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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Family Venture, remote, little Portage once in
 
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salukiguy
07/06/2017 11:10AM
  
Although not near Ely I took my kids to the Homer Lake entry. Only 2 permits per day. Portages are short and you can hang around Vern, Juno, the Pipe Lakes and maybe loop back up to Brule. There are some small streams and creeks to paddle around in also. You won't see many people on this route and some just passing thru.
 
TuscaroraBorealis
07/05/2017 08:07AM
  
Here's one suggestion
 
billconner
07/04/2017 10:39AM
  
Little Gabbro entry, camp on Gabbro or Bald Eagle. Do a long day trip on Isabella River - good chance of wildlife. Longish but consider a day trip around the loop north of Bald Eagle. Some portages but other than presumably you with canoe, not hard.


One man's suggestion. You'll have enough in a day or two to make choosing hard.
 
Grandma L
07/04/2017 10:34AM
  
Welcome to the board!
First of all, if you are looking for trip ideas for this summer - better check permit availability! Permit Reservations

From Ely as you requested -
You might look at Lake One Entry #30 or 30F and head over to Insula for a sand beach site on the east shore with day trip over to Fish dance for the pictographs. A few random permits but most openings after August 19, 2017.

Easy to get permits - many open for July and August:
Or, up Fall to Basswood for a base camp and day trips over to Basswood Falls.
Or, Moose up to the border and head east.

Or, on the southern end - In Little Gabro - then east to Gabro, and Bald Eagle.
BUT first open permit is Sept. 12, 2017

All of these are pretty busy areas since most people are looking at your same goals - shortest drive, little work, great scenery=busy areas.
 
OutwardFamily
07/04/2017 11:46AM
  
Thanks so much! We had checked out permits - Crab Lake, Moose Lake, Lake One, and Fall lake are all available....as well as Slim, Big, others....seems like some people are more into BIG lakes, more people...we are more into rivers, but not getting out of the canoe every 15 minutes ;-)


We were thinking we'd NOT do BASE CAMP, but keep moving along toward a destination....like a loop, where we'd see more, but not sure if that will involve a lot of portaging.


Fall Lake was a first choice, but not sure on the portages - thoughts?


THANKS SO MUCH!
 
boonie
07/04/2017 01:36PM
  
Consider Crab lake if you don't mind the initial portage. There's nothing terribly difficult about it other than the length. Get an outfitter tow across Burntside Lake. Camp the night on Crab. You can go up to Cummings with a side trip to Silaca and Coxey, without much portaging at all. There's also a short loop southwest of Crab you could do; spread over a couple of days, there'd not be much portaging any one day. I have not done that loop, but there are a couple of trip reports on it if you search - click "Planning" tab, Trip Report "search symbol", type Crab Lake, enter, and you'll get a list of them.
 
OutwardFamily
07/04/2017 09:51AM
  
Hi! We are looking for a first time trip to Boundary Waters this summer. We don't mind portaging in, but would like to enjoy the trip once in...little portages as possible...or at least short.

Any suggestions? We are thinking 4-5 days, 4 people (2 A, 2K-8,10), expect very little help from the kids (one canoe). Scenery/wildlife number one goal. Waterfalls are great. Looking close to Ely (vs far north).

Thoughts? Suggestions?
 
Grandma L
07/04/2017 02:16PM
  
quote boonie: "Consider Crab lake if you don't mind the initial portage. There's nothing terribly difficult about it other than the length. Get an outfitter tow across Burntside Lake. Camp the night on Crab. You can go up to Cummings with a side trip to Silaca and Coxey, without much portaging at all. There's also a short loop southwest of Crab you could do; spread over a couple of days, there'd not be much portaging any one day. I have not done that loop, but there are a couple of trip reports on it if you search - click "Planning" tab, Trip Report "search symbol", type Crab Lake, enter, and you'll get a list of them. "
Yup, Cummings has some really nice camp sites - I just don't like the 1.25 miles portage into Crab. Nice area, not too busy - just more work than my old body can accomplish with the grandkids as sherpas.
 
Grandma L
07/04/2017 12:13PM
  
With your group - I would plan about 8 miles a day. That would give you a day schedule: up at 7 am, breakfast, pack and out of camp by 9:30 am, 2+ hours travel, lunch break, travel 2 more hours, In next camp site at about 2-3 pm with time to explore, swim and set-up. So with travel at 2-2.5 miles per hour - that is about 8 miles. If the area is busy - you will need to look for sites soon after noon.

Fall doesn't have too good "loop" options - You could go in Fall up to Pipestone Bay then east through Back Bay to Good, Hula and out Wood - Or, across to exit Moose. More than half of this route is on "motor" lakes-with high "tow' traffic.

I like the Lake One options better - smaller lakes-no motors- Lake 1,2,3, and 4 over to Insula then loop nortand back west through Thomas, Ima thru the small lakes to Dissapointment and Parent - out Snowbank.

In Moose - up to Dorothy Molter's- Isle of Pines, turn south and back west through the smaller lakes to Ensign back to Moose.

 
tochiru
07/09/2017 09:23PM
  
Hello group


I am also planning for a similar trip with wife and 2 kids (8 &9) . I am going to be driving from South west (Shakopee, MN) and will be staying for 2 nights max. Any suggestions on the entry point and the trip plan?


Thanks a lot!!