I have been to the BWCA many times although only once in the past decade. Two years ago with the wife. I want to bring the kids up there this year. 5 dayish trip. They are 10. I'm thinking just a couple portages and base camp. Looking for recommendations. I would still like the landscape of bed rock and maybe some decent fishing. My trips in my 20s were all big 9 day traveling trips. Maybe if the kids enjoy it we can get more ambitious in the future. I have all the gear needed for big trips.

A couple suggestions:

1. Lake One is an easy entry and you can go as far as you want. You get to see some burn area to teach the kids about fire safety/nature and renewal.
2. Moose lake is nice in that you can either paddle (no portaging) up to Birch lake and head east as far as you want to paddle.
3. LIS North offers a variety of great scenery along the way from rivers to falls to lakes. If I remember right you have three portages (entry plus two more along the way) to get to Upper Pauness and a short one into Lower Pauness.

Great bringing kids to the outdoors. Hope your trip is a memorable one.

Depending as to the time of year, a Lake One entry to the Kawishiwi Triangle can provide some amazing fishing and is pretty easy to get to. Did this trip in 2017 with a friend and my two kids, ages 9 and 11, and they did quite well. No major portages and you do have a number of different directions to go. Maybe not as scenic as some other areas, but definitely a doable trip with kids this age.

Check out this trip report. I took my 4 daughters to Horse Lake.

"A good time was had by all..."


Family trip to Horse

Mad_Angler that sounds like a very nice trip. I have been through Mudro and seen basswood. I have also been up LIS, and up the moose river to lac la croix. I have never been to the numbered lakes. I took a quick glance at the big map tonight and am thinking they might do nicely. Early June.

Kids always seem to enjoy exploring an island.

Some suggestions of trips here .

Poplar to Horseshoe. Easy portages, pretty area and lots of options for day tripping. Stay at Rockwood the night before. My second solo was to Horseshoe, up to Gaskin and back out. I loved it. I saw moose!

Hard to beat the number lakes for a first introduction with kids, stay on lake three with a day trip to the old camp before the rapids on lake four, and if they are available the sand island sites are a plus, the burn area would be irrelevant to a youngun.

nooneuno: "Hard to beat the number lakes for a first introduction with kids, stay on lake three with a day trip to the old camp before the rapids on lake four, and if they are available the sand island sites are a plus, the burn area would be irrelevant to a youngun."

What is "the old camp"?

Based on your criteria, another vote for entering Lake One and going to Horseshoe.

Other thoughts:

How big are they and what camping experience do the kids have?

At 10 they are starting to be able to contribute and will likely get bored staying at one campsite for 5 days. I'd bring plenty of camp activities to keep them busy as well get out exploring/fishing every day.

Or, I'd consider not base camping. Lake One could still be a good entry. Just push in further through the numbered lakes based on your comfort. Not familiar with the campsite recovery for those impacted by the Pagami fire but there are some fun spots on the edges, say Fire Lake, that don't involve heavy portaging.

Fall Lake entry point two short portage's to Pipestone Bay. Plenty of Beach campsites and the fishing is pretty good. Day trip to Basswood Falls is a very pretty area. Where Pipestone Bay and jackfish Bay meet you can climb a short cliff and get a good view of both Pipestone and jackfish bay.


Tony

Why not try outside the BWCA but within the SNF? I took my son to Low Lake when he was 10. Looked and felt like BWCA, but fewer restrictions and no permit. There are many such places for a first-timer. Also a car-camping campgrounds on the edge of the BWCA, such as Sawbill, can be great for an introduction for the BWCA.

I'll be taking my daughter on her first trip this July. Going to Lake one. My first trip two years ago was there. Can't wait to go back.

Hooked825: "I'll be taking my daughter on her first trip this July. Going to Lake one. My first trip two years ago was there. Can't wait to go back.


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Hi Hooked, you sound just like me!

I took my first trip to BW two years ago through Lake One. I'll be taking my son on his first trip to BW, also to Lake One. Except in August. Also can't wait to go back.

Last year, my son and I (and my son's friend and my brother) went to Sylvania Wilderness in Michigan. Sylvania is like the BW.

After reviewing maps I like Mudro to Horse. And the date is available.

I'll sleep on it and order permit tomorrow

The island campsite on horse would be ideal assuming its decent. Kids can explore without to much concern.

The island campsite on horse would be ideal assuming its decent. Kids can explore without to much concern.

Did this trip in August 2016 with my kids and a friend. Not a bad trip at all. The one thing you need to be aware of (if I remember correctly) is that the last portage from Tin Can Mike into Horse is a steep up and over and the Horse Lake end isn't the best landing. Great fishing lake and some really nice campsites.

Last year, myself, a couple greenhorn dads and four 11 year old boys went to the Sawbill area primarily for the exact reasons you have laid out. Went in on Sawbill, hopped a 30 rod portage to Alton and found a nice spot on upper Alton to base camp. Spent the next 3 days exploring Alton, Kelso and Sawbill. While I'll admit, this is my least favorite area in the BWCA, the kids absolutely loved it. None of the portages in the area were to strenuous, we caught some fish, canoed up the Kelso river one day and checked out the Dolman rock and took a fishing/canoe trip into sawbill. This trip was not about me loving it, but rather instilling a love for it into the kids. Every one of the kids is asking to go back this year, so I'd say it was a success. One other note, Alton is the clearest water lake I've ever seen. The kids thought it was cool that sawbill had a red tint, but just 30 rods away, the water of Alton was nearly as clear as drinking water.

Wherever you choose, I wish you good weather. I think that will make or break the trip for any new adventurer into the BWCA.