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       Would mid/late Oct be a decent fall trip date?
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 06:31PM
Would mid/late Oct be a decent fall trip date?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
QueticoMike 09/13/2017 10:47AM
Long nights.....cut up plenty of wood for something to do at night and to keep warm. Be careful, wear a lifejacket!
Blatz 09/13/2017 07:09AM
Plan on soloing the Mudro-Horse- Crooked Lake Loop Oct 9th.
MarshallPrime 09/12/2017 10:10AM
Thanks everyone for all the input. There is a group of us teachers here that have always wanted to do a fall trip and with our Fall Break, we are going to try to make it happen NEXT year. Part of our problem is the drive up from INDIANA. 13 hours or so on a Thursday night will get us there in the morning and then do Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon nights and drive home Tuesday all day.
The cold would sure be an issue and if the leaves are already all gone by Oct 20th that would be a bummer.
We are leaning towards the Granite River route. Ive done in 4 times in June and im sure it would be fun/easy route and if the cold was just too much, it would be easy to pack out and leave. The fishing is our Main Goal and is questionable then I know.


thanks again for all the input.
stevedug 09/11/2017 10:11AM
I echo everyone's comments. its a good time as long as your ok with and prepared for the weather possibilities and you realize that it will be completely different than a trip during another time of the year.
carmike 09/10/2017 09:43PM
I'd definitely suggest it, but my trips that time of year are always played-by-ear. If the wind is up and the weather is miserable, I cancel trips because, well, I'm a wimp when it comes to paddling in cold, dangerous waters, and I don't particularly enjoy canoe camping in nasty weather.


I tend to avoid the busiest areas of the BWCA, and if the weather is fine, that's a great time of year to do the Kawishiwi Trians or the Number Lakes without big crowds.


Tman 09/09/2017 02:51PM
As noted, leaves will be gone except for tamaracks.


Days are short.


Can't comment on fishing.


Weather could be a bit more extreme than some others have noted. I had two nights in the mid/low teens on a trip Oct 6-13 in 2012. One morning I had to paddle as an "icebreaker" in the narrows between Tease and North Hegman. There was a lot of ice along the shore that morning.


I spent a lot of time around Mudro/Horse, etc. - busy areas. Didn't see another canoe from the morning of the 7th until the evening of the 12th. Great time to go for solitude.


It can be kind of creepy quiet. Insects, frogs, and most birds are gone. The only sound can be the wind in the trees.


Do it! as long as you are prepared.
ducks 09/09/2017 09:55AM
I would love to do a mid/late Oct trip sometime. Last year I almost did a last minute trip in November because of the amazing weather forecast just so I could say I've done a bwca trip in Nov. but it didn't work out with my wife's work schedule and the kids' basketball schedule.


I've done 2 solo trips at the beginning of May before the fishing opener and several trips the 1st weekend of Oct. Before fishing opener and October are my favorite times to be in the bwca. But, you need to be prepared for the weather extremes.


I've had night time lows down to 25 and daytime highs up to the mid 70's.
The worst day I've had was an early Oct. day with daytime high of 33, 40mph winds, and switching between rain, sleet, and snow all day. This was the day that the tragedy happened on Alton and the couple capsized and died of hypothermia.
mastertangler 09/08/2017 05:54PM
I fondly remember an October Algonquin trip where the colors were at there height blazing on the hillsides during a stretch of sunny calm weather. Nights were long and cold and I was glad to have loaded up on warm clothes. Fun stuff.


I would be certain that I could access weather info. Sometimes little cheesy $10 weather radios might be mostly useless. That was the case on my recent isle royale trip. Marine radios and Ham radios prevailed and I am now interested in having something reliable........that would be particularly important on big water or a late season trip.
SevenofNine 09/08/2017 01:59PM
As others have said it's a crap shoot as to weather. I had a great time when I went with a buddy on those dates. The biggest issue is lack of daylight at that time of year but a lantern or two can overcome that problem. Be prepared for cold and rainy weather.


It comes down to your tolerance for weather, lack of daylight and foliage.
billconner 09/07/2017 07:21PM
My favorite time to go. Planning an October trip now.
The Great Outdoors 09/07/2017 07:14PM
Be careful and check the weather forecasts.
You can get a bunch of snow dumped on you in a short period of time that can turn a nice trip into a deadly encounter.
If by chance that happens, trees get bent to the ground with a wet, heavy snow and finding portages may be impossible!
Not trying to rain on your parade, just giving a friendly warning.
jwartman59 09/07/2017 04:42PM
in my opinion that's the best time to go. crowds are gone and the days can be beautiful (or nasty). we bring a coleman gas lantern for these trips. it's worth the hassle.
hawleycanoeguy 09/07/2017 04:25PM
quote MarshallPrime: "So I know there are a lot of variables...weather/wind/colors but....


How would you feel about a Fall trip around Oct 20-25? If you would like decent fishing and good color on trees but still have decent weather? Is that NORMAL for this time of year or would it be too late? Would we miss all the colors usually?


I know it might snow on you or leaves could turn slow or fast that year...but just in a normal year, would we still have pretty leaves and still good fishing with decent weather?


I have done 13 june/july trips so I know about that but never an October trip.


Just wondering. We are teachers and get a fall break around that time each year and wonder if it would be worth the 13 hour trip from INDIANA for a 4 nighter.
thanks so much
"



ABSOLUTLEY! DO IT! I'm a teacher, and I've taken two trips to the BWCA during this time. My last BWCA trip was October 20-25, 2010! He had cold nights (temps in the mid-20's) and interesting days, which included snow, then sleet on our day heading in, a day in the upper-60's that saw the return of gnats, an overcast day in the low 50's, and a misty/rainy day in the low-mid 40's on our paddle out. What I probably liked best was being able to see the terrain with all the leaves gone---was very interesting!


Days are much shorter, so you have to plan your paddling accordingly. Mornings weren't bad as we were hungry/ready to get at it when it was 28F outside. But....when you're outside....and it's DARK at 6:30PM....and you sit around the campfire for what seems like forever...and then, someone says, "Well....I'm ready to hit the hay." AND IT'S 8:15!!!


There are pros/cons in terms of the cold--you don't have to worry too much about keeping food fresh, but what you wear/dress is key. We ate like kings, drank hot chocolate/coffee like crazy, even swam a couple times, heard a wolf pack on Horse Lake, and I'll say that it was one of the best times of MY LIFE!!


We did the following trip:


Mudro-Sandpit-Tin Can Mike-Horse (base camped for three nights--day tripped to LBF)
Then...Horse-Fourtown-Mudro-home.


We saw two other canoes the entire trip---a rarity considering the area we were in....but...I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I'm going up from Sept 30-Oct 4, so I'm very excited about that! I hope you're able to take the trip, too! If you're thinking about it...DO IT! You won't regret it!!!


walllee 09/07/2017 03:10PM
Agree with above post. Could be sunny and 70, or 25 and rain and or snow. That being said fishing that time of year can be very good.
egknuti 09/07/2017 02:53PM
I've done several trips this time of year. All the leaves will be long gone. There may be some Tamaracks still holding there gold needles, but for the most part fall colors are done this time of year. Weather can be somewhat unpredictable. Could be snowing but could also be 60 and sunny. This is a good time to find solitude as most people are done tripping for the year. Most lakes have turned over and fish become a little more difficult to find and catch I have found. But I'd do it again without question.
MarshallPrime 09/07/2017 02:22PM
So I know there are a lot of variables...weather/wind/colors but....

How would you feel about a Fall trip around Oct 20-25? If you would like decent fishing and good color on trees but still have decent weather? Is that NORMAL for this time of year or would it be too late? Would we miss all the colors usually?

I know it might snow on you or leaves could turn slow or fast that year...but just in a normal year, would we still have pretty leaves and still good fishing with decent weather?

I have done 13 june/july trips so I know about that but never an October trip.

Just wondering. We are teachers and get a fall break around that time each year and wonder if it would be worth the 13 hour trip from INDIANA for a 4 nighter.
thanks so much