In late September, my wife's cousin was showing me some old pictures from his childhood fishing trips to MN with his dad. One thing led to another and it went from "we should get a couple of the other guys and go to the boundary waters on a fishing trip" to a call last week that ended up with "the ladies think they might want to go".

If the ladies are in, it will also involve some time spent along the north shore. I'm assuming we'd do something like 3 nights in the BWCA and 3 nights somewhere on the north shore. I'll let the ladies figure out the north shore part, but I need to figure out a fairly straight forward 3 night trip without a lot of long, hard portages. I'd be looking for a basecamp with some day trip exploring. If we (the boys) could fish a little in the morning and evening, so much the better. I'm assuming it would be late august/early sept. Any suggestions on an eastern EP and basecamp destination?

Have any of the ladies done a canoe trip before?

I understand that everyone is different, but some ideas to consider after 4-days and 3-nights out in the wilderness might be a post-trip massage and nice dinner somewhere, along with comfy lodging and a little time to shop in whichever town presents itself. All depends on everyone's personal preferences and if time and the budget allows for it.

I took my wife on her first Boundary Waters trip a few years ago and went through Ely. All of the above was worked into our itinerary and there were smiles all around.

One to take a look at, hooky, would be East Bearskin, EP #64, into Alder. You can go as far as Crystal with very short, easy portages. You can day trip to Johnson Falls if that pushes a button for the ladies.

Jackfish, neither of the ladies have canoe tripped before. My wife loves to car camp and occasionally do an overnight backpack trip. She'd be the more experienced of the two, by far. You're reading my (their?) mind on the massage/shopping/dinner aspect of it. A little "reward" for the hard part of it. :-)

Thanks, boonie. I'll look into #64.

quote boonie: "One to take a look at, hooky, would be East Bearskin, EP #64, into Alder. You can go as far as Crystal with very short, easy portages. You can day trip to Johnson Falls if that pushes a button for the ladies. "

+1

I think that trip will be just what your looking for. If you haven't done so already? Check out our Trip report to that area from a few years back. Don't let the poor fishing we had on that trip discourage you, as I've had good fishing on other trips to that area.

EP 50 - Cross Bay to Long Island Lake is a good first-timers trip, you can get to Long Island in 1/2 a day, If you can score site 567 on Long Island you'll have a nice spacious island site, plenty of tent sites for a larger group. Day trips to Frost Lake and Cherokee are nice trips. Portages to Long Island are short, no big elevation changes, although there are 6 of them. Can't speak to the fishing, don't fish much, although I have occasionally outsmarted a fish or two.

hooky
Here is a trip idea with minimal (1) portaging, seclusion and great fishing possibilities. Enter at East Bearskin as mentioned above. Paddle about 35 minutes to the portage south to Crocodile Lake. There are 4 campsites and most of them are not exactly 5 star but shoot for the second one on the south shore, that is a good one. The 3rd site is the worst, nothing wrong with the 4th site at the Eastern end and the first site has its good points.

Because it is a dead end route it is often not real busy and offers good wildlife sighting possibilities and relative solitude. The only real daytrip opportunity would be to go all the way to the east end and explore the winding Crocodile River, pretty cool. If you are up to hopping over one beaver dam you can get to a portage up to a secluded lake which is a great spot for lunch.

Now here's the kicker, Crocodile Lake has the reputation as one of the easiest spots in the world, maybe the universe, to catch walleyes. I have been there twice and can attest to the fishing. You will very possibly catch lots of eyes in the 12-15 inch range with an occasional bigger one thrown in. It also has jumbo perch and a few northern pike.

The one portage is a medium length portage with a fairly steep climb so it is enough of a challenge to understand the whole BWCA thing. But the path is good and when you're done, you are at your destination lake! Best thing, you can be in your campsite within a couple hours of leaving the car.

Quirk of the BWCA rules is that you cannot get a permit for East Bearskin(even though you enter there) but must get a permit for the Crocodile River and must stay all nights on Crocodile Lake. For a short trip like you are planning I think it would work well for you.

Alder out of East Bearskin, as mentioned above, would also be an easy and good trip but somewhat busier. Alder is also a bigger lake and wind can be an issue. Nonetheless a good option. I think you would like Crocodile better.

Trip report if you are interested:

Our first Crocodile Lake trip

The guys have offered good route suggestions. I think you should also work on "comfort" equipment like chairs, sleeping pads, sun shower and the like. An outfitter can help you out with most things.

Thanks for the input so far and the trip reports. It's very helpful and much appreciated.

lindy, thanks for the crocodile suggestion and details. Now the blurb on the Bearskin outfitters site makes sense. I couldn't figure out what they meant by saying the shuttle to EP 66 was free if it was accessed by E. Bearskin.

Grandma, way ahead of you. We talked about the need to make it a comfort trip for the ladies. At this point, I have everything covered except the solar shower. That'll be an REI dividend purchase, most likely. The food will be another thing. I'll probably rent an insulated food pack from the outfitter and have "real food" the whole time instead of my usual dehydrated stuff after the first night steak.

EP 47 - Lizz Lake to Caribou or Horseshoe would be another nice option. The portages are not long or hard. Both lakes have some very nice sites. The lakes in the area are smaller and interesting, with good day trip options. Gaskin is a decent walleye lake. The area is well-traveled, but newcomers might appreciate that. Also, you could spend the night before on Poplar, your entry lake, at, say, Rockwood, do a little shake-down paddle, have a wonderful dinner down the road at Trail Center, and leave from the dock the next morning.

I second Horseshoe. Stay at Rockwood. Eat dinner at Trail Center the night before. Horseshoe is a nice basecamp lake with day trips and moose sightings. I did my second solo on Horseshoe and would go back in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the EP47 suggestion. That looks like a fairly easy set of portages too.

Caribou Lake is pretty and the cruise down Lizz is wonderful. If you are beer drinkers, stop at Voyageur Brewing and get a growler of beer to take into the bwca. Good stuff.
The portages are easy and the lakes are not very big. Gaskin is bigger and well worth checking out. the island site just up from the portage is my favorite site on Gaskin.

East Bearskin is where I'd go and base camp on Canoe Lake (two short and easy portages). Lots of day trip and fishing options including Johnson Falls. The campsite opposite the portage into Canoe from Adler is really nice.

mmmm, beer.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

Going up the Gunflint to EP 64 is a great idea.

If you are looking to only go part way up the north shore, Kawishiwi (37) and Sawbill (38) via Tofte are good low portage options. Sawbill having more daytrip looping options.

At that point, Duluth is an option for the second half of the adventure.

It has been 20 years since I last did a couples trip. I wish I'd had your forethought of keeping the portaging to a miniumum. Three trips was enough for my wife. The shopping and spa was only good enticement for the doing the third and last trip.

One step closer to this trip happening. I'll know for sure by the end of the month.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

You could always just stay at a campground and day trip in. It gives the girls a sense of the boundary waters without diving into it too much. Portaging with everything can be a pain for those not used to it so day tripping with only the canoe and fishing gear lets them take it easy. There's sawbill, poplar, and many other campgrounds to depart from, so you have a good variety to choose from.

Just make sure you know what the girls expect from the experience as well as an accurate expectation of what they can actually handle rather than what they just say will be fine. I've gotten burned with that one too many times and it keeps on getting you too. Its hard to tell girls that they can't handle that much so overestimate the difficulty when you are describing it so they don't overestimate themselves and get burnt out.

We've kind of been kicking that idea around also, A1t20. We've even gone so far as to talk about renting a cabin, whether with an outfitter or a private individual (if such an animal exists). My wife has decided she's all in for portaging and base camping as long as it isn't a death march in and out. It's going to come down to the other lady in our little group of 4. That may be another thread next month. :-)

Sounds like a trip is needed to Romance Lake between SAg and Seagull. No campsites but a date with a shorelunch on Romance Lake?>? Getting to Romance Lake might cause the relationship to sour??

Then you could always do my trip from last year. We came in on Brule and paddled all the way across to the 5 rod portage to South Temperance. Stayed there for 3 nights, spent the first half day fishing, second day was a day trip to North Temperance, 3rd day was fishing and swimming on South Temperance again but a bit lazier, then back out and in the car before noon. It was a really fun trip and we caught plenty of walleye and some bass. If I did it again, I would day trip into Brule to check out the rock pile and maybe head up to wench for some trout fishing. We didn't because of my buddies dad was worn out and his little brother is 9 and likely to try climbing and get himself hurt. You could do many different thing in that area and Cherokee might be close enough to day trip too if you pack light and move quick.

I ended up getting a permit for E Bearskin on the last Sunday of August. Still trying to get someone over the idea of no flush toilets, so it may end up being a couple trip, as in just me and my wife.

quote hooky: "I ended up getting a permit for E Bearskin on the last Sunday of August. Still trying to get someone over the idea of no flush toilets, so it may end up being a couple trip, as in just me and my wife."

I just tell people it's an outhouse . . . without the house to trap bugs and smell and a better view, too. :)

the numbered lakes -(starting at lake one).

the portages are super easy and minimal. Cons - you will see other people...for the same reasons. Get an early start and be semi motivated for the first few hours and you'll beat 90% of them to the better campsites.

Ely is a fun town to start/end the trip. Entirely walk-able and there is kitchy shopping for the ladies and nice bars/restaurants. On day one, get everyone to Briton's for breakfast at 5am (there will be a line out the door by 6am), and get over the lake one EP. Work hard for a couple hours to get a sweet campsite and spend the rest of the time fishing/relaxing.

When you get back to Ely lunch/dinner at the chocolate moose/Ely Steakhouse/Boathouse....lots of other choices as well.

Stay in the Voyager North bunkhouses the night before your trip. Super cheap and 'interesting' accomodations. Your basically lodging with whomever you end up with (most likely you'll have a bedroom with a door, and share a common area/bathroom with strangers). 100% of the people we've encountered in the bunkhouses have been quite, fun and respectfull - they are all having to get up as the same time in the AM as you!

quote boonie: "

quote hooky: "I ended up getting a permit for E Bearskin on the last Sunday of August. Still trying to get someone over the idea of no flush toilets, so it may end up being a couple trip, as in just me and my wife."

I just tell people it's an outhouse . . . without the house to trap bugs and smell and a better view, too. :)"

So much better than an outhouse. Instead of walls for privacy, you have trees, rocks and other nature as well as distance. It may smell a little, but nowhere near as bad as an outhouse.

quote boonie: "

quote hooky: "I ended up getting a permit for E Bearskin on the last Sunday of August. Still trying to get someone over the idea of no flush toilets, so it may end up being a couple trip, as in just me and my wife."

I just tell people it's an outhouse . . . without the house to trap bugs and smell and a better view, too. :)"

Maybe I'll haul a bucket water to it for the flush part too!

Mrs hooky has informed me that we're now booked for the second half of the trip. Thursday through Sunday in Lutsen at the Chateau LeVeaux. Sounds expensive, but she said she's still under budget.

I'm assuming we'll do a day trip in Tofte and/or Grand Marais too. Any place in particular that we shouldn't miss for a good meal or drinks?

I wouldn't depend on the sun for heating a solar shower to make the ladies comfortable. I have a Sea to Summit Pocket Shower and a Nemo Helio Shower. I fill either with water then add a pot or two of hot water. Either one of them is perfect for 1 - 2 showers. You have to hang the S2S Pocket Shower, the Helio has an easy to use foot operated pump. I use a couple of old footprints and some rope to fashion a "shower enclosure" around 3 - 4 trees. An extra tarp would work great for this also. I run the rope between the trees about 6' off the ground and hang the footprints from it. Another footprint or piece of tarp on the ground helps keep your feet clean. I hang my towel and clothes from the rope as well.

As far as after the trip - I recommend Cascade Lodge between Lutsen and Grand Marais. Rent a cabin or two. It's an easy 15 minute drive to Grand Marais.

If you are looking for a cool place to grab a burger or beer I recommend Trestle Inn. It's back a ways on the forest roads from where you will be on the north shore part of your trip but you can't beat the atmosphere and the historical feel of a true Superior National Forest original.


Trestle Inn

If the ladies have car camped, then it is just not that big of a jump to BWCA camp....except for your expectation for them on paddling distance, portaging, and portage loads. Just as car camping with electric and water on site is not a big difference from primitive site car camping (no electric or spigot at the site), primitive car camping to BWCA camping is not a big jump. As a matter of fact, you always have water readily available in the BW. You have the right idea, shorter / easier portages are your key to a successful trip.

+1 on Lizz entry, Rockwood Outfitters, and eating at Trail Center. Scenic and relatively easy portages through to Horseshoe (Lizz to Caribou is a little swampy). Gaskin and Vista portages are good from Horseshoe for day trips. Also, Grand Marais is a fun town on the north shore to kick around in for a day or two. Have a great time!

quote A1t2o: "

quote boonie: "

quote hooky: "I ended up getting a permit for E Bearskin on the last Sunday of August. Still trying to get someone over the idea of no flush toilets, so it may end up being a couple trip, as in just me and my wife."

I just tell people it's an outhouse . . . without the house to trap bugs and smell and a better view, too. :)"

So much better than an outhouse. Instead of walls for privacy, you have trees, rocks and other nature as well as distance. It may smell a little, but nowhere near as bad as an outhouse."

Or get one of those bug net shed things for it! That wouldn't necessarily take care of what flies out of the thunderdome but, ya know, that's just between you and me.