Hello there, this is my first post to the BWCA forum! (Though I have gleaned information from it for years.) I am planning to go in mid October of this year, and would like to go with 4/5 people but there's a solid chance I could end up going alone (it would be my first solo). Any thoughts on good routes for that time of year? I've heard it'd be wise to avoid big lakes in case the "gales of November come early." I've been to the lakes closest to Ely a couple of times and would like to explore a new area. Any ideas for good October routes in the North West portion of the BWCA? How's the area around Cummings and pine lake? Thanks!!

Welcome to the board. I hope you have done canoe trips in October before with a group. At that time of year the weather and the shorter day light hours become a challenge. You might even run into ice and snow. If soloing it can be down right difficult unless you are well prepared to portage.

I have a few to recommend that involve smaller water and paddle until you feel like stopping.

Kawishiwi Lake entry (37) is a nice entry point with a smaller lake and then the river system and then more lakes.

Baker Lake entry (39) is also smaller waters and you can do the same.

Finally on the Ely side I would do LIS N entry (14). Nice long paddle up the the Little Indian Sioux to lakes north and west once you get to Upper Pauness.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Double post, oops.

+1 on the LIS North. Great paddle down the river to the Pauness lakes and then you can head in two different directions from there, north or east. North takes you up past Devils Cascade and into Loon and Little Loon or LLC. East takes you toward Shell, Lynx, Hustler, etc. I did a loop in July up through Little Loon, Slim, Finger, Ge-be, Oyster, Hustler and back west to EP 14 and it was awesome. This can easily be done in 4 days and you probably won't see anybody (I did it solo). I'm going in Oct 18th and I'm thinking about heading in this way with my group of 3 for some base camping, fall fishing in the Shell/Lynx area. If you want any further details just email me and I'll share some more info. Welcome to the board!

Mid October can have significant weather changes and as noted days are relatively short. That makes for long nights alone on a solo and if you get sleet and ice it can get right down unpleasant. Watch the weather closely and don't get very far in if it is likely to turn bad. There are lots of stories of spending two or three days in camp waiting for the weather to break. If you get a nice stretch of warm days with little wind it can be one of the best times of the year to be there. And the night sky can be lit up with auroras so watch a space weather station for updates and probabilities.
You will definitely get solitude nearly wherever you go. Be safe and have fun.

What's the fishing like that late? Slim to none would be my guess. Also what's the permitting process for after Sept?

quote Runningquist201: "What's the fishing like that late? Slim to none would be my guess. Also what's the permitting process for after Sept?"

Fishing can be fantastic in October. Self issuing permits as of October 1st....

quote Bdubr: "

quote Runningquist201: "What's the fishing like that late? Slim to none would be my guess. Also what's the permitting process for after Sept?"

Fishing can be fantastic in October. Self issuing permits as of October 1st...."

+1 on both things

There is a box at the entry point for the self issue permits. Take one out of the box, fill it out, tear off one copy and put it in the box and keep the other copy in case you get checked during your trip. Every once in a while the box will be out of permits so it can be a good idea to stop at the ranger station in Ely, Tofte, or Grand Marais (depending on where you go) on your way through. We keep a supply in our glove box. You don't want to get to the EP and then have to drive back somewhere trying to find one.

Good advice has been given on routes and weather. One of my best trips ever was entering at Baker. Lots of walleye on Jack and we saw a lot of moose. I also like the area from Kawishiwi Lake to the Malberg area especially after you get past Polly. LIS North is on my short list for my next solo.
I've had it upper 70's and humid up there in Oct. and I've had a high of 33 w/ rain/snow/sleet and 40mph winds. Plan and prepare for the extremes.

Another good route for that time of year is the Kawishwi Triangle of the North Kawishiwi River and South Kawishiwi RIver. It keeps you on small water and is a nice area. This is what I did on my first solo and it was in early Oct. Entered at EP 32 South Kawishiwi River and traveled up to the area where it splits into the North Kawishiwi River and camped on an island. Second day I traveled the North Kawishiwi River to Clear Lake and camped there. The 3rd day I traveled to a campsite on the South Kawishiwi River near the entry point and had an easy exit on my last day. The river has some good fishing. You can also get into the Kawishiwi Triangle from other entryp points.... Lake One, North Kawishiwi/Triangle, and Farm Lake. Another idea for that area is to start at Little Gabbro EP and exit at South Kawishiwi RIver EP as the parking lots are about a mile apart.

I'll be doing the Mudro-Crooked-Horse loop Oct 8th

Thank you guys so much, this has been extremely helpful! I think I'll plan on doing something around LIS north, but I'll ask Brett from Duane's outfitters (I always use Duane's, Brett is the best!) his advice when I arrive.

Just thought I'd let everyone know, I survived and thrived on my first ever solo! Put in on Little Indian Sioux North, paddled up to Loon and back. Did not make it nearly as far as I thought I might due to a very late start (3:45 in the afternoon!) on my first day, and my discovery that when paddling solo just a wee bit of wind could slow me down to what felt like a stop. But, no bother, I told myself, "I'm on vacation! I'll do what I want when I want and not stress about it, Ill take it nice, slow and relaxing!" I had stunning weather, highs in the 50s, lows in the 20s, every morning I was greeted by breathtaking crystal blue skies, a beautiful sunrise, fog gently rolling off the water, and the pleasant sting in your nose when you inhale could, crisp, clean air. It threatened rain twice, so I hunkered down, but the rain never came. I was there 10/13-10/17. All in all, an amazing adventure, even though I was spoiled by good weather! (it was probably in the 60s on the 16th, so I took a very, very quick dip in the water! Did not think I was going to purposefully go swimming at any point!)



ig-i_rund

Wonderful! October is a great BWCA time. Thanks for reporting.

Follow on Ducks suggestion re Kawishiwi Triangle...note, the portage going south into Clear Lake is noted wrong on both the Fisher and McKenzie maps...as so many have tried the first notch bay there's two trails that lead nowhere. The portage is just around the corner in the bay's far end.... Did this route solo in September...haven't solved the mystery yet of the pilings on the N. Kawishiwi just before the one long portage...

Glad you had a good trip, especially on a first solo. It sounds like you lucked out on the weather ;).