I'm looking for info on cell service around ep32 south kawishiwi river? My wife would like me stay in touch for the 5 days ill be out there and i really don't wanna rent a sat phone just to tell her I'm ok once a day. So if you have been around the kawishiwi river , lil gabbro or big gabbro lakes please let me know. Thank you very much.

'm really not sure, hopefully someone with first hand knowledge will respond.

I think the nearest tower is in Isabella 10+ miles to the East. (not sure)
Verizon seems to work better in that country than AT&T, I'm guessing it will be spotty at best, you might be able to send a text if you get on the lake in the open.

I don't know what they cost to rent from an outfitter, but a SPOT device can send an "I'm ok" message as many times a day as you like.

Just got back from the numbered lakes and we had no problem getting text messages and even got a phone call through on Lake 3. It seemed to help to be on the highest point around your campsite. AT&T.

I have AT&T phone service. I can get service on Gabbro all the way to Turtle. Somewhat spotty though.

I'm guessing most cell coverage is going to be spotty. If your wife is the nervous sort I'm not sure I'd rely on cell service because you could very easily find yourself in a dead spot with no way of getting your "I'm ok" message out. That could have her worrying back home. If getting the message out each day is a hard requirement I'd look at renting a SPOT.

If she's ok knowing you'll message if you can but that cell service may not allow it then bring the cell and give it a shot. Or leave the cell in your car and just tell her there was no service and don't worry about it :)

I went out of EP 32 two weeks ago, and we could get service at campsites 1702 and 1132. Voice service will be hit and miss, but you'll be able to get text messages out.

If you want to stay with your phone and get any kind of a signal at all (but AT&T & Verizon is strongest), then sending a text message can work. It doesn't take as much strength from the phone service and your phone should keep trying until it finds a signal strong enough to send. That does mean you will have to keep the phone on however.

If you don't want to chance it, give us a call, we do rent the Spot Trackers with a link for each one on our website & your wife can "watch" you travel & check in right there. :-)

Just off Lake One out of the BWCA, is a huge cell tower which I think is used for Verizon cell phones.

Thanks guys exactly what i was looking for. Ill try to convince her that i might be able to send a text once a day.

bwcadan: "Just off Lake One out of the BWCA, is a huge cell tower which I think is used for Verizon cell phones."

Hmmm, the only tower I'm familiar with that is just off of Lake One is the Forest Service's communications tower. Just to be clear, I'm thinking of the tower at the end of Lookout Road. Is this the tower you are thinking of ? If so, then no cell service from that tower.

koonz0099: "I'm looking for info on cell service around ep32 south kawishiwi river? My wife would like me stay in touch for the 5 days ill be out there and i really don't wanna rent a sat phone just to tell her I'm ok once a day. So if you have been around the kawishiwi river , lil gabbro or big gabbro lakes please let me know. Thank you very much."

It's 2018 just remind her she's an independent woman and everything will be OK. You are up there to not use a cell phone!

Tripped to the Kawishiwi just south of Clear a couple of weeks ago and had service at all times in that general area...

Just went in Snake River. Had service in Bald Eagle, Gull, Gabbro and little Gabbro.

HappyHuskies: "

bwcadan: "Just off Lake One out of the BWCA, is a huge cell tower which I think is used for Verizon cell phones."

Hmmm, the only tower I'm familiar with that is just off of Lake One is the Forest Service's communications tower. Just to be clear, I'm thinking of the tower at the end of Lookout Road. Is this the tower you are thinking of ? If so, then no cell service from that tower."

That's where I thought the newer AT&T "controversial" cell tower was, but it looks like it's a bit more west off the Fernberg, closer to Fall Lake or so. I would think that would extend cell range into the numbered lakes area. (& maybe Snowbank? Never had any service out there before the new tower, as of yet I haven't tried since..)

I was amused to discover we had cell service through AT&T (I'm with Tmobile) on Lake Two. It wasn't even vaguely reliable, but I did send a text message just to see if we could. Of course, my InReach had a signal the whole trip ;-)