Obviously will be watching week to week but typically how late in the fall is it safe to assume the smaller lakes with be open water? We’re looking to be backpacking but still need water source.

I wouldn't worry about finding water in November. You should be able to break some ice and get at water, or find some running water, or melt snow.

Fun! Where you thinking about heading?

Day time temperatures as well as overnight temps will be critical for freeze up but you should be fine. Hope you bring a lantern or two as daylight hours are really short that time of the year.

Welcome to the board and have a great trip.

I was in once on October 31 and every morning thin ice at landings.

If you're backpacking and only need water, I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to find a rock and break through whatever ice there is--or might be. Paddling out can be impossible if things ice up, but on foot I think you'd be OK.

Have a friend who couldn't go with us Oct 12-15, but wants to go Nov 2-4th instead. That could be interesting. I have my hunch that it will turn into a backpacking trip, or no trip at all, since I'm certainly not using my wenonah to break ice. I wouldn't worry about getting water though, just getting iced in, or blizzarded in.

Where are you planning to backpack & for how many days?