Does anyone have input on the National Geographic maps? I have used these maps for hiking trips on Isle Royale and really liked them for that purpose bit not sure how accurate they may be for the BW.

First of all, welcome to the board!
As for maps, you can certainly use the National Geographic maps. they are functional but harder to read for details.
I like the McKenzie maps the best, though Fisher and Voyageur maps are also great. I use all three - depending on the trip and route. The National Geographic maps are not "bad", they just have the lowest scale/resolution of any of the usual BWCA maps - thus the decrease in detail and information.
McKenzie maps - 2 inches=1 mile
Fisher maps - 1.5 inches =1 mile
Voyageur maps - 1.5 inches =1 mile
National Geographic maps - 1.1 inch =1 mile

I use the National Geographic maps on a regular basis, especially nice for planning due to the large area of coverage. I like the durability and seem to accurate for my use. It's the only map I take along.

A slightly unorthodox way to secure maps designed for your trip.
Print your own at home. Garmin BaseCamp is free, coupled with shareware maps from GPSFileDepot, and/or purchased maps. BirdsEye Topo Raster has 50K and 25K USGS maps for all of the USA and 50K NRS Topo Sheets for all of Canada, $30 for all you want to download in a year.
2 pages I printed at home, the camps portages PMA borders I added in BaseCamp with BirdsEye Topo maps . Printed on a Canon MG6320 and IGuage waterproof paper.



butthead

I have used the National Geographic maps for a couple of years now and like them. The first thing I liked about them is that you can buy two and you have coverage of the entire BWCA. They are built of high quality water resistant materials, I have bent them every which direction and they still look great. The detail in these maps have gotten me in and out of the BWCA many times without getting lost. I keep hearing that these maps are not as detailed or not as good, I personally don't know what I am missing. These maps have worked great for me, are cheaper and you don't have to cary multiple maps around.

You can never have too many maps. However, for navigation and detail, Fisher or McKenzie top the list of options, IMO.

We have hiked Isle Royale, too, and found the National Geographic maps perfect for that. You're on a trail and there are sign posts. Quite a bit different from navigating the waters of the BW or Q.

Worth the price even if you just use them for trip planning.

I used the NatGeo maps on a small group trip last year while other canoe team had Mackenzie maps. There was never a time we had to consult the Mackenzie maps to answer a question of location or direction of travel we couldn't answer with the NatGeo map. I am not sure how often the NatGeo org updates camp site locations though. I know Fisher reviews their maps with the Forest Service fairly often as the popular maps periodically become "unavailable" when they are reviewed and updated.

Which makes me think of another question...Once you settle on a favorite map how often do you buy new maps to ensure you have updated camp site and portage information?

I use another map ( McKenzie?) as my primary and the National Geographic as my secondary, usually. It's a good map but pretty zoomed out. I use them hiking in Washington also.

As others have said, the National Geographic maps are nice for trip planning but I stick with McKenzie maps when I'm on the water.

I used Caltopo and printed off my own, to the size I needed. Then I marked campsites and portages. After that I laminated them and they fit perfect in my crazy creek canoe seatback Caltopo

Caltopo has the Forest Service overlay that has the campsites and portages marked......hard to see maybe....but marked for the BW, not Quetico.
I use the 7.5 topo map overlay for Quetico and then draw in the portages and campsites from Memory Maps.
But for most of my BW trips I use Voyageur Maps. I print off some small maps if I go off the beaten path or into PMA's.
I do bring a Nat Geo map for planning overview and as a back-up.

I like my lake topo when learning an area but if it a trip I am very familiar with I may use my NG maps.