Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Daughters First Trip - EP36
by lyontyl

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 06/23/2020
Entry & Exit Point: Hog Creek (EP 36)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 3
Trip Introduction:
Taking my 6 year old daughter on her first trip to BWCA
Day 1 of 4
Tuesday, June 23, 2020

I was excited to start this journey with my daughter Mackenzie. I knew that I wanted to get Kenz up to the BWCA while she was young so she could begin to build an appreciation and love of the area but I just wanted to make sure the time was right. I finally felt like at the age of 6 she was ready to go. My Dad, Captn Tony, and I spend the winter looking for a good route that would be easy for a 6 year old to complete. After some research and some great help from fellow members here, we settled on EP36 Hog Creek.

This route seemed unique since it starts as a narrow winding creek out into Perent Lake and it only had a 15 rod portage which is perfect for a first time little person.

On June 23rd, we left central Iowa around noon and made our way north. Our plan was to find a campground around Tofte and then head into the BWCA in the morning since we didn't need to get a permit at the Ranger Station due to Covid19. We ended up staying at a nice, quaint campground called Finland Campground. We got their fairly late so we just got the tent up and went to bed.