I'm dreaming of the BWCA in the dead of winter == can't wait to go on my 10th annual women's BWCA trip this summer!

I am looking for suggestions on easy-moderate trips/loops from the Ely Area. We typically stay for only 3 nights and I will have just had a baby 4 months prior to my trip so I don' t think I will want to camp longer than that. We don't fish. A few I have been looking at: entering Little Gabbro --or--Lake One--or--Farm Lake and making some kind of loop. Any suggestions?

I did have some thoughts about heading to Fourtown but I think my cohorts would kill me if I took them over those rocky portages!

Thanks for your thoughts!

The kawishiwi triangle comes to mind, maybe extended with a trip in Gabbros and Bald Eagle. Several entry point options.

Maybe a little more solitude and a little more work, head to Bald Eagle and do the loop through Turtle, Clearwater, Pietro, Camdre, and Gull.

Kawishiwi Triangle is the first thought that popped in my head. There are multiple ways to get there. My favorite is EP 32 Kawishiwi River. The easiest is Lake One. You can also get to it from Farm Lake, North Kawishiwi/Triangle, and Little Gabbro Entry Points.

Fall exploration of the Kawishiwi triangle

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm trying to figure out exactly what is considered to be the "Kawishiwi triangle". If we entered from EP32 would be head north on the South Kawishiwi River to the north border of the BWCA through Clear Lake and then head east on the river until it splits to turn southwest again and then down to Little Gabbro and then take the 240rod portage west back to the South Kawishiwi landing? It's hard to tell how long that trip would be- do you think we would need to travel each day of our 4 day trip?

Another question on the bald eagle loop option- you say "a little more work" but to me it looks shorter than the Kawishiwi triangle. Are the portages harder? Would one need to travel each day of a 4 day trip or do you think there wold be a day of relaxing in between? Obviously it depends how fast one travels- we do move along quite swiftly.

I would consider the triangle an easy four day trip. Putting in at Little Gabbro and completing the Gull/Pietro/Clearwater/Turtle loop would be a chore in 4 days/three nights, but certainly possible. Longer/harder/and less used portages on the latter. Of course, fewer people on the harder route. Both areas are great, but I haven't been through the four lakes north of Bald Eagle since the fire. You will need to stop early for campsites on the triangle, I have never had a problem with campsites being available on the Gull/Pietro/Clearwater/Turtle route. Hope you have a great trip,

I like the Number lake loop - One, Two, Three and north out of Four - Hudson, Fire, Four, Bridge, Rifle and back out One. Easy route and not too far but once you are north out of Hudson, the crowd diminishes.

tdeterman: "Thanks for the recommendation! I'm trying to figure out exactly what is considered to be the "Kawishiwi triangle". If we entered from EP32 would be head north on the South Kawishiwi River to the north border of the BWCA through Clear Lake and then head east on the river until it splits to turn southwest again and then down to Little Gabbro and then take the 240rod portage west back to the South Kawishiwi landing? It's hard to tell how long that trip would be- do you think we would need to travel each day of our 4 day trip? "

Clear Lake is one point on the triangle, the North/South Kawishiwi split being another point. The most direct route would be to stay on the South K from the EP all the way to the split, then turn left and head down the North K to the portage to Clear, then portage into Clear from the North K and out of Clear onto the South K.

JD