I'm considering some alternatives to a BWCA trip this year.

Any thoughts on trying to start a trip at Lake of the Woods, to Rainy Lake, to enter BWCA at EP 12 Crane Lake, along the border from LLC to Basswood Falls, to ending at EP 24 Fall Lake or EP 25 Moose Lake?

Logistics of traveling to/from Ely and Lake of the Woods, plus somehow picking up a BWCA permit come to mind as potential fatal flaws.

Target budget maximum $2k combined for two people, not counting cost to travel to/from my home and Ely. I have all the gear and canoe, but if it makes sense to be partially outfitted that's fine. More than $2k is doable. Available time is up to 25 trip days assuming it takes 1 additional day to get from Ely to Lake of the Woods.

The USFS will allow an early permit pick-up for these circumstances. I inquired about this for a planned trip starting on Rainy which I never did. The trouble comes with planning the date for your permit. You are traveling some big water and weather will mess with your schedule a lot. Also Voyageur National Park campsites have to be reserved so timing on that is difficult. I was planning pretty short paddles between campsites in VNP. I figure on most windy days there will a few hours, morning and/or evening, that I can get on the water. So, I planned 10-12 miles between campsites.

Then there is the portage around the dam on the Rainy. The dam is in the middle of a paper mill and fenced. There is a long ways around, 9th Avenue and 2nd Street offer a decent route. Might want to consider UBER if you can find one with a van or truck with racks.

I think it is a worthwhile adventure. Even better if you go all the way to Grand Portage!

You might consider reversing the trip. Starting in the Ely area makes permit timing easy and also planning for campsites in VNP.

Also you will be going downstream on Rainy River. It’s not a particular ly steep river, but with the current is always nice!