Starting to get ideas for this year's trip (June 13-17). This will be the 7th or 8th, maybe 9th consecutive trip. My group of 4 has always gone through Rockwood Outfitters and have entered EP47 or 48. We have extensively traversed the Caribou, Meeds, Rush, Winchell, Gaskin, Omega and Horseshoe lakes area and are looking for new territory.

Couple of questions:

1. Any other reputable and recommended outfitters worth trying that are off the Gunflint?

2. We are considering Ely in order to hit an entirely new part of the BWCA. Looking for recommendations for outfitters there. There are many, I'd like to know of 2-3 that come highly recommended.

3. If we do Ely, what are some must see and must avoid lakes? We crave serenity and peacefulness, good views and fishing. We don't mind getting deep to access this if need be.

We are young and fit and don't mind long portages. Our trips usually go from Wed-Saturday or Sunday and we prefer at least two nights of basecamping in order to get in some good fishing.

Thanks all!

Can’t help with outfitters but suggest you get up to LLC, crooked and iron. Many loops for this trip but I suggest paddling the big lakes with the predominately west winds on your back.

Can't help on the Gunflint side as I have only gone out of Ely. (I'll probably be asking your question in reverse for my next trip.)

As for outfitters, I have heard good things about all of the sponsors of this site. Having said that, our group has had outstanding service from Piragis and I highly recommend them.

When you will be trekking makes some difference on the best places to go.

If during peak season, my favorite area for solitude and views has been Boulder and Adams Lakes.

Given your criteria, in peak season I'd probably avoid the numbered lakes and the Mudro area due to their popularity and crowds. However, they are popular for a reason and I would target them in shoulder seasons.

There are certainly more experienced people on this board and you will get more good suggestions. Good luck and have fun!

If there are still permits available, a great destination is Lac La Croix from EP 16, Moose River North. I've stayed up in the Boulder Bay area of LLC several times and love that area. It can get busy and you will run into boats on the Canadian side of LLC if you go far enough, but Warrior Hill and the pictographs up in that area are cool as is the Bottle Rapids. Fishing can be phenomenal as well.

If that doesn't work, Little Indian Sioux north (EP 14) can get you into some very nice areas as well.

I only need to rent canoes, but have become a loyal customer of Spirit of the Wilderness because they've earned my business. I know many of the outfitters on the Ely side are top-notch so it probably just comes down to some personal preferrences.

Tman: "Can't help on the Gunflint side as I have only gone out of Ely. (I'll probably be asking your question in reverse for my next trip.)


As for outfitters, I have heard good things about all of the sponsors of this site. Having said that, our group has had outstanding service from Piragis and I highly recommend them.


When you will be trekking makes some difference on the best places to go.


If during peak season, my favorite area for solitude and views has been Boulder and Adams Lakes.


Given your criteria, in peak season I'd probably avoid the numbered lakes and the Mudro area due to their popularity and crowds. However, they are popular for a reason and I would target them in shoulder seasons.


There are certainly more experienced people on this board and you will get more good suggestions. Good luck and have fun!"

Thanks TMAN. We are thinking an early June trip.

Just a little further up the Gunflint Trail is Tuscarora Outfitters on Round Lake. With a Brant Lake entry, head over to Gillis Lake. From there, head south and east to Tuscarora Lake. Then out through Missing Link Lake back to Round Lake.

The first day you will travel through some area hit by the Cavity Lake and Ham Lake fires. By the time you get to Gillis, you're pretty much out of it. The first day's travel can be a bit tough, but that helps keep the crowds down a bit.

If you could consider the Quetico, I'd recommend Canoe Country Outfitters and tow from their Moose Lake base to Prairie Portage, and head to Kashapiwi. It hits all your priorities: serenity and peacefulness, good views and fishing.

Do some looking at the small lakes just south of LLC -- Takucmich being my favorite of the bunch. And LLC is an incredible lake, too. Big trout, amazing smallies, and plenty of wind to keep things interesting. :)

1. Hungry Jack is A+
2. Ely outfitting Co., Voyager North
3. Enter Snowbank and go North-East. Knife and Kekekabic are worth the visit and the travel there is interesting terrain.


Hex

Out of Ely I've gone with Canadian Waters. They are super friendly and super helpful. We've done the Mudro EP 22/23 and taken it through Mudro, Sandpit, Tin Can Mike, Horse, then up the Horse River to Lower Basswood Falls. Then gone through Crooked Lake all the way around to Friday Bay. It is beautiful and pretty quiet up along the border. The fishing in Crooked is pretty good for smallies. Then we came back down through Papoose, Nikki, Moosecamp, into Fourtown and back out to the EP. The Moosecamp River into Fourtown is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It's a nice easy paddle with a few Beaver dams to cross. We did the route in 5 days. It's a great trip in early spring when water levels are up.

billconner: "If you could consider the Quetico, I'd recommend Canoe Country Outfitters and tow from their Moose Lake base to Prairie Portage, and head to Kashapiwi. It hits all your priorities: serenity and peacefulness, good views and fishing. "

Another vote for Quetico. Much better chances of solitude and good fishing there. Although, with only four or five days (three or four nights), I think you'd be hard pressed to make a trip to Kahshapiwi worth it. Beautiful lake with good fishing, but a real bear to get to with tons of portages. A good number of the portages are pretty rugged as well, and a few long ones.

I'd consider paddling in hard one good day up into the Man Chain. Base camp there all trip and fish, then head out.

I appreciate the replies, thank you. Regarding the Q, I don't think we have enough time to make a trip there. I would like to do a full 7 day immersion.

I've only been to the B-dub once but we used Sawbill Outfitters (off the Sawbill Trail, which I think technically starts in Tofte - or at least you go through there to get to the trail). They were great. Very helpful, eager to answer our questions and great service. We did the Lady Chain route. From Kawishiwi to Sawbill. Nice route - lot of river paddling. We're using them again in July and doing the Cherokee loop starting at Sawbill and coming around full circle. Not sure if this is in the area that you're interested in but that's my two cents.

To answer your first question about outfitters on the Gunflint, we have used Tuscarora , Seagull, Hungry Jack and Voyageurs in addition to Rockwood. We have only rented canoes and bunkhouses from all, except did partial outfitting from Voyageurs a number of years ago. We've had great experiences with all of them. All the outfitters I mentioned have a variety of routes listed on their websites, but they have also given us other suggestions. There are still many routes to explore if you still want to stay on the Gunflint side.

In Ely, we've had great service from Voyageur North and Echo Trail Outfitters. Except for the Angleworm entry, we've only done easy trips out of Ely, so I'll let others give you suggestions for routes.

If you stay on Gunflint side...consider Clearwater outfitters (really good and right at the EP) and attack the easternmost section of the BW. You guys could hit almost every lake there considering what you say about your group. Beautiful area with terrain and palisades and overlooks.

My first trip to the BWCA I used Piragis, very happy with the service, and the gear was top notch.
I also used the Stuart River entry, about 1.5 miles from the lot to the river. It was an easy walk though, and scares quite a few away from the entry point. One permit per day means you might see someone heading out, but you will be the only group heading in. Stuart Lake is nice, with a couple 4/5 star sites, and decent fishing.
Day two, you could head through Fox, Dark, Rush, (maybe out of order!) to Iron lake for some great fishing. Allow 2 days to head back through LLC, Agnes, Nina Moose, and out Moose River.

anthonylane: "I appreciate the replies, thank you. Regarding the Q, I don't think we have enough time to make a trip there. I would like to do a full 7 day immersion. "

I have done numerous 5 and 6 day Q trips, and one 3 day. The nice thing is nearly instant solitude - by middle of first day - compared to BWCAW in season.

But costs more and a little more advance work - passports and RABCs.

I understand wanting to find a longer slot but don't put it off too long. It is different than BWCAW.

Thanks for the feedback all. I have a route here that I think look nice given the short duration of this trip. It's not a challenging route, but it seems like one that will get us in quick and offer tons of day trip opportunities. Gabbro seems like a solid lake with a lot of quality sites.



Thoughts?

Snake River to Little Gabbro Lake:

http://bit.ly/2o9S0yG

Great choice. If you have time, consider a day trip through Gull, Pietro, Camdre, Clearwater, and Turtle.

billconner: "Great choice. If you have time, consider a day trip through Gull, Pietro, Camdre, Clearwater, and Turtle. "

Thanks, that's exactly what I'm looking at. Looks like many options out of Gabbro.

anthonylane: "Thanks for the feedback all. I have a route here that I think look nice given the short duration of this trip. It's not a challenging route, but it seems like one that will get us in quick and offer tons of day trip opportunities. Gabbro seems like a solid lake with a lot of quality sites.



Thoughts?


Snake River to Little Gabbro Lake:


http://bit.ly/2o9S0yG"

Snake lives up to its name. It takes a good bit of time per mile. We entered there once and wound up basing on Bald Eagle. After two full day trips traveling to Gabbro to fish, we finally found the walleye on the third day... right in front of our BE site...

Another EP to consider is Sawbill. I know you have a plan but it always pays to know about more options. Sawbill to Cherokee is a great trip and it is a beautiful area. You could always take the loop straight north to Cherokee then come back through North and South Temperance, jack lake and the fire chain. Great area with not too many people.

The nice thing about Sawbill is that most people tend to head to Alton instead of going in deeper. Once you get past the first hour of travel, you don't tend to see as many people.

Lake One to Insula will get you on great fishing. Not as crowded as it used to be since permits now limited to 7 a day. Most of the crowd is left behind after the first portage which has little traffic early morning. Insula is a good walleye, smallmouth, and pike lake. Insula is a large lake with islands so people are spread out. Alice is a nice day trip with great fishing. Canoe Country Outfitters is who I've used last 15 years.

I am sort of in the same situation currently anthonylane. I still plan on using Rockwood this year but am looking at some different routes. Cherokee is a beautiful lake and I would like to head back there. All I need is a bunkhouse and a canoe. Rockwood will deliver the canoe to several EP's in the area.

One option is EP #50, Cross Bay Lake to Long Island for a night, then Frost or Cherokee for a couple nights then a couple of nights on the other lake (Frost or Cherokee) then head back to the original EP.

Another option is to put in at #50 Cross Bay Lake and head back to Poplar via many of the lakes that you mentioned.

And yet another option is to go on the north side of the GFT and explore Duncan, Rose, and possibly even the Border Route Trail (some scenic hiking).

A couple of other options for you would be EP #37 Kawisihiwi Lake and follow the Lady Lake chain to EP #38. Or begin and end at EP #38 and head up to Cherokee and back down through the Temperance lakes and Weird, Jack, Kelly,Burnt and Smoke.

So many choices.