I've done a number of group trips in the BWCA (primarily launching near Ely: Fall, Mudro, Snowbank, ect) but it's time to fly solo.

I'd appreciate any recommendations you all may have for a 4-5 day adventure. I don't mind lots of paddling and portaging, just want to see some new areas and get out there.

Cheers

There are lots of options; a little more information might narrow it down.

Do you want to stick with Ely area or anything goes?

It sounds like you're looking to cover some ground vs. basecamp . . . ? How many miles would be a comfortable number for your first solo? And will you single portage or double?

Will you be paddling a solo canoe for the first time? Do you want to avoid big water?

Do you want a loop or out-and-back route or is a shuttle a possibility?

Thanks for the reply, boonie!

Either Ely or Grand Marais as they're equidistant from me (SW Wisco), though launching out of Grand Marais would open up new water for me, which would be rad.

I foresee being on the move most days, with perhaps two-nighter in the middle for a little day tripping. I'll be single portaging and thinking I'll do 10-15 or so miles a day.

It'll be the longest solo I've done. Did three days on lac du flambeau this past summer, but that was very chill, so avoiding big water seems like it may be prudent.

A loop would likely be best.

Thanks again!

boonie: "There are lots of options; a little more information might narrow it down.


Do you want to stick with Ely area or anything goes?


It sounds like you're looking to cover some ground vs. basecamp . . . ? How many miles would be a comfortable number for your first solo? And will you single portage or double?


Will you be paddling a solo canoe for the first time? Do you want to avoid big water?


Do you want a loop or out-and-back route or is a shuttle a possibility?



"

I double portage and do trips with a lot of portages sometimes; single portaging and being willing to travel most days means you can cover some ground even on a short trip. At 12 1/2 miles per day and 4 days, you can do a 50-mile loop, so . . .

I've done trips out of Ely the first few years, but the last several years I've been going off the Sawbill or Gunflint Trails out of Tofte and Grand Marais. I think you'd enjoy some of the area, especially since you'll portage and travel far enough to get out there a little.

I've done several trips through EP #37, Kawishiwi Lake. There are a lot of options there - take a look at my 2016 trip report and route through Malberg, SW down the river to Fishdance pictos, up through Alice Thomas, Fraser, across Cap, down through Boulder, Adams (a gorgeous lake), Beaver, and out the way you came. A really nice trip with a variety of scenery.

We also went NE out of Malberg to Little Sag, then Mora, Mesaba, Zenith, to Sawbill. But single portaging you could cut across the Louse River from Mesaba to Malberg and back out to Kawishiwi Lake.

There are other options, too, if those seem a little much.

You'd probably also enjoy a trip off the Gunflint Trail out of one of the Poplar Lake entries - Lizz, Meeds, Portage/Skipper - or out of Cross Bay or the Round lake entries - Missing Link or Brant. Missing Link takes you down to Tuscarora, a really nice lake, which I also went to from Cross Bay via Snipe, Copper Lake, and the Howl Swamp. From Tuscarora you can also get to Little Sag, which is a very nice lake.

Here is a link to a Shutterfly account that has pictures from 6 of my trips - just match up the year of the album and trip report.

BTW, you may already know this, but if you don't, you can access trip reports by entry point. Click on the "Planning" tab at the top of the page for a drop down menu, click "trip reports", then BW trip reports and you'll get a list of them sorted by entry point.

If you have any questions or want other options, just ask.

I go in May every year and the weather is very changeable that month. It could be warm and sunny but just as often it's rainy and cold. I've had snow and temps well below freezing. Bring extra clothing, a tarp for your tent and lots of warm socks and a down bag that is rated down to 20F. A zero rating is even better. Expect to get delayed due to the weather and
you'll do fine with any route.

Thanks so much for the info, boonie!

That's super helpful. With so many entry points and routes it's great to have a solid place to start from an experienced tripper.

I'll dig into these and hopefully be posting my first trip report come June.

Cheers

boonie: "I double portage and do trips with a lot of portages sometimes; single portaging and being willing to travel most days means you can cover some ground even on a short trip. At 12 1/2 miles per day and 4 days, you can do a 50-mile loop, so . . .


I've done trips out of Ely the first few years, but the last several years I've been going off the Sawbill or Gunflint Trails out of Tofte and Grand Marais. I think you'd enjoy some of the area, especially since you'll portage and travel far enough to get out there a little.


I've done several trips through EP #37, Kawishiwi Lake. There are a lot of options there - take a look at my 2016 trip report and route through Malberg, SW down the river to Fishdance pictos, up through Alice Thomas, Fraser, across Cap, down through Boulder, Adams (a gorgeous lake), Beaver, and out the way you came. A really nice trip with a variety of scenery.


We also went NE out of Malberg to Little Sag, then Mora, Mesaba, Zenith, to Sawbill. But single portaging you could cut across the Louse River from Mesaba to Malberg and back out to Kawishiwi Lake.


There are other options, too, if those seem a little much.


You'd probably also enjoy a trip off the Gunflint Trail out of one of the Poplar Lake entries - Lizz, Meeds, Portage/Skipper - or out of Cross Bay or the Round lake entries - Missing Link or Brant. Missing Link takes you down to Tuscarora, a really nice lake, which I also went to from Cross Bay via Snipe, Copper Lake, and the Howl Swamp. From Tuscarora you can also get to Little Sag, which is a very nice lake.


Here is a link to a Shutterfly account that has pictures from 6 of my trips - just match up the year of the album and trip report.


BTW, you may already know this, but if you don't, you can access trip reports by entry point. Click on the "Planning" tab at the top of the page for a drop down menu, click "trip reports", then BW trip reports and you'll get a list of them sorted by entry point.


If you have any questions or want other options, just ask.
"

Last year I did a four day solo into the vicinity of Caribou, Horseshoe, and Gaskin lakes. Even though I've had tons of experience with extreme remote environments, backpacking, and canoeing, it was my first lake touring and first BWCA trip, so I wanted to plan conservatively. Small "front country" lakes and ample options for touring and/or basecamping with day trips turned out perfect. I ended up scoring an exceptional campsite, so I base camped and day toured to over a dozen lakes. Traveling light made single portaging a breeze, which it was not when I had my full camping kit.

May weather uncertainty and a solo trip (maybe your first in a dedicated solo boat known to be "hot"?) are good reasons to consider a similar set of options. I used a Rockwood Outfitters bunkhouse, which I cannot recommend highly enough (safe parking, dawn patrol start, warm shower on the return). EP47 was booked so I took the next one over, EP48. That mile-long portage between Poplar and Meeds was easy. Anyway, I highly recommend this area. Happy to chat more when you pick up the Zephyr on Friday.

Thanks for the intel, Kona!

Pleasure meeting you on Friday, the Zephyr is cleaned and all tucked away til the ice goes out.

See ya on the water..

kona: "Last year I did a four day solo into the vicinity of Caribou, Horseshoe, and Gaskin lakes. Even though I've had tons of experience with extreme remote environments, backpacking, and canoeing, it was my first lake touring and first BWCA trip, so I wanted to plan conservatively. Small "front country" lakes and ample options for touring and/or basecamping with day trips turned out perfect. I ended up scoring an exceptional campsite, so I base camped and day toured to over a dozen lakes. Traveling light made single portaging a breeze, which it was not when I had my full camping kit.


May weather uncertainty and a solo trip (maybe your first in a dedicated solo boat known to be "hot"?) are good reasons to consider a similar set of options. I used a Rockwood Outfitters bunkhouse, which I cannot recommend highly enough (safe parking, dawn patrol start, warm shower on the return). EP47 was booked so I took the next one over, EP48. That mile-long portage between Poplar and Meeds was easy. Anyway, I highly recommend this area. Happy to chat more when you pick up the Zephyr on Friday."

Just go! It doesn't matter so much where. You may feel more comfortable in an area you done before.
I find I cover a greater distance than with a group. I am able to travel at my speed rather than that of the slowest group member. I am able to to travel later - I'm not worried about finding a "group" site. In fact, a "poor" group site is often an excellent solo site!
The only area I avoid is the extreme eastern area off the BWCA (east of the Gunflint). That areas tends to fill up.

Like Bannock, I find I often travel faster alone. I have a portage routine that I move pretty quickly and efficiently through, but if my brother comes, he doesn't have a portage routine ;). On the other hand, some landings are very awkward solo when there's no one to help with holding the canoe. When I'm alone I'm fully aware of things, but there's no pausing to point it out to everyone else, and remark on it. Decisions are also made more quickly, but there's nobody to stop me from making a stupid one either :)!

This is probably a good place to interject the advise to make sure your canoe is secure before you walk away - they can drift away quickly on just a light wind. Don't forget bow and stern "painters"! If you're not careful you may end up doing an unscheduled rinse and dry; it won't be the first time it's ever happened :) And make sure your PFD isn't floating away with it!

I also find that about any site makes a decent solo site and I often use ones that others might not choose. I only need one small tent pad and really don't need any elaborate kitchen setup.

But, if you haven't done a bunch of solo camping, remember - you'll be the only one doing camp chores. I try to keep mine simple, but even at that if you're used to traveling with people who all have a job and do it, it'll take a little more solo.

Have fun, enjoy yourself.

Boonie is an experienced solo traveler with some good advice. I echo his comments and focus on the being alone piece and the weather issues. Key elements of the solo mindset include safety and safety. The water is still cold and the weather can shift rather quickly so be ready to stay put a day or so rather than risk injury or swamping in big water. Splitting wood is a major be careful event. You get the idea. Being solo just makes it really important.
Another issue is food. Left overs are always a problem and I found quickly I eat differently when solo than when with a group. Traveling light you have likely figured this out, but just in case.
Have a great trip.

Lots of great advice has been given ....... My last 2 solos have been early May (the only May trips that I've done) and May has become my favorite time to go. Not many people around that time of year :) Both of them were before fishing opener so there really weren't many people around. One of those two trips I saw 4 moose, 2 wolves, a bear, and only 2 people which happened to be Rangers clearing portages.

I also love the area that you get to entering at 47 Lizz off of Poplar on the Gunflint Trail. Rockwood Outfitters are great to work with and I really like staying in their bunkhouse because you get up, walk down to their beach, and push off at first light. Also, with three entry points accessed from Poplar Lake it makes it easy to do a nice big loop exiting at either Meeds (48) or Skipper (49) when entering at Lizz and then paddling back to your car at Rockwood. Very convenient.

My longest trip has only been 4 days :( so I can't give advice on a long route, but I can say that the options out of Lizz are endless.

Want to know the best part about doing a trip on the Gunflint Trail???? since you haven't been there before................. Post trip meal at the Trail Center. My favorite Restaraunt in the world.