As we are in "planning mode" for upcoming trips my question is this:
Do you and your crew prefer taking a new route or do you like to head back to a familiar route?

For the first 20 years our crew (kids and siblings) attempted a new route every time. We wanted to see as much new country in the BWCAW as possible. We put in at different entry points and covered as much water and ground as possible. Everything from the Echo Trail to the Gunflint and many points in between. We loved the new adventures and the challenge of finding new fishing spots and campsites.

When the grandkids started tripping we stayed with this approach the first few years but lately we have been returning to the same route and everyone loves it. We have new adventures because each year is different (ex. - high water changed everything last year) but the familiarity of campsites and fishing spots is something that our crew really enjoys. As we're setting up camp many remarks about past years comes up: I wonder if the ruffed grouse that had a nest on the edge of camp will be there again; the tarp set up really worked well last year so let's put it in the same spot; hopefully that "hotspot" from camp for smallies will be producing again to just name a few.

So do you enjoy taking a familiar route or do you like a new route for your trips and the reasons why.

We do variations on a theme and so probably more in the same route camp. As you noted, this provides variation because things change over time. I call that exploring the 4th dimension. And you would never see that if you are always on a new route.

I live 1200 miles away and only get out every couple of years, but so far we have stuck to familiar routes. I plan on changing it up next year but I also feel like each area has so much to be explored. There's always that lake no one has any info on or even a spot you want to visit every time you go.
This year is my 3rd time at EP14 and we are planning to do 50 miles in 7 days. But next year im looking to do a few day trips and maybe 1 overnight. I too want to see as much of the BWCA as possible, but portaging with a 7 year old may be tricky. I think doing day trips down up a couple of entry points could narrow down where I want to explore next. Looking at Stuart, kawishiwi, and maybe little souix south.

My paddling group still has the mindset of taking a new route every trip we take. While not opposed to the comforting feeling of having lake and campsite details to draw from we feel there is more canoe country to see than we will probably get to in our paddling careers. With vacation time being hard to come by and so much beautiful country to explore I suspect this trend will continue. Trip planning using this website during the winter months also adds to the excitement of exploring new routes.

Our group is fishermen. We go to the same areas, same routes each year. The canoes are just a means of travel to get there and get us out fishing.

bobbernumber3: "Our group is fishermen. We go to the same areas, same routes each year. The canoes are just a means of travel to get there and get us out fishing."

same with us. We return to one of the same 3 lakes every year. We know the sites and which we prefer. We know the fishing areas, and know how the wind effect the lake.

Also, since we go in September, these are areas we rarely see any other paddlers.

After drivingn 16 hours to get there. . . we have no desire to "stack up the miles" paddling canoes.

I've always been more the explore/travel type (non-fisherman) so have done many different EP's, but have repeated some with different itineraries. Some have been partially the same route, but also new country.

Depends on the trip. On solo trips-and this makes up the majority of mine in the past 10 years-then I usually prefer new routes-especially when Quetico is in the mix. But, if I only have a few days and it is early in the season, then I prefer to go where I know I can find fish.

If bringing in newbies-and it has been a long time since this has happened-then I prefer familiar routes.

Sadly, the guys I used to go with on a regular basis are no longer able to paddle for various reasons.

When traveling with my wife and/or daughter, I let them decide/help on route planning as they have both been on numerous trips with me.

Frenchy19: "Depends on the trip. "

Right. A trip to a new lake would be a New Route and a trip to a same lake would be a Familiar Route.

We have been doing a combination. Lots of new EPs...sometimes to see totally new areas, sometimes to visit favorite areas from a new direction. There are certain areas I am drawn back to, but since we change campsites most everyday, I like seeing something new every trip.

Cool topic! I like reading the responses...

This year I have one trip to a completely new entry point (Baker), two entry points (Saganaga and Kawishiwi) with routes that will take me through familiar areas as well as significant portions visiting new lakes, and two entry points I am very familiar with (Wood and LISN).

I like covering new ground as much as possible, but some areas have pulled me back due to convenience and familiarity. I always try to see something new though, whether it's approaching a familiar area from a new entry, or using a familiar entry to visit a new area, if not an entirely new entry and route altogether.

I'm lucky to still have plenty of new water to explore, so this year on both trips, I'm exploring completely new water; there will be a few lakes of overlap, but not much. I'm very much looking forward to both trips. But even then, I still really look forward to eventually doing another Crooked base camp, or finally tackling the Gijikiki-Cherry chain, or going back to camp on Boulder instead of paddling through... there are so many great spots you have to pass up, and I can't wait to check them all out.

I mix it up....Visit old haunts and always try to check out something new.

I've only done 10 trips so there is a lot that I haven't seen yet. I prefer new routes. We have revisited areas before and that is perfectly fine. You can use your previous experience to find the fish faster and have more time to relax or day trip.

New areas excite me though. I always like to try new things. If I have to travel for work, it is much more enjoyable if I have never been there before. So new routes in the BWCA is my preference.

I can only recall one time I retraced previous steps/strokes, and it was to go back to finish a trip that had been shortened suddenly to 48 hours.

My group and I do new routes every year, although there has been some minor route overlap. In particular, we have used the Round/Missing Link EPs three different times because it seems to be easy to get permits there, but took drastically different trips each time. I'm certainly not opposed to revisiting areas but we still have new places we want to check out. There are definitely some favorites that the group wants to go back to some day.

It all depends on the trip. Until recently, I have gone with a new route or entry each time in order to see new areas. Now that my kids are old enough, I am starting them off on routes I have been through before so that I have a general idea of what to expect. It makes it easier for everyone involved to have a good time if some unknowns are taken out.

bfurlow: "It makes it easier for everyone involved to have a good time if some unknowns are taken out."

You would think I would learn that lesson after encountering the unforeseen challenge of Eskwagama into the Kawishiwi River a couple of years ago. But I keep planning trips in new territory because I am always curious about the unpaddled waters.

Call it a hybrid. Most often, part of a route will be familiar, but never all of it. Occasionally all will be unfamiliar.

Usually a mix of experienced and new. Explore another 'named' portage to see what it's like. Visit a new lake because someone posted a note about a nice campsite or pictograph on it. Last year's Quetico trip was all new because we went in from a new (to us) corner of the park.

TZ

I’m in the new routes camp. I like exploring and seeing new things.

In approximately 30 trips there are only 4 entry points that I’ve used more than once. As I start taking my 4 year year old on father/son trips I imagine I will start repeating some of my previous trips. Especially since I prefer small lakes when solo or a kid in the bow and that’s what most of my previous trips have been.

All of the above.

TuscaroraBorealis: "All of the above."

Gotta say it, TB...are there any new routes left for you?!? :)