Good Morning everyone, My Dad and I are going on our 3rd BWCA Trip this summer in July. We are set to enter at entry point 14 at the Little Indian Sioux River. This is our first year bringing 2 other people (We now have a group of 4 including us) and the 2 others joining us have never been canoeing before nor to the BWCA. Anyways, does anyone have any routes we can take that enters at 14. We are looking for little portaging and 40- 50 miles of paddling. Thanks

http://voyageurmaps.com/map1zoom.html
What does little portaging mean to you?

You could start at Little Indian Sioux - head north up to Snow Bay, east across the big water and then south past Irving Island and exit through Moose river North.

If you are not up for the "big water" of Lac La Croix, travel east across through the smaller lakes (Beartrack, Thumb, Finger.....)- but that is a lot more portaging.

That is a great area - I would encourage you to look at starting at Moose River North (#16)and looping up north through Nina and Agnes to LLC and then east Bottle and Iron and finishing south out Mudro or even Fall Lake.

Thanks Grandma L and ArmarilloJim. I will be looking further into the info you provided!

The maps link bwca maps on the left margin will give you information about the area including details about some of the portages and campsites. Trip reports will give information from other trippers. Both are helpful planning tips I recommend.

The area does offer the big water route with minimal portaging and some internal smaller lakes you can travel through or day trip into with lighter loads for the portages. Rivers are also abundant; they flow north but have minimal current.

You note that two of the party have no prior canoeing experience. Consider that in route planning. The wind can come up and create some waves especially on the larger lakes. Some smaller portages can give a nice break to muscles not accustomed to extended paddling. If possible get them in a canoe prior to the trip. Some people find canoeing a great fit, others not so much so and the BWCA may not be a good place to learn that.

Just a thought, but I would make first time canoe people portage more and paddle less, and especially not a big water.

quote cowdoc: "Just a thought, but I would make first time canoe people portage more and paddle less, and especially not a big water."

x2. Little to no paddling experience and big waters don't mix well on certain days. Of course you could get some glass calm days and be fine too.

The current route I am thinking about going on is called the P-Loop. However, instead of going through hustler and shell lakes on the way back to entry 14, we would go south into Agnes and exit at entry point 16. Do you think this route is too vigorous for 6 days, 5 nights and with new canoeers? Should our group avoid the bigger and motorized Loon Lake, because once weed pass that lake and head on north then east into beartrack, those lakes are smaller, therefore easier for new paddlers. I just want to make sure that the two new people we are going with ( one is in his 40s other 20s) get the BWCA into their blood like my Dad and I.

I did that route last year, but went from ep16 to ep 14. I think it would be easier for new paddlers going that direction. It is a good mix of big and small lakes. I agree they should get some canoe time in before taking the trip.

I did EP 14 to EP 16 last year in 5 days, going through Hustle/Shell/Oyster as a solo. I'm not especially young, not fast, and I did almost every portage as a double portage.

Probably could have done the route through Loon and the sticking to the lakes that are a bit further north in same time. (More water time, much less portaging).

LISN, Pauness, Shell, Lynx, Hustler, Oyster, Rocky, Green, Ge-BE-, Pocket, Finger, Beartrack, Eugene, Steep, North, Slim, Little Loon, Pauness, LIS. Inside loop away from motor traffic, smaller lakes, scenic portages, great fishing, either direction is good.

butthead

Hey Sueb25..I am planning my first trip for maybe August and going in at EP 14 was the way I was thinking from looking at maps and reading. I was looking at basicly doing what you did.maybe checking out a couple of the smaller lakes nearby on a 5 to 7 day trip.
Bowdier