Hello,

I am trying to plan my second trip to the Boundary Waters for 3 days only, maybe 4, for the end of August. I am bringing someone from out of the country to whom I've talked wonders about the BWCA. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for areas with short portages but that are scenic and semi-secluded?

My British friends were most impressed with Duluth (especially Canal Park and the overlook coming into town) and the drive up the Lake Superior shore. They also liked the stops along the way at Gooseberry, Temperance and the like.

As for canoe route - you might look at the Sawbill area or Poplar, to Lizz, Gaskin area.

You could try the Granite River route.

I was lobbying for that trip next month, which I've never done, but my tripmates wanted to do the Lady Chain through Sawbill instead, and I'm an obliging sort.

Otherwise, as Grandma L suggested, EP47 from Poplar to Lizz and beyond is quite scenic with short portages, smaller lakes, and a chance to see moose. And you could duck down to Winchell for a taste of a larger lake and the different scenery of the Misquah Hills.

One idea

quote Juepuchas : "Hello,

I am trying to plan my second trip to the boundary waters for 3 days only, maybe 4 for the end of august, I am bringing someone from out of the country to who i've talked wonders about the BWCA. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for areas with short portages but that are scenic and semi-secluded?


"

A couple of the portages are long, but I took two newbies on the Cherokee loop this year, they loved it. Cherokee is a really nice lake with great campsites.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: " One idea "

I'll second TB's recommendation - very short easy portages through Alder all the way out to Pierz, Canoe, & Crystal. Walk the portage to Pine, see Johnson Falls, if you decide it's a doable portage for you, you can loop back that way; if not, just return the way you came.

Start on Moose at EP 25 head north to Splash/Ensign/Ashigan/Gibson/Cattyman and so on down to eventually ending at Snow Bank.

Easy trip with some nice scenery along the way, especially the falls.

Go in on Homer and out on Brule. It is about a 30 min walk to go get your car.

Sawbill to the burning lakes. Fun easy area.

Poplar to Gaskin

To North or south Temperance from either Brule or Baker entry points

Just find an area you like and look at going a few lakes in. 10 miles with a few portages of reasonable length can be done in a decent day's travel with plenty of time for setting up camp or leaving then driving a ways. You know how far you traveled before so take that experience and how long it took you to gauge your ability and willingness to cover ground this time. Then you just use those approximations to look at maps and see what your options are. Its not too difficult and there are no real bad choices so just pick something and fine tune your trip from there.