For those with experience, what are the busiest perimeter lakes not including border lakes? I'm basically wondering if the busiest lakes are in the north or south.

Dore' was real busy last year as was the route south down to Sturgeon. I saw a lot of canoes in the area.

I don't know if it was just bad timing or what because sometimes I don't see anyone in spots I'd expect to see a lot of people.

You have to get off the freeway and on the the gravel roads to get away from all of that. Speaking of water, not earth.

Pickerel and Dore were busy last year when we were coming back through exiting. Saw several groups heading towards Sturgeon as we moved through. Pickerel was busy with lots of the highest rated campsites filled. Only night out of 13 nights we didn’t get the campsite we’d planned to go for at the beginning of the day. That being said though we did talk to some groups. Apparently that weekend was a 3 day Canadian holiday weekend for some reason. The Canadians said it was extra busy due to that. When we paddled in 13 days prior we only saw 2 other groups. One in a campsite and 1 portaging the opposite direction from Dore to Twin Lakes.

I guess I’d assume the Southern lakes are busier with all the Americans now entering again from the south. I’m guessing though!

Ryan

Personally I find it much easier to escape people from PP than from the northern entry points. Last year I took three trips from PP, a total of 14 nights, I shared a lake on one night.

Banksiana: "Personally I find it much easier to escape people from PP than from the northern entry points. Last year I took three trips from PP, a total of 14 nights, I shared a lake on one night. "

We also only saw one other group past PP last August, and many more up north (including this board's tumblehome).

However I wonder if pre-covid it was more evenly busy between N & S, and if we'll eventually return to that 'normal'. Interesting question...I plan on at least two southern entries this season.

Remember though that they just started to do the RABCs again so anyone going in from the South had to scramble to get the RABC done. Then go on a trip spur of the moment or a quick change from BWCA planned trip. Last year the southern part was definitely I’d say an anomaly due to the unknowns and late start on the RABC.

It was awesome though from a selfish perspective we went 6 days without seeing another paddling group in Quetico while we were in the southern part prior to Prairie Portage opening up for business again. We did see them flying food in for the rangers and getting ready.

Quetico will always be less busy than BWCA since fewer permits are allowed though so perimeter lake busyness will be less than BWCA perimeter lake busyness.

I’m tripping in Wabakimi this year which usually has less than a 1,000 paddlers in a season so that should be interesting. They have outpost fly in fishing camps though so we’ll have the offset of being on lakes with small boats and motors at times. From what I’ve heard it’s not really an issue though.

Ryan

I agree that last year was an anomaly to some extent. In the pre-COVID years I managed about 4-6 Q trips a season, usually 7-8 nights at a shot. Rarely shared a lake when camping and generally managed 5/6 days (usually in a row) without seeing folks. I do tend to push the first day or two to get past the entry lakes and stick to routes that require some work to get from lake to lake.

Banksiana: "I agree that last year was an anomaly to some extent. In the pre-COVID years I managed about 4-6 Q trips a season, usually 7-8 nights at a shot. Rarely shared a lake when camping and generally managed 5/6 days (usually in a row) without seeing folks. I do tend to push the first day or two to get past the entry lakes and stick to routes that require some work to get from lake to lake."

And that is the key, people don't want to work hard. If you are willing to work hard you can avoid most folks. I would agree that going hard for a day and then staying off the popular routes you can leave folks behind pretty easy from the south, but I don't find it too much different from the north.

mgraber: "

Banksiana: "I agree that last year was an anomaly to some extent. In the pre-COVID years I managed about 4-6 Q trips a season, usually 7-8 nights at a shot. Rarely shared a lake when camping and generally managed 5/6 days (usually in a row) without seeing folks. I do tend to push the first day or two to get past the entry lakes and stick to routes that require some work to get from lake to lake."

And that is the key, people don't want to work hard. If you are willing to work hard you can avoid most folks. I would agree that going hard for a day and then staying off the popular routes you can leave folks behind pretty easy from the south, but I don't find it too much different from the north."

I guess the answer to my question is somewhat ambiguous. I was really looking to see if there was an obvious answer which, so far, there doesn't appear to be. I had thought the border entries would be busier but that's probably because there's so few Canadians on this forum.

mgraber: "

Banksiana: "I agree that last year was an anomaly to some extent. In the pre-COVID years I managed about 4-6 Q trips a season, usually 7-8 nights at a shot. Rarely shared a lake when camping and generally managed 5/6 days (usually in a row) without seeing folks. I do tend to push the first day or two to get past the entry lakes and stick to routes that require some work to get from lake to lake."

And that is the key, people don't want to work hard. If you are willing to work hard you can avoid most folks. I would agree that going hard for a day and then staying off the popular routes you can leave folks behind pretty easy from the south, but I don't find it too much different from the north."

I excluded the border lakes because I didn't want the answer skewed by BWCAW paddlers who are not crossing the border.

I think the answer to my question is ambiguous. I was looking to see if there was a demonstrable difference between the north and south. Based on the responses I would say there doesn't appear to be.