Looking for a short 3-5 day route using a boat with top speed of about 2 mph.

Prefer rivers and narrow lakes and want to avoid big lakes with big winds.

Bike shuttle between put in and take out is possible.

Any suggestions? Thank you.

For clarity, maybe you could elaborate on what you mean by "using a boat with top speed of about 2 mph."

I'm assuming from the title you are using a pack raft . . . ? I would think it's not exactly a good watercraft for a BW trip . . . but-

You'll want a river route since wind will be a major factor. This will be true even on small streams or lakes due to the topography. And even more true if your trip is planned for the fall.

Some entries to explore:

Little Indian Sioux River South, Island River, Little Isabella River, Snake River, Stuart River, Hog Creek (?).

quote Jackfish: "For clarity, maybe you could elaborate on what you mean by "using a boat with top speed of about 2 mph." "

Packrafts, unlike canoes and kayaks, are slow boats on flat water, at least half the speed, if not more, of a canoe. Typically, 2 mph with no winds.

quote boonie: "I'm assuming from the title you are using a pack raft . . . ? I would think it's not exactly a good watercraft for a BW trip . . . but-


You'll want a river route since wind will be a major factor. This will be true even on small streams or lakes due to the topography. And even more true if your trip is planned for the fall.


Some entries to explore:


Little Indian Sioux River South, Island River, Little Isabella River, Snake River, Stuart River, Hog Creek (?).
"

Thank you!

If you are going mid-summer or later, I would avoid the Island River. The wild rice beds can be a challenge for a canoe to push through. I can't imagine how one might push a small inflatable raft through those beds.

Wind can channel along some rivers and there isn't much current to go with. So, I would think a packraft might be a bit of a challenge. I have camped with a packraft but it was a situation where we were backpacking in the Sierra and wanted a boat for a high elevation lake. It did work well for that.

For the BWCA, I would think of it for having a boat during a backpacking trip one one of the hiking trails. Or a canoe route with some killer portages.

I can also see where it would help with a bike shuttle, you could leave a bike, deflate, and bike back with all of your gear and boat. But you can also stash a canoe in the woods, bike back to your car, and go back for the boat with the car.

So, I am sort of wondering why a packraft in the BWCA? Just curious, of course there are lots of ways to go.

quote andym: "So, I am sort of wondering why a packraft in the BWCA? Just curious, of course there are lots of ways to go."

Because no one has reported taking a packraft!

I completely agree that a canoe, preferably kevlar, would be the best tool.

But, I am game to try something that others have not, even if I come up a cropper.

My 2012 Alpacka Denali Llama is best at home running big whitewater, but with it bulging stern, it tracks ok on flat water. It is just slow on flat water, but portages are a breeze.

I agree with thebotanyguy - scratch Island River; it's been quite a few years since I was in there and I forgot what a pain in the neck the wild rice was to paddle through. I don't know if you'd have the same issue or not if you entered at Isabella Lake.

Fair enough. We had a big debate about whether Stand Up Paddle boards would work for the BWCA only to find out that there are already people doing it. A long time ago, we did a whitewater trip on the Nenana River near Denali but in a larger raft. I can see that your packraft would be right at home there. So, would you seek out rapids in the BWCA? I suppose someone could even do a canoe trip but take along a packraft to try running some of them.

quote bigmitch1: "

quote andym: "So, I am sort of wondering why a packraft in the BWCA? Just curious, of course there are lots of ways to go."

Because no one has reported taking a packraft!


I completely agree that a canoe, preferably kevlar, would be the best tool.


But, I am game to try something that others have not, even if I come up a cropper.


My 2012 Alpacka Denali Llama is best at home running big whitewater, but with it bulging stern, it tracks ok on flat water. It is just slow on flat water, but portages are a breeze. "

I thought that I had done a report on a canoe, hike and raft trip that I had taken years ago but if it didn't show up on a search...
Anyway, I paddled to Hustler Lake, hiked to Pageant Lake and rafted on from there. The whole reason was to access some other PMA lakes and it sounded like a fun thing to do. It was a nice mix and a great way to access lakes that can only be hiked to.

quote andym: "So, would you seek out rapids in the BWCA? "

No. There are better rapids elsewhere if that was my purpose.

How about the Lady Chain route between Sawbill and Kawishiwi? I just finished it a couple weeks ago, and the water levels on the Kawishiwi and Phoebe Rivers are high but certainly not raging. Lots of beaver dams to hop over and not a lot of big water.

Thank you for the suggestion! Will look into it. If I don't get there this month, will do a recon next winter.

quote bigmitch1: "Thank you for the suggestion! Will look into it. If I don't get there this month, will do a recon next winter."

You're welcome!

quote bigmitch1: "Thank you for the suggestion! Will look into it. If I don't get there this month, will do a recon next winter."

You're welcome!

I've never even thought about that. If a person studied the various trails, and tied them together with lakes and portages, I think you could put together a pretty interesting trip. Not for everybody, you'd have to be pretty serious hiker. I couldn't do it, but I think it's a pretty cool idea.