Hi All! I am making my first trip to the BW in just over a week. It's me, my 24 year old son and 19 year old niece for 4 days/3 nights. We are starting at EP47 (Magnetic Lake) and taking Granite River to EP55A (Saganaga Lake). We are experienced with canoeing, camping and backpacking, although all our canoe experience is on rivers, no big lakes. We have outfitted through Gunflint Lodge and so far, they have been great!

I'm super excited about this trip but have a few questions/concerns. I've got my map and compass and will take my gps, but have read several things about some portages being hard to find. Has anyone been this route recently? Are we going to struggle finding portages?

Next question: I've read that camping is only at designated campsites. So, what if I get to an area and all the sites are taken and it's getting close to dark? Can I camp at 'non designated' or do I have to go on in the dark? I doubt we even run into this because we aren't planning really long days, but I'm a worrier and always need a plan B (it's the Mom in me)..lol.

Our plan is to just enjoy the trip, do plenty of fishing/playing/exploring and not get in a big rush. We plan to camp at Clove Lake the first night, at Gneiss the 2nd night and undecided on the last night.

Last question: How do I get a flying moose sticker?

Is there any 'must see' sights along the way? Great fishing spots? I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions you can pass along. Thanks!

Hey, welcome to the site & have fun on your trip.

I did this route last year about this time & wrote a trip report about it. Be prepared to look for blueberries, you're going just about prime time if not maybe a couple days after peak.

Portages were not so hard to find, IMO. We got turned around at one point, went into a bouldery bay when the river continued towards the left for a piece yet. Generally easy enough.

Yes, camp only at designated sites. If you're moving in the morning & nearing your destination by early afternoon you should be fine. We pulled into Clove for our first night around 1PM and the best site on the lake was open for our taking. I would not recommend traveling in the dark, especially if you've never been thru the area before.... If you're looking at a stretch where there are no campsites and an open site on the lake you're on, and it's getting later... take the open site. I've read other people saying they've had to emergency camp in places, and should it come to that for you then please be uber conscious of leave no trace principles, no fire, minimize your impact, and be up & packing up at sunup.

I can give GPS coordinates of various berry spots we found along the way but honestly... if you can get up on a hill that was obviously burned within the last 15 years and that hill has any kind of southern or western exposure you will be thick in the blues. Raspberries should be around on the portages too.

Regarding a flying moose sticker - become a site supporter here

Definitely pay attention to your outfitter when they provide route advice. There are a couple riffles that you should be able to safely run, and a couple waterfalls on the route that you should definitely portage around.

Four days is plenty time to do this route. Stop traveling early in the day and you will have no problem finding a campsite. I definitely would not go beyond Clove Lake the first day as campsites get scarce. Gneiss Lake and Maraboeuf(Devil's Elbow Lake) have lots of campsites for your second night. Third night could be on Saganaga or lay over on Devil's Elbow.

Remember that much of the route is along the Canadian border. Even though the portages are accessible by treaty, camping on the Canadian side is not allowed.

Are you getting tows on Gunflint and Saganaga? If you are not than a very early start on both those lakes will usually avoid wind and rough water issues. I emphasize usually.

quote mirth: "Definitely pay attention to your outfitter when they provide route advice. There are a couple riffles that you should be able to safely run, and a couple waterfalls on the route that you should definitely portage around. "

Thanks for the feedback! Hopefully, camp sites are not hard to find since we will be stopping early each day. I appreciate the tips. I enjoyed your trip report from last year; sounds like you all had a great time!

quote sedges: "Four days is plenty time to do this route. Stop traveling early in the day and you will have no problem finding a campsite. I definitely would not go beyond Clove Lake the first day as campsites get scarce. Gneiss Lake and Maraboeuf(Devil's Elbow Lake) have lots of campsites for your second night. Third night could be on Saganaga or lay over on Devil's Elbow.


Remember that much of the route is along the Canadian border. Even though the portages are accessible by treaty, camping on the Canadian side is not allowed.


Are you getting tows on Gunflint and Saganaga? If you are not than a very early start on both those lakes will usually avoid wind and rough water issues. I emphasize usually."

Thanks for feedback. We are considering a tow on Saganaga, but will decide when we talk to our outfitter. We do plan to stop early each day so we can make camp, explore, fish and just relax. The maps show no sites between Clove and Gneiss...is this correct?

Correct. Its takes 3+ hours to travel the river depending on how quickly you move. If I remember correctly there are a couple portages in that piece that can be muddy. I also remember a tight rocky put in near moving water where there's only room for one canoe to load and launch.

Welcome to the message board :)

quote QueticoMike: "Welcome to the message board :)"

Thanks!