Hello!

Myself and my wife are planning a week long trip in May-we don't fish so have no need to go for the best fishing lakes, we are keen bird and wildlife watchers so we prefer somewhere remote. We'll be starting from Ely-Has anyone got any suggestions about fairly gentle routes we could take?

Jon

"Gentle routes" seldom equal remote. If you want remote, maybe pick a difficult entry point, such as Angleworm (EP 20). It's a two mile entry portage, but there's a great hiking trail in that area as well that would provide you with some good wildlife viewing.

If nothing else, pick up Robert Beymer's guide to the western half of the BWCA. He does a good job describing the various entry points and routes from each entry point and in an appendix rates the difficulty of each route. Click on the books tab on the left side of this page and you'll see it. I've used his book for planning a few of my trips and it's been very helpful. If I'm not mistaken, the book is being revised, but I don't know when the new edition is to be published.

When in May? If it is early in May bring warm clothes but most places will be quiet. If it is closer to Memorial Day you will need to go further in. I went on May 3rd last yearand the lakes still had ice on them.

Do you want to base camp, travel every day or travel every other day. Need to know so we know how many days of travelling you will make.

Do you want to come out at the same entry point that you entered at or can you come out at a different spot?

I am sure we can find you a reasonable route with some solitude gien a weeks trip.

New version I believe comes out in February.

"Remote" is kinda in the eye of the beholder. Some might consider an outing on the numbered lakes as a remote experience.

There is a gentle path off the Echo Trail (out of Ely) that might fill your needs. Check out Little Indian Sioux North. You will get the feel of being remote once you launch into the river. I think you could sort of wing it..... make a loop or backtrack.

I am not sure I would recommend (to anyone) a route that includes a stint into "motor boat country". When you look at the map, take note that following the river after the Pauness Lakes takes you to Loon Lake (motorized)....... if you are willing to close your eyes to Loon, then you can enter into some delightful and rather remote country by following the trails up through Slim, South, Steep, Bear Track, and etc.

We did a circular route in that country this past end of May - first week of June. Pretty nice. There are a number of trip reports that you can read on this route or segments of this route. Check them out.

I concur with HPD... Great Loop from LIS. Lots of wildlife, saw Moose on the river, lots of wolf scat around Eugene, and plenty of other sights. Parts of it may not be "gentle" but all if it is doable.

Bruce

Okay, so I'll third Little Indian Sioux. But Bogwalker has a good point, depending as to when you go in May it could be quiet or there could be traffic. Beymer points out that this is one of the busiest entry points on the Echo Trail. I've only done this route in September, and maybe saw one or two other couples. Not a single other person on Shell Lake where we stayed. We heard wolves howling across from the island where we were staying and had a rough tailed grouse wonder through camp during breakfast one morning. We didn't turn her into breakfast. Not bad for wildlife.

Your best bang for your birdwatching buck are small rivers. You are always close to a bushy shore where little tweets lurk.

If you're big into wildlife watching then you already know early morning is prime time. And mr.barley is accurate regarding small rivers offering the best opportunity for close encounters. We have done EP16 numerous times and have always been rewarded with very memorable wildlife viewing. The key for us, I believe, has been early morning travel on rivers. Going from EP16 to Boulder Bay of Lac La Croix involves traveling three rivers; the Moose River, Nina Moose River and Boulder River. Lake Agnes which lies between the Nina Moose and Boulder Rivers, has some nice campsites on the north shore. Base camping in this area allows early morning access to the Nina Moose, the Oyster River off the Nina Moose, the Boulder, and the Dalgren River off the Boulder. This is a popular route and for good reason. Your May timeframe should help in that regard. If I was looking for an easier trip with some prime wildlife viewing, this is the area I would head to.

Hi,

We are looking at late May, I wasn't sure if the lakes would have thawed fully. I'm planning two base camps during the week.

Jon

The lakes will be open by early May. Last year was rather late and often the lakes are open by end of April.

The later in May the further you will need to go to escape the crowds.

If you have two base camps I might suggest heading in Little Indian Sioux and either head east to Hustler Lake or north through Loon Lake to South ot Steep. You might want to stop on South and Day trip into Steep and Eugene so you don't have to carry all your gear into Steep. Great scenery and should be quiet even late in May. You will have to deal with some motor boats on Loon. You should be able to make Little Loon or Slim your first day and then South, Steep or Eugene Day 2.

Its in the Quetico but it only has 1 portage which also has a waterfalls. You should give Saganagons around Boundary Point a thought. Tons of back bays to explore until your hearts content. If you fish the fishing is also top notch. Gd luck with your search.