Moving from California to Minnesota, I wasn't planning on discovering that my favorite National Park was the BWCA (I thought all the good parks had mountains :-) ) I consider myself so lucky to have it at my finger tips, my three younger brothers fly in every year from Indiana, California, and South Carolina to join me for our yearly brother-only trip.

Ok enough of the touchy feely stuff :)... I am fortunate that my brothers are strong guys with lots of canoe experience, which allows us to do single pass portages and travel long distances per day in a canoe. It isn't uncommon for us to do a couple 20+ mile trips during our 4-5 days adventures ... This leads me into the point of my forum post... We have covered quite a bit of the BWCA and are looking to discover the Quetico. We plan on a 4-5 day out and back trip. Like most people, we would like remoteness, good fishing, cliff jumping, but most importantly we enjoy being outside listening to the loons while reflecting upon the incredible hand life has dealt us...

Can anyone suggest an aggressive and rewarding route that fits our needs? I plan on a late August adventure hoping that there is some residual warmth in the water for swimming but late enough in the year that most bugs are gone. Any suggestions are appreciated and a good canoeing joke would suffice if you don't know any good Quetico routes :). Also, my email address is kpdoyle99@hotmail.com if you would rather not share your route with the masses, for payment I promise to take pictures of any and all spots that mean some special to you.

Thanks!!!

Forgot to mention, we plan to enter the Quetico through the BWCA, and are open to an ely or gun flint based entry.

You couldn't go wrong with a trip out of PP through Isabella, Kahsapiwi, Grant, Agnes, and back through Meadows,and Sunday. Aggressive four days but good route.

Bill, that looks like a great route.... Have you done it before?

One just like that and also variations. I usually shoot for Isabella first night - a favorite site at the narrows - but if you tow to PP you could make Kahs based on your comments. Isabella or Kahs; Kahs or Trant; one of the S Chain lakes or Agnes; and then, since I like to come out around noon - Sunday or Burke. If you are ahead of schedule, poke around Agnes or stop at Louisa Falls. Tired of portaging take the S-Chain back through North Bay. I think it's a good intro to the Q from PP. If you had another day or two, I'd suggest Man Chain to Falls Chain to McEwen Chain and out through Agnes-Meadows-Sunday - but that seemed too much for four nights unless you really want that kind of challenge. If I were doing 4 nights, I'd do Man Chain and back along border - but then I'm more a 12 mile a day guy and like to layover - though maybe not on a 4 nighter. The other route would be through Isabella and into Sarah and then any number of great routs down to the Border and last day a longish paddle on Basswood back to PP. And these are all loops out of Ely and Moose Lake, though some could be from end of Gunflint Trail I suppose.

See what is available for entry points and just go and figure out rest of route after you hit the entry point. You'll know if you want to push or take it easy.

Don't forget the border crossing paperwork. Each person will need a RABC to cross into Canada and a passport f (or a passport card or enhanced drivers license) for return to the US.

The Kahsh, Trant, Agnes route is good in either direction. Other possible slightly more remote routes. Isabella, Sarah, Irene Kahsh, McNeice, Shade.

Isabella, Sarah, McIntyre, Paulene, Burt, Marj, Kahsh and out.

Sarah, McIntyre, Robinson, Kett and out.

You will find that the Q portages fairly rugged compared to most of those the b-dub.

Banks, thanks for the tips, I will be sure to have all my ducks in a row.

Bill, you are doing too good of a job convincing me to go this route, now I am not sure I can make it to August :)