybe 3 times in the 5 nights I'm planning on staying. Depending on how things go of course. That should allow for plenty of time for day trips like up the Vern and back.

Honestly, entering through Lizz and going to Horseshoe might be half a point better cuz of how cool Horseshoe is. But it has become a busy area and the solitude on Vern is likely to be better. Also feel like the fishing in the Vern area is better and with the Vern River daytrip option I think you made a good choice. Having said that, horseshoe and the surrounding area is definitely worth a trip in the future.

Ducks, your take on this?

Yeah I definitely want to do a loop around Horseshoe/Caribou/Meeds/Gaskin at some point. It looks like a great area. Might put that down for my next trip, either this fall or next year. The only concerns I had were the possibility of crowding, and all the bear issues last fall around that area.

The other route I considered was the Bearskin/Daniels/Rose/Duncan loop, but I thought the famous Long Portage might be more than I wanted to tackle at my experience level.

lindylair: "Honestly, entering through Lizz and going to Horseshoe might be half a point better cuz of how cool Horseshoe is. But it has become a busy area and the solitude on Vern is likely to be better. Also feel like the fishing in the Vern area is better and with the Vern River daytrip option I think you made a good choice. Having said that, horseshoe and the surrounding area is definitely worth a trip in the future.


Ducks, your take on this?"

I agree 100%. The Lizz area is my favorite because of Vista, Horseshoe, and Pillsbury Lakes and it gives you so many different options to go in different directions. I passed through Meeds because it was full the one time I went there and ended up on Pillsbury which became my favorite lake in the area. I also really like Omega, Henson, and Gaskin Lakes. I have seen moose on Horseshoe multiple times and on Caribou, and I have seen wolves on Horseshoe and heard them on Pillsbury as well as seeing a lot of wolf scat on portages and near campsites at Pillsbury.

But, You will have a much better chance of solitude in the Homer area. In 2018 I did a solo staying on Pipe Lake and then staying on Vern Lake. I didn't see another person on that trip and there was only one other car in the parking lot.