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Kawnipi1
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Treat your cloths and tent with Permethrin. You will be happy you did. I always go in August. Some camp sites have few mosquitos some have clouds of em. Research it.
I have gone the Gunflint Trail thru Grand Marais many times. The North Shore of Lake Superior is really cool with many spots to stop and have fun. Grand Marais is a great stop in and out for a meal stop. The Gunflint Trail is a great drive up to Seagull lake where thee are several outfitters to help with your needs. You can take a boat tow to American Point and basecamp with plenty of water to explore or move on down to Otterback and Knife and back for a boat tow out. I know you said you would rather not boat tow but I have found them to be of great benefit. Get far and fast away from the crowd and weather is of no issue. If your doing a short trip time wise a tow makes your short trip longer. Or you can enter BWCA thru Seagull. I have never been to the BWCA as I always go on up thru the Falls Chain.
Regardless which ever way you choose to go it will be a winner. Make sure to share your trip. Have fun.
K
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wisconsinvet
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We've been going to the BWCA for 20 years. You're going at a good time. Less people. Fewer insects. We've never used an outfitter. We've camped our entire life. Pack lighter, that's all. It's always fun. Some trips are more challenging than others. In 2012 we went in at East Bearskin Lake, Entry Point 64. A friend rented a canoe at the Bearskin Lodge and we paid the lodge to park. I think he charged $5 or $10. We stayed on Canoe Lake. North of Canoe Lake is Johnson Falls. Beautiful place. I attached photos. Go see it. East of Canoe lake is Spaulding Lake. On the east end of the lake is the tiny Spaulding Mine. We found old equipment. Nice day trip. We spent 5 days out. Caught fish. Easy and fun trip. Throughout the years we have taken a lot of friends and relatives. I tell them they can take anything they want to take, except for forbidden items listed on the permit, but, you have to carry it! We have two girls and our packs, with all gear and food are less than 40 pound each. Not ultra light, but, we pack practically. You can research these sites for a lot of information regarding gear and food. A very good book is Exploring the Boundary Waters, A Trip Planner and Guide to the BWCAW by Daniel Pauly. Good luck, have fun and relax.  
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ericb309
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quote Reke0402: "I will look into those entries. I have lighter weight backcountry gear so feel comfortable with that I use it in the Colorado back country. For the ones who fish do you bring live bait leeches/worms with or mostly artificial lures? I will mainly target eyes and bass"
I always bring leeches in the summer.
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Bumstead
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Welcome to the board. Your backcountry gear is great for use in canoe country. Spend the little extra to rent a Kevlar canoe, it is worth it when portaging. My first couple trips were out of #47 Lizz/Swamp. Though not waterfalls to view, I would vouch for the beauty of the lakes, which are relatively small. Small lakes are nice so you don't have to deal with the wind as much, or I should say the waves don't get as big. The other trips recommended above sound great too. Enjoy the BW!
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ISRO
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Just got back from a trip in which we rented a canoe from Canoe Country Outfitters with the idea of dropping my truck off at Snow Bank lake for when we finished and starting at their base on Moose Lake.
Everything went off without a hitch, they were great to work with and I am doing so in Aug for a Quetico.
We did a loop a starting at Moose Lake-Newfoundland-Splash-Ensign-Ashigan-Gibson-Catyman-Adventure-Jitterbug-Ahsub-Disappointment-Parent-Snow Bank. Around 23+ miles for the trip.
If you take that route make sure to stop at the falls, we had lunch there at it was worth the extra time spent.
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Reke0402
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I will look into those entries. I have lighter weight backcountry gear so feel comfortable with that I use it in the Colorado back country. For the ones who fish do you bring live bait leeches/worms with or mostly artificial lures? I will mainly target eyes and bass
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boonie
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That gear will work fine for you whichever kind of trip you want to do, just pack according to whether you want to single or double portage. You can scroll through some maps at Voyageur Maps.
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Reke0402
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I am trying to plan the first trip to the BWCA for my wife and me. We have camped and kayaked before so we aren't totally green to the outdoors we have camping gear but will need to rent a canoe. I would rather not have to pay for the shuttle service but have no idea about parking at the entry points, do all have parking but is it limited or do some not have parking? I know permits can be limited but does anyone have a recommendation on entry points we will be fishing but would also like to see waterfalls or other neat features. We will be going right after Labor Day for 3-4 nights. Thanks.
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Northwoodsman
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There are several outfitters on the East side located on lakes that you can paddle from or get a free shuttle. #38 Sawbill Lake - big parking lot, a store/outfitter, and a USFS campground. #47 Lizz & Meeds (go to Caribou, Horseshoe, or Vista) - Rockwood Lodge is right there with bunkhouses. #50 Cross Bay and #51 Missing Link - Tuscarora Outfitters is right there with bunkhouses as well. These are some of the just examples. From these that I mentioned you can be from the outfitter to the water in about 3 minutes. Welcome to the board!
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boonie
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Reke-
I don't want to make suggestions based on assumptions that might end up being a disservice to you, so some questions.
Is your camping experience and gear backpacking? If so, lightweight backpacking gear and experience will transfer well to portaging and "tripping" through the BW on a route.
If it's car camping experience and heavier, bulkier gear, you'll probably be happier with a less portage intense experience, possibly base camping with day trips.
The Missing Link entry Northwoodsman mentioned would work well for the first option, while Sawbill would be good for the second.
The others would be a little in-between. Another option that would give you a little flavor of portaging without anything too long or difficult would be to enter at EP #64 East Bearskin and take the south portage from there to Alder, then another short one from Alder to Canoe. Camp there or take another short portage to Crystal. You can walk the long portage from Canoe to Pine and on to Johnson Falls on a daytrip without carrying a load. Exit the way you came in.
Parking won't be an issue; there's parking at the entry points. Quantity and quality varies from one to the other depending on what's needed, but no problem.
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billconner
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At the simplest, you can drive to an outfitter, rent the canoe, they'll provide pads and straps for you to drive to and park at an entry point. I've never not found parking and after labor day I'm sure. Some outfitters have lake bases. I've seen them on Moose, Lake One, and Gunflint but there are more. Park and enter there. Some have lodging if you want for night before or after. And, as noted, if the ep is not far the shuttle is free or low cost. I don't worry but some feel more comfortable with car left at outfitter than in wilderness.
Sounds like you'll be fine with gear. You might want to rent portage packs rather than backpacking style but not necessary.
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