Last minute trip, leaving a week from today for 6 nights out of EP25. I'm very experienced, my partner is experienced in the outdoors but not in a canoe and our third wheel is her 20lb dog who is comfortable on the water but has never been on a trip like this.

Yeah, we're a pretty motley crew...

So I was thinking of a loop that gives me the option to cut short for human, canine or weather reasons. Looks like it may be a little damp next week.

Maybe tow up to Birch, work our way over to Knife, loop up through Ottertrack, over monument portage, work down through to the south arm of knife, head out through Ensign or lollipop style back to Birch and down Moose.

Any thoughts about the route or other route suggestions? Thanks!

Steve

I've done a lot in this area past few years and this seems reasonable. I stopped taking tow up Moose a few years ago and enjoy the tow. (And from Chicago as I am, possible to enter Moose later in day after driving and camp on Sucker or Birch after two hour paddle.) From Ottertrack, consider Kek, Fraser, Thomas, and Ima - all nice lakes with some great sites. You can get back to Moose EP with longish but easy portage from Snowbank if you'd like to backtrack less. And there are opportunities to cut off the northeast lobe.

Thanks Bill, being able to cut the NE corner short is exactly what I was thinking - thanks for your thoughts. I'll check out coming back through Snowbank - I did the reverse from Snowbank looping up and back to end at Moose almost 20 years ago and remember that being a nice trip.

Since this is a first trip for 2/3 of my group I want to make it a good camp experience - high, dry, good view, northernly view to see the lights if possible, decent water access, etc. I have my favorite island site with sandy beach on South Knife that I'm targeting.

Anyone have any advice on campsites on the upper NE part of this loop? Up on Ottertrack or working my way back to Knife? I have read through trip reports and checked out the trip planner section of the site but I can't find a few good 5* campsites to target.

Thanks all.

Steve

You might consider a cut-across through Amoeber, Topaz and Cherry - they are beautiful!
And FYI here is a site that predicts the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights Predictions

Thanks Grandma, I was looking for that site! I'll check out the route through those lakes, I can't recall being there before.

Steve

Hi ChicagoMoose, I was on that same route a little over a month ago with my two Grandsons. We took a tow to Birch and paddled out on Knife past Dorothy's to Thunder Point. It's a view well worth making the climb. Then we went east on the North Arm to a very nice campsite popularized by Couch Skinner on YouTube on his 11th solo night out of a 19 day trip. We weathered the fatal July 21 storm there and dried out until the 22nd. On to Kekekabic, Thomas, and Jordan before leaving the BWCA on the 26th. There are many longer or shorter options depending on how many layover camps you want to have. Overall a fantastic route with, surprisingly very little crowding.

Thanks lskidder, I haven't seen his videos they were entertaining to say the least! It's been years since I've been up on Thunder Point, you made me want to dig through old photos in my parents basement from the days before DSLRs...maybe I'll dig them up and post an album someday.

Definitely planning on getting north of the point on Day 1, I'll check out this site. Thanks again.

Steve

Chicago Moose, The site on the north side of the Thunder Point island/peninsula is a 17 mile paddle from the Moose Lake landing. You best get a very early start and hope for a good tail wind - or get a tow from La Tourell's to get you up to Indian Portage at the non-motor line if you are wanting to make it that far the first day.

Thanks Grandma L, we're in good shape but I know it will still be a haul :)

If the weather looks iffy, we'll grab a tow from Williams & Hall where we are spending the night.

Have a great trip - I must admit I am jealous - that is one of my favorite fall routes!

Thanks! We had the dog out on his first canoe trip today and he did well, less than a week away so I'm getting excited. We'll make sure to share some pics when we get back for all those that have given some great advice.

Steve

Make a trip report. Heading up there in a month. Ask to see the dice cup I made at Williams and Hall this Spring. We are getting a tow also this year!

DiceCupMaker - will do, looking forward to being up there, been going to Williams & Hall since they were Tom & Woods - they are good people.

Steve

Just want to thank everyone for their thoughts on our trip, back in Chicago after a great trip. I'll work on writing up a trip report after we get our photos and videos together.

Steve

Nice to hear you had a good trip - we will be watching for the trip report.

Thanks for the feedback and also looking forward to your trip report. So much information we can all learn from other's experiences.