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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Is the BWCA still paddleable with this warm November weather?
 
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brulu
11/15/2023 11:16PM
 
Just curious for future reference.

I know things were freezing up ten days ago or so, but have the lakes been re-opening with this warmer weather or has the freeze-up just been frozen in time?

If open, has anyone dared an overnight trip beyond an entry point lake?

Thanks!
 
marsonite
11/18/2023 02:03PM
 
I don’t think so. I see that Robinson Lake, visible on the MNDOT webcam still has ice. Once lakes freeze, it takes a lot of heat to melt the ice, and with the short days it’s going to take awhile. You might be able to get out on some deeper lakes that have deep water portage landings.



 
Finnboy
11/19/2023 08:07AM
 
Most of the creeks and small bays have remained frozen. Take that into consideration for entry points and routes. A few of the small lakes that froze over have some open water again. Colder calm nights will freeze things up again. By the end of this week some lakes will lock up again.
 
Finnboy
11/19/2023 08:14AM
 
For reference I drove past Little Indian Sioux yesterday and it was frozen as far as I could see at 1:00 PM.
 
bobbernumber3
11/20/2023 10:12AM
 
Once a lake starts to freeze, it seems to rarely re-open.
 
RMinMN
11/20/2023 03:33AM
 
brulu: "Just curious for future reference.


I know things were freezing up ten days ago or so, but have the lakes been re-opening with this warmer weather or has the freeze-up just been frozen in time?


If open, has anyone dared an overnight trip beyond an entry point lake?


Thanks!"



For future reference be aware that northern Minnesota has some of the least predictable weather of anywhere in the world. What you see this year may be far different in another year. Some years I have been ice fishing on Thanksgiving day with more than 6" of ice on the small lake. This year it might be open water.
 
thegildedgopher
11/20/2023 06:45PM
 
What about something with moving water like the granite river route? I’d think Gunflint > magnetic might still be open and then you’re on the river with current all the way up to sag and probably open water all the way back to the landing by VCO? As was said, this year can never be used to predict the future, but in equal conditions i would guess that route might be one of the last to freeze up?