It's been 30 years since I've been to the BWCA and it's time to go back. I'm tired of waiting and decided I'll go solo rather than wait another year. The legs are not as strong as they used to be, but I still have six months or so to train. I don't want to go too early because if I dump, I don't want to go into ice melt, so July - September is my time frame.

I have plenty of vacation time so if things go well, possibly two trips. I'd like to avoid any billy goat portages and fishing is my #1 focus.

These are my thoughts: Saganaga - Ottertail - Knife - SAK and out through Ogish to Alpine - Seagull. I've also been thinking the Lady Chain, either as a loop or out and back from Sawbill.

What is nagging me is what would be a good choice for the Ely area? If I am able to do two trips, I'd like to have the option of seeing a different part of the BWCA.

Thoughts from you more experienced folks? I'm thinking of 5-6 days just because of the 12-14 hour drive from home.

A thirty year gap...good for you getting back to the BWCA!

As for a trip out of Ely, I recommend a loop from Moose to Ensign, Thomas, Insula, and out through Lake One. The longest portage is 160 rods and a pretty straight-forward one at that: Kiana to Insula which is a wide, straight trail with modest elevation. Plenty of really cool places to see along that route as well but you'll have to balance tripping with fishing. You could shorten this route if you simply want to fish most of the time and many of those lakes have great fishing opportunities.

If that option is too long, you could look at the Kawishiwi Triangle from any number of entry points although this wouldn't be the route I rank as the best fishing, but that could be mostly on me. :)

EP 14 LISN is also an option and you can plan routes that avoid the worst portages for the most part and there are some great vistas and good fishing options.

You'll get some great ideas on other routes. Enjoy the planning!

Thanks for the ideas -- I'll add them to my map reading/planning list.

YetiJedi: "A thirty year gap...good for you getting back to the BWCA!


As for a trip out of Ely, I recommend a loop from Moose to Ensign, Thomas, Insula, and out through Lake One. The longest portage is 160 rods and a pretty straight-forward one at that: Kiana to Insula which is a wide, straight trail with modest elevation. Plenty of really cool places to see along that route as well but you'll have to balance tripping with fishing. You could shorten this route if you simply want to fish most of the time and many of those lakes have great fishing opportunities.


If that option is too long, you could look at the Kawishiwi Triangle from any number of entry points although this wouldn't be the route I rank as the best fishing, but that could be mostly on me. :)


EP 14 LISN is also an option and you can plan routes that avoid the worst portages for the most part and there are some great vistas and good fishing options.


You'll get some great ideas on other routes. Enjoy the planning!"

How long would you plan for the Moose to Lake One route?

preacherdave: "

How long would you plan for the Moose to Lake One route?"

That route took me about two dozen hours of tripping time over a week and I traveled a little over 40 miles total...but I think I go slower than most and I took a tow to Splash. If I figure 5-6 hours of tripping per day for faster paddlers, it would be four days of paddling with a couple of extra days to meet Buckeye's trip parameters.

I did a six night solo trip in the Kawishiwi Triangle a few years ago and loved it. I was 62. For the most part it is smaller water. I tend to like that anyway, but that was my first solo trip and I was concerned about being on big water in rough weather. I put in at Farm Lake and decided to take out at Lake One with a shuttle from Piragis who rented me the solo boat. I spent two nights at each campsite and did day trips on the days I wasn't changing sites. Happy to share more details if that appeals to you.

I will cop to "geezer-ish". BWCA has been on my bucket list since I was a kid and Skylab was a thing. I am soloing in July. Not the best time but I am a teacher, so that is my slot, and I teach a June summer school class that pays for my vacation each year. I am looking at Cherokee-Sawbill-Gillis, Oyster-LaCroix or Iron Lake Loop. Kawashiwi Triangle sounds nice too, my boat is on the heavy side.

jayshef: "I did a six night solo trip in the Kawishiwi Triangle a few years ago and loved it. I was 62. For the most part it is smaller water. I tend to like that anyway, but that was my first solo trip and I was concerned about being on big water in rough weather. I put in at Farm Lake and decided to take out at Lake One with a shuttle from Piragis who rented me the solo boat. I spent two nights at each campsite and did day trips on the days I wasn't changing sites. Happy to share more details if that appeals to you. "

Thanks for the idea. Piragis sells their boats at year end so that could be a good "canoe trial" as well. I'd love to hear details of how your trip went.