I am planning my second solo trip for this fall. Always went in the spring/early summer in the past, but wanted to mix it up this year. I don't have a plan on EP, but it will be about a week long trip.

How late in the year can I go and still have a safe fun trip? I'm not worried about being a little chilly, but I do want to make sure I'm not being foolish with the weather as I will be solo. My thoughts are mid-October, but I'm excited to hear what others think.

Mid October is perfect, no crowds. Weather can be anything including days of non stop wind and rain. Be flexible with your plans.

Edit: I have been on lake one mid October when all sites were full.

I'm going to piggy-back on this thread because I, too, want to know more about October paddling in the BW. Thanks!

Dave

You just never know. I have had snow in September, but have had 60’s in November. One thing for sure, the fishing gets better all through the fall season. Some of the best fishing I have had in the Northland is when your hands are frozen numb, and the boat full of snow.

The biggest issue is the short days...could be dark by 6 or 7pm...makes for a long night

Love October. Came out on 10/31 one year. Blowing snow just the last few hours. Ely is really nice this time of year as well.

Mid-October is a great time. Air and water are colder, so just take extra care to stay dry. When water is really cold, I tend to paddle closer to shore in case of a tip. Watch out for big winds, and know they could stop you for a while. I got stuck in one spot for 3 days once in an October storm. Some years you can paddle into November, but may have to watch to make sure no shallow areas on your path out freeze up locking you in. I had to break surface ice to get out of Splash lake once.

To be safe, I would not recommend taking a trip deep into the BWCA once you get to the 4th week of October.
A heavy snowfall will obliterate the portages, both in finding where they are, and walking them, as the Halloween Storm in the early 90's showed.
Last year had Shagawa Lake freeze solid on November 10th, which is not unheard of. What is unheard of is the fact it never re-opened, something I have never seen in my life.
Be careful, and use common sense.

The majority of my trips have began from mid-September to mid-October. An awesome time of year to go. I (we of I had a partner) would seldom see other folks for the entire trip. Just to be safe, I would agree to go in mid-October at the latest.
The latest trip I made was started on Halloween and we came out Nov 10th. The weather was perfect for the most part, no rain or snow, just cold. We had very thin ice on the water a couple mornings causing a late start. We enjoyed the shorter days as we spent more time around the campfire soaking up the solitude and sharing conversation. Truly the best part was not seeing other people. We felt like we had the whole BW to ourselves.

Went the second week of October last year and the weather was great. However had I gone the week before, it was crap weather. So that would be a crap shoot for the weather in October

My daughter and I went the weekend after the last presidential election, so November, and drove up after work on a Friday and put in at 9 pm. It was a totally mirror smooth night, but the car said it was 18 degrees at the put in. We stayed on the put in lake, and thus could carry fire wood, a queen size down blanket and full size pillows. It was a super fun weekend trip, but I wouldn't recommend it honestly. Unless you have a full wet suit, the cost of a capsize is just too high. That said, I love October trips for the no bugs, early nights, and solitude.

Late October is pushing it...weather can get nasty in a hurry. I love tripping in early October, but then again, weather can get nasty. Since you don't need to reserve a permit ahead of time, if you can swing some flexibility with work/family obligations, I'd suggest playing it by ear and heading in when the forecast is nice. If you get it right, it's the best paddling of the year. Just my .02.

The Great Outdoors: "To be safe, I would not recommend taking a trip deep into the BWCA once you get to the 4th week of October.
A heavy snowfall will obliterate the portages, both in finding where they are, and walking them, as the Halloween Storm in the early 90's showed.
Last year had Shagawa Lake freeze solid on November 10th, which is not unheard of. What is unheard of is the fact it never re-opened, something I have never seen in my life.
Be careful, and use common sense."

word's of experience. october is a great time in the north woods. changes can occur quickly.

No LT though.

It was the best of times and the worst of times. One trip in mid October I enjoyed great weather and a full display of the northern lights. Another I was stuck in the parking lot with blowing snow, finally drove back home.

For Minnesota educators/parents, MEA weekend is the 3rd Thursday of October. I've not been in the BWCA during this time, but hotel prices are higher, flights are never discounted, so travel must be more common including to areas like the BWCA. (It'll still be less busy than in summer, I'm sure.)

I have been up on Oct 7th time frame two seperate times and had miserable rain for my paddle out.

However, I have been up other times like MEA weekend and it was great weather. I had to break a small amount of ice at the portage put in but nothing serious. Keeping track of the weather both before and during your trip is important so bring a weather radio.

Take TGO's advice to heart, we may not see another Halloween snowstorm like we had but anything with moderate amounts of snow could really make it hard to get out.

Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, watch the weather before hand closely, always wear your life jacket, I went to pine two years ago on November fifth and sixth and the weather was beautiful but a guy died that weekend on pine, not wearing a life jacket, just be careful and smart, don't take risk.

Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, watch the weather before hand closely, always wear your life jacket, I went to pine two years ago on November fifth and sixth and the weather was beautiful but a guy died that weekend on pine, not wearing a life jacket, just be careful and smart, don't take risk.

For those who go in October and later but also wet-foot during the summer - how late in the season do you wet-foot? Do you switch to dry-footing or tough it out?

I usually go the last week of Sept. and I wet foot. Water temps are around 60 +/-.

geotramper: "For those who go in October and later but also wet-foot during the summer - how late in the season do you wet-foot? Do you switch to dry-footing or tough it out?"

the last few spring and fall trips I wear neoprene socks and water shoes, this fall I'm trying a neoprene diving boot, these have a little harder soul for helping with rocks, trying to get away from water boots because of weight.

geotramper: "For those who go in October and later but also wet-foot during the summer - how late in the season do you wet-foot? Do you switch to dry-footing or tough it out?"

I do 100% dry foot by using Chota boots post September and take full redundant set of clothes, as if you fell in at 28F wearing everything you have, want a second set. I've had mid September trips that are 33 -43 low high with rain, drizzle, snow before in last ten years. If weather good, it is great, but you are way into shoulder season and one day last October, was unnaturally warm at about 75 F but cold front came in day later when we paddled out and snowed next day.

I’m usually out and about the Boundary Waters during the third week of October. I’ve had some great weather. I’d take an easy route that allows you to exit within less than a day and I’d stay off the bigger lakes. A nice loop would be up through Mudro.

AmarilloJim: "I usually go the last week of Sept. and I wet foot. Water temps are around 60 +/-."

Same here. Neoprene socks help but need two pair. Temps and short days mean they don’t always dry and half frozen socks SUCK.

I would pick like the last week of September and enjoy the fall colors. Yes I think two times I have been caught in snowstorms(6-17+inches) around Oct. 5-10th in the Isabella lakes area. Yes it does warm up again after a few chilly days. Your lakes will be wide open usually into November, you could just get some cold weather-you never know Could be 90 degrees F.
Lake trout season closes Sept 30th if you were going fishing for them.

I would be prepared for anything weather-wise in October and lean toward the first half.

In 2012 I did a solo October 5-13. Temperatures were highs in the 40's and two nights it was down in the teens. The narrows between Trease and North Hegman were frozen over with about 1/4" of ice the late morning of the 12th. I was able to paddle "ice breaker" style through it but it is not a good sound with a kevlar canoe! (My profile picture is from my campsite on Angleworm from that morning.)

A couple of thoughts for tripping that late:
1. Leaves are pretty much down by then.
2. Days are short.
3. Nights are long. Collect plenty of firewood during daylight and have some reading material.
4. It is very quiet. Most of the birds, frogs, insects, etc. are gone so about the only sound you hear is the wind in the trees and occasional migrating ducks or geese. I missed the call of the loons and it was kind of creepy.
5. You will pretty much have the place to yourself. I was in the Fourtown area for much of the trip and saw nobody from Sunday morning to Friday night.

I was prepared and had a great time. No regrets and I would absolutely do it again.

I think 2012 was when I was by Isabella lake about that time we got 6 inches of snow. I think it was isolated to maybe a 10 mile area or so. Yes a very windy for a couple of days.

Talk about ducks in the area than,everything came south.

Anytime in October is fair game - best time to visit the BWCA in my opinion! It's free, you'll have solitude, and you'll get a different perspective with short days, long nights, and leaf-less trees if you go later in the month.

Last fall, I went for five days/four nights during the first week of October. The leaves had barely even turned colors, so it was disappointing that I didn't get to see much color. There was light to moderate rain for parts of four of the five days. Temps were very comfortable - highs from mid-50's to around 60 with lows in the upper 40's to about 50. good light by 7AM and dark by 7:30PM. I went in Mudro up to Horse-Basswood River east through Jackfish Bay and then out through Mudro. The Basswood River is a MUST SEE if you like waterfalls/rapids/rivers!! Good time to go because it gets busy there in summer. Water levels were high and portages were a mucky mess. Fishing was good.

Here is a video I made of my trip last October to get a better visual -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF9CNa8H24

I was also in this area in 2010 from October 20-24 - it was a very different story! We entered with snow on the ground, paddled through a heavy sleet shower on Horse Lake where we ended up base camping for four nights. It was dark by 6:30PM, so that was really weird at first. We had supper, talked, laughed, told stories, and I recall saying, "I'm beat - time for bed." AND it was 8 PM! That first evening was windy and cold - temps got down into the mid-20's every night. Full moon, heard wolves the first night, drank tons of hot chocolate, ate like kings. Highs were 40, 60, 45, and 40 - the 60 degree day for that late in the year was unreal - calm, clear, sunny. The final day was 40 and steady rain as we paddled out - plus we got lost on Fourtown trying to go south to Mudro, which was a little panicky! Water levels were low.

Here is the trip report of that adventure for more information -

http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=trip.report_view&sel_trp_id=4991

Some great advice by other posters here - if you plan ahead and pack smart, and adjust to a lot more darkness, you won't regret going up there in October. Pick an entry point that gives you options and I would recommend not going too deep into the wilderness. Mudro would be a great option - Little Indian Sioux north would be as well. Weather forecasts are so much better than they've ever been - so knowing that will dictate where you'll go or even when you'll go depending on your flexibility.

how is the fishing in October? Been in several times in September and the fishing has usually been pretty good to awesome. I think I would love giving October a go.

For many years, due to work, the only trips I could manage were solos in the second half of October. There were five years in a row where I never saw another person in the Quetico; the longest stretch being twelve days without so much as a footprint. It's quiet, dark and feels a little like you're starring in your own post apocalypse drama.

Wool is your friend.
Rain makes travel difficult and even dangerous.
Quiet takes on a whole new meaning.
Swimming hurts.

Having lived in Northern Minnesota for five years I can tell you that the only month I did not see snow was July.
Take that for what it's worth.
Go prepared.

I believe what is safe depends on a persons skill level, judgement and equipment as much or more than the weather.
People have been frozen in and pulled out by helicopter when they were so far in and the ice became too thick to break through.
MEA Weekend I pulled out early from a trip and the next morning ice would have been too thick to paddle through in the eastern part of the BWCAW.

DanCooke: "I believe what is safe depends on a persons skill level, judgement and equipment as much or more than the weather.
People have been frozen in and pulled out by helicopter when they were so far in and the ice became too thick to break through.
MEA Weekend I pulled out early from a trip and the next morning ice would have been too thick to paddle through in the eastern part of the BWCAW."

What Dan said, but for me the forecast is key. I bailed at the last minute on what looked like a good window in mid October when the forecast turned to a couple of days of snow and sub-freezing temps in what would have been the middle of a Kawishiwi Triangle trip. No regrets and I’ll try it again this year. Bottom line: Be flexible and call it off if you have doubts.