We are planning to take on the Granite River route in late July. (3 kids: 15, 12 & 9, limited canoeing experience - this will be our 4th family BWCA trip.) We have only base camped so far, so this will be our first time moving campsites. We will utilize the bunkhouse at Tuscarora so we can get a decent start the first morning at EP #57. Planning to camp on Clove if available, and then pack up and paddle onward to Devil's Elbow or Marabouf. After 2 nights at our second campsite, we plan to get a tow back to the dock on Saganaga. My main question is this: Is this a reasonable timeframe to take this route? Our kids are certainly capable but inexperienced, and our youngest has significant anxiety issues. I've read several trip reports commenting on how the portages are somewhat difficult to find and navigate. Our 'safer' option would be to base camp on Clove/Larch and then exit out at Larch Creek. Or maybe add 1 day to camp 2 nights at each spot? Thanks for sharing any wisdom from more experienced paddlers. :-)

While this route has been my first choice to do for several years, for one reason or another we've taken door number 2. So, unfortunately, I don't have first-hand knowledge. But here's a trip report from two years ago in which two dads took their 11- and 15-year-old daughters on the Granite River. The report includes lots of nice pictures of the route, so viewing it might ease some anxiety.

Link

Hey, thanks for the bump!

mirth: "Hey, thanks for the bump!"

You're welcome! It's fortuitous - I've been thinking of the Granite River route in light of the recent reemergence of this post, which made me remember your trip report. I want to get my 7-year-old there before he has a mortgage of his own to pay.

We're coming back up the Gunflint for another round this year, except for my buddy and his daughter who have conflicts. So instead I'm bringing my two youngest who won't be back in school yet for their last hurrah of summer.

We've got just under a week to do the Sea Gull, Alpine, Red Rocks, Saganaga loop. Should be awesome!

mirth: "We're coming back up the Gunflint for another round this year, except for my buddy and his daughter who have conflicts. So instead I'm bringing my two youngest who won't be back in school yet for their last hurrah of summer.


We've got just under a week to do the Sea Gull, Alpine, Red Rocks, Saganaga loop. Should be awesome!"

Excellent! I'm envious. I'm going fishing in Alaska with some buddies for a week at the end of the month (I have a very understanding wife), and so any trip to the BWCA this year will be a toe dipped in the water and not a deep dive like that ( I don't have endless vacation time). But, then, I'm going to Alaska, so it's not all bad.

And apologies to Maureen for hijacking her post. :)

Thank you both! Feeling more encouraged and confident about this trip.

I think you'll have a great time!