BWCA Canoeing Options along North Shore of Superior? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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smokechaser
member (24)member
  
07/04/2018 06:16PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hey all -

Planning a trip to the BWCA for 2020, but until then, I'm only able to get the extended family to agree to a North Shore road trip from Duluth to Grand Portage for summer of 2019. They said something about the young kids not being up for a canoe trip... (I did my first BWCA trip at 2 so it's really just the parents who aren't up for it but whatever, I recognize it's not for everyone). As they say, going somewhere with someone who doesn't want to be there is worse than not going at all.

Anyway, would love to find a few spots to drop the canoe in a small inland lake while we're road tripping up the shore, and would love some recommendations. I'm thinking lakes and campgrounds that are no more than 10ish minutes off the shoreline, if possible. Interested in some fishing (northern pike, walleye, smallmouth, etc.), beautiful scenery, and for me to feel like I at least honor the wilderness by dipping a paddle in the water while I'm up there. Being from Michigan, I don't get out there often.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and wisdom!
 
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billconner
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07/04/2018 07:05PM  
You might try installing the free Go Paddling app. Lots of suggestions. I have on Android.
old_salt
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07/04/2018 07:59PM  
There aren’t many lakes only 10ish minutes from North Shore. You might need to expand your range. Cook County has some great options up the Sawbill, Caribou, and Gunflint Trails.
tonyyarusso
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07/05/2018 10:57AM  
Most things are going to be more then 10 minutes off 61, as anything that close to the Lake is going to be an uncanoeable waterfall typically. That said, options at least in the general vicinity include:

Cloquet River (state water trail)
Tettegouche Camp (inland lakes in state park)
There are a few lakes close to the shore in the Lutsen to Grand Marais area.
07/05/2018 12:42PM  
And don't rule out the big lake on your right. There are some safe harbor put ins that can get you access to the big lake. You have probably paddled big water before, but the swell is something small lakes seldom offer and on a nice day the big lake is a fun paddle. I recall a pleasant paddle in the vicinity of some of the ore ships and feeling very small.
WHendrix
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07/05/2018 02:19PM  
I haven't done this, but Sam Cook has a chapter titled "Nothing Doing" in his book Quiet Magic about paddling on Norther Light Lake which is about 13 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais. It sounds real interesting.

Bill
ozarkpaddler
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07/06/2018 06:48PM  
WHendrix: "I haven't done this, but Sam Cook has a chapter titled "Nothing Doing" in his book Quiet Magic about paddling on Norther Light Lake which is about 13 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais. It sounds real interesting.
Bill"


Yeah, if you could expand that to about 25 miles I have lots of ideas up the GF.
rockinrod
member (19)member
  
07/06/2018 07:11PM  
Not sure if your group is camping or what, but I know I have suggested resorts with cabins and campgrounds up the sawbill trail out of Tofte and up the gunflint trail out of Grand Marais. That way it keeps the whole group happy (if that's possible :-)
I think the resort owners can issue a "day use" permit free of charge as opposed to a full "overnight paddle" permit.
You then could take a canoe, some lunch and a fishing rod for a jaunt while the rest can do their thing. There is almost no way to rush out and experience both, but this seems to work for some. It will be fun for all of you just to be up in that place at any rate.
Northwoodsman
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07/07/2018 10:12PM  
Outside of the BWCA you don't need a permit. Every entry point has a box at it with a permit that you issue to yourself. I would stop at a ranger station and get a couple of self-issuing permits however because your EP may not have any stocked. Regardless if they are out of stock or not, you are responsible to complete one.

I would stick to an inland lake as you won't likely be prepared for the big lake. The water is extremely cold year around. You would be hard pressed to find someone swimming in it. You wouldn't want to dump in it that's for sure. Wherever you go, please wear a PFD at all times on the water.
 
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