BWCA Early East side loop? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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northern
  
04/02/2017 12:11PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi,

We're a party of 2 wanting to do a 7 day trip with maybe one layover day planned in the East end of BWCA. We've never been to BWCA and never done much lake paddling like this. We are very experienced river paddlers and campers. Looking to do something new for the last week of May when we cannot easily get out much in our home state of Alaska. We'd like to be out and away from any hub-bub and we're not afraid to work harder for that. We like to paddle from about 9 or 10 to about 4 or 5 daily and we don't take a ton of breaks (the fun is in moving for us). We're not fisher people (except Salmon slaying later in the summer up here). We have been looking at something like entry point 57 - Magnetic Lake then east on the border lakes up to the Fowls then turning around and looping back to E. Bearskin. Other than trolling this page a bit I know NOTHING about BWCA and am wondering what experienced folks think of this idea. I haven't done enough research to know if this would be too much ground to cover for 6 days of moving or not enough. We'd like to experience the lake to lake travel and the big views that we saw in pictures here as that is very different and new for us. Any advice is appreciated!
 
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04/02/2017 02:57PM  
Travel speed is gonna be directly connected to wind, there's not really a way to plan for that. Sometimes the wind helps, sometimes it hurts, most of the time it's just wind. The simplest thing is to have a plan B that includes 1 or 2 days lost to bad weather and adjust on the fly. Actually I usually have about 4 plans and just check down according to what happens.
Grandma L
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04/02/2017 03:21PM  
Hello and Welcome to the Board!
I just mapped out your proposed route and at first check it seems to be about 70-75 miles with a couple of long portages. The biggest 640 ish rods from Rose to Rove will be a hike. (2+ miles) I have done that portage several times in my youth. The first 400+ rods are an old railroad bed and are about a 10 degree grade - the last 200+ are more rugged - but it is up - all the way - rising 40+ feet over the entire portage. Not much considering the 640 rods is about 2 miles - give or take a few steps.

You can make our route in the 5-6 travel days. If, like Maxxbph said, the wind does not give you trouble. The border lakes can be like "wind tunnels". The winds are prevailingly from the west or southwest so half the trip might be in your favor. Even a 15 mph wind can produce some significant white cap waves and challenge. One of the difficulties of this route is that there are few options to shorted the trip once you are on the border and past the portage from Mountain to Clearwater Lake. You are committed.

When I plan mileage for my adult kids and grandkids who are experienced paddler on those big long lakes - they make about 3 miles per hour averaging in a couple of stops. If the wind is against them, 2 miles an hour can be challenging.

If you take the return loop from Pine thru Canoe and Alder to East Berarskin, you will hit the long portage there (459 rods). I suggest you go from Pine to Little Caribou, Caribou and drop back south to East Bearskin. Either way - stop and check-out Johnson Falls at the west end of Pine using the trail right near the portage.

You might also look at entering at Bearskin Lake and going in through #60 Duncan Lake entry point. This will cut off a few miles and give you the lay-over you mentioned. Gunflint Lake can be difficult if the wind gets going. You could easily be wind-bound on your first day. As a side note - Rose lake - first site on the south side just after the portage is great.
Plan carefully, travel safe and have a great time.

04/02/2017 03:36PM  
if the route you describe is what you want to do, then you want to get an entry permit 58 South Lake. this permit is to head east out of gunflint lake. (ep 57 heads north along the granite river to Saganaga and then you'd head west).

i've done the route you describe in 7 days, it was a LOT of paddling. we came out through the pikes to clearwater public landing. we probably would have needed 2 extra days if our plan was to exit at east bearskin. we really pushed it the last 2 days. you have long narrow lakes and if the wind is from the east you are basically shut down until it settles down. plan to paddle earlier in the morning if possible and make camp around 3. you still have camp chores which will take awhile, and then supper and darkness!

this is a gorgeous route. you mentioned you're not too into fishing but you are traveling along a lake trout route, and the trouts are very yummy! you'd need a MN license and a trout stamp, limit is 2 trouts per licensed/stamped fisherman.

Be aware you're traveling along the international border until you get past north fowl. you can portage on the canadian side as some portages are right along the border. no camping, fishing, frolicking or other fun stuff on the canadian side. if you want more info on what documentation/permits are needed to be on the canadian side, just ask. plenty of people on this site can help with that info.

some other suggestions:
* investigate the option of getting a tow service to the east end of gunflint lake. this will save you 7 miles of paddling.
* use a kevlar canoe.
*you DO need to get to at least South lake per the date listed on your entry permit, so plan accordingly.
*to save some time you could opt for an ep 60 Duncan lake and camp on Rose lake your first night. you want to be camped on Rose the night before you tackle the Long Portage as the next camping option is Mountain lake (the best site being 1/2 way down Mountain).
*rather than leaving your car at the east bearskin landing, you could leave it at the landing where you start and then make arrangements with the nearest outfitter to shuttle you from where you exit back to your car. that way if your plans change due to weather or you're just loving a particular area and don't want to be rushed, then you have the option of the shuttle.
*bring plenty of batteries and SD cards for your cameras!!!
northern
  
04/02/2017 11:03PM  
Wow! Thanks so much for the information. Clearly I have a bit of studying to do. I can definitely respect wind. Thank you for the advice on the EPs. I didn't realize that the EPs are also not necessarily where you start paddling either. Whew. Lots to learn and plan. I guess I need to look at the EPs closer to see that. Yes, we'll rent a kevlar canoe, bringing our own gear for the rest and our own food. Again, thank you for the abundance of information and tips!
bposteve
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04/03/2017 07:25AM  
The area you're looking at contains of my favorite lakes. I don't think the scenery in the BWCA is better anywhere else. The one thing to prepare yourself for is that you may run into a fair number of people near Clearwater, Caribou, and Little Caribou lakes if you go that direction. The way the boundaries are laid out, you only have a few lakes between the Western entrances and the East end by John or Pine lakes. I wouldn't let that discourage you, just be aware that for a 'wilderness area' you may see more people than you expect-especially given that you're coming from Alaska.

One note on the route, and this is just my personal preference, but after turning West I'd travel through John, East Pike, West Pike instead of taking McFarland to Pine. I think the scenery is slightly nicer, and really enjoy the West Pike to Clearwater portage. It has easy access to the Border Route trail for a brief side trip up to Geobec lake, and despite the length is very well maintained.
04/04/2017 07:30PM  
Not to hijack the thread (answers may be helpful to all...), but where does one park when entering 60 or 61. The only public lot I know of is on the east end of Bearskin off the Clearwater road. Is/are there others? Hungry Jack?
04/04/2017 07:43PM  
In case the op has not found them yet, here is a link to Voyageur Maps You'll need maps 9 & 10. The web site is interactive and you can click, drag and zoom to navigate. Entry Points are not always where you start paddling but where you actually enter "the park".
04/04/2017 07:58PM  
quote cowdoc: "Not to hijack the thread (answers may be helpful to all...), but where does one park when entering 60 or 61. The only public lot I know of is on the east end of Bearskin off the Clearwater road. Is/are there others? Hungry Jack?"


Doc, if you take the Hungry Jack Rd, (across from Trail Center), follow it until it practically ends and you'll be smack dab in the parking lot! short portage to west bearskin. there is also a short portage from this lot into Hungry Jack lake.

If you continue on the more narrow road out of the lot you'll end up at Menogyn's parking area.

so, this parking lot is on the west end of west bearskin lake, no need to paddle all the way from the east end if you don't need to!

also, if your outfitter is HUngry Jack Outfitters, you can paddle right from their dock to this entry
04/04/2017 08:14PM  
Thanks Mocha....I see it on satellite view....just west of Menogyn
northern
  
04/17/2017 05:30PM  
quote cowdoc: "In case the op has not found them yet, here is a link to Voyageur Maps You'll need maps 9 & 10. The web site is interactive and you can click, drag and zoom to navigate. Entry Points are not always where you start paddling but where you actually enter "the park".
"


Thank you for the link of these maps! They have been great for planning. I haven't been able to get any of the listed "online sales" available to order these maps, so I ordered map 1 & 2 from McKenzie Maps. From the "sneak peak" they give on their website, they look useful as well. I hope they are like these Voyageur maps with the hiking trails on them as well... We got our entry permit for 60 - Duncan Lake. Thank you all for the advice on this one. Snow is slowly melting here and I'm very excited to explore BWCA next month! I will try to get back and let you know how we did on this route! Again, thanks to those of you with experience for offering up so many useful tips.
04/17/2017 05:51PM  
I had a reply all formulated in my mind, but I see that Mocha has pretty well covered my concerns. Because wind can be such a factor, especially on the bigger lakes and the border lakes, it is a much wiser thing to paddle early in the day and plan to quit earlier, too. (Also sometimes makes finding a campsite easier, although in May that isn't quite as crucial as later in the season.)

Dawn in the canoe country is the most beautiful time of all. Rise with the sun, enjoy your coffee as the morning mist is gracing the surface of the lake, and be packed up and ready to paddle by 7:30. Stop a bit earlier in the day and enjoy time in camp before dinner and your campfire at sunset.

Just my suggestion. :-)
SaganagaJoe
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04/17/2017 06:49PM  
quote Spartan2: "I had a reply all formulated in my mind, but I see that Mocha has pretty well covered my concerns. Because wind can be such a factor, especially on the bigger lakes and the border lakes, it is a much wiser thing to paddle early in the day and plan to quit earlier, too. (Also sometimes makes finding a campsite easier, although in May that isn't quite as crucial as later in the season.)

Dawn in the canoe country is the most beautiful time of all. Rise with the sun, enjoy your coffee as the morning mist is gracing the surface of the lake, and be packed up and ready to paddle by 7:30. Stop a bit earlier in the day and enjoy time in camp before dinner and your campfire at sunset.

Just my suggestion. :-)"


+1. On bigger lakes earlier is better, as a general rule. Plus you have that morning sunlight for the best pictures. Have a great trip.
carmike
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04/17/2017 09:03PM  
Very sorry for hijacking the thread, but I have a question re: Mocha's post.

We need a trout stamp to fish/keep lakers in the BWCA?
inspector13
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04/18/2017 06:21AM  
quote carmike: "We need a trout stamp to fish/keep lakers in the BWCA? "

You need a trout stamp to possess trout or to fish designated trout lakes and streams.

 
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