Greetings.

I took my first BWCA trip last June and I'm hooked...have another planned for this June and would love to expand from there. So far, I've gone with college friends who are about the same age I am (early-mid 30s) and really enjoy all the BWCA has to offer.

My question to the group is this: I'd like to take a trip with my dad early September, who will be 68 at the time. For the two of us, fishing would be the primary objective but I believe the whole experience would be awesome and memorable. After some discussion, he seems a bit stuck on 2 things: sleeping on the ground as well as the risk that weather would not cooperate and we would spend our whole trip "wet and miserable". He brought up the question of whether there are any cabins that might be options for such a trip.

I've done some basic internet searching and it seems like there are a few places that rent cabins on the fringe of the BWCA with direct access to day trips onto select lakes. Does anyone have experience staying at any cabins in these settings? We would be very happy with a very basic accommodation and I thinking spending our days in a canoe exploring, fishing, portaging, etc would be ideal. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance...

I know Seagull Outfitters has 3-4 cabins they rent out. I haven't used them, but they have a preview of them on their website.

Also if interested part of Seagull Lake allows motors if you'd be interested, and pretty sure they rent the boats also.

A couple options. (There are many more)

You could stay at one of the most famous 'cabins' Historic Clearwater Lodge which is on one of the most scenic lakes in all the BWCA.

.....or, if you want something more rustic??? Check out the camper cabins at East Bearskin campground.

Another lake to consider for fishing is Moose Lake and I know LaTourells has cabins and and boats for rent. I am willing to bet there are others on Moose as well.

Tuscarora Outfitters has cabins on Round lake. Two entries off of Round into the BW ....and another back up the road a little. Quiet place off the beaten path. Decent fishing right on Round itself.

Kawishiwi Lodge has cabins right on Lake One which has a fair bit of ground to explore by paddling. This is a no motor lake. I can't comment on fishing but have seen that some of their guests paddle to a small rapids that comes down from Lake Two and fish there.

Define "sleeping on the ground". If that means sleeping on an air mat + sleep bag in a tent......well, that's not miserable. That's the BWCA at it's finest. Throw in a lightweight tarp for rainy hours.
Am 68 too and manage solos fine out there as do many others. Some back soreness at end of the day(s) is my worst gripe--if I were to gripe. Perhaps, I've just been very lucky but in 8 yrs of canoe tripping in the BWCA during June I've not encountered continuous days of rain. A day and/or evening rain on average. Or two. From reading trip reports I know continuous rainy days can happen but just saying it may not rain as much as you fear. I've entered Mudro (#22 restricted) the week after Labor Day and the weather was perfect the whole 5 days.

E. Bearskin Lake Campground cabins are primitive. Built-in bunks with a floor and roof and pit toilet buildings in the campground. You can reserve a rustic cabin at E.Bearskin online at recreation. gov, if it suits you. Options for day trips /fishing from there too. A Trip Report by TuscaroraBorealis

If either of you have served in the military you might want to check out Veterans On the Lake in Winton. They have small cabins on Fall Lake, you can rent a boat or pontoon from them or bring your own. This wouldn't be nearly as peaceful as Clearwater Lake recommendation above, but is an option on the Ely side and is pretty darn affordable.

We have stayed at cabins on Poplar Lake (Rockwood, Poplar Creek, and Trail Center) and also Clearwater. All of these had access to the BWCA; although with Poplar Lake it did mean a portage. All were very pleasant; we return every summer with our granddaughter to stay in one and take day trips.

Your father would probably enjoy seeing the historic Clearwater Lodge.

We don't fish, so I have no idea about the fishing.

We also stayed at Fenske Lake cabins once, on the Echo Trail (Ely side.) I am not sure about direct access to BWCA day trips from there, but there were certainly day trips in the surrounding area.

I would recommend any of these options.

As far as weather goes, if you plan a trip of 6-7 days, you are usually able to have at least a few days of good weather. That is why we never took those 3-4 day trips. But early September usually has some beautiful weather in the BWCA. On our Celebration Trip in 2009 we had six days with bright sun every day and beautiful warm temperatures. We even picked some ripe blueberries!

And as for "sleeping on the ground", I can perhaps sympathize. I have two replaced knees and a replaced hip, and it isn't the "air mat and sleeping bag" that are the problem, it is climbing in and out of the tent and getting upright from the ground again once you get down. Especially in the morning when muscles are stiff and sore. Sometimes it just isn't as easy as some people think.

Moose Track Adventures has nice cabins with direct access to the BWCA (via Farm Lake). My wife and I stayed there in October a few years ago. Similar situation to yours, in that she is not a camper but wanted to experience the B-Dub via day trips. Quick paddle across Farm gets you to the Kawishiwi River with beautiful scenery and good fishing (I'm told).
Really great (and knowledgeable) family that owns the place, to boot.

Oh, I forgot about Moose Track! Have seen the cabins there and they are really nice. And I would second the opinion about the great and knowledgeable family, too. :-)

We did a few years in the Rockwood cabins and did day trips in the BWCA. It can work out well but the paddle to and from the entry or to where you break off toward a new route can get a bit boring after paddling the same water day after day.

Thanks to everyone for the awesome information! Keep the great ideas coming.

I'm now in the process of discussion and comparison to determine what is the most appealing and best trip to suit our needs but I'm confident we can figure out something that will be enjoyable. One of the lakes that I've had on my "list" is Crocodile based on some pretty impressive fishing reviews on this site. That might have me leaning towards East Bearskin but we will see...

TuscaroraBorealis:
.....or, if you want something more rustic??? Check out the camper cabins at East Bearskin campground. "

This fits your "We would be very happy with a very basic accommodation and I thinking spending our days in a canoe exploring, fishing, portaging, etc would be ideal. " to a T.

These cabins are four walls, a roof, and wooden platforms to sleep on. No stove, no water and ideally situated for the activities you describe. And when you grow weary of camp chow, stroll over to East Bearskin Lodge and avail yourselves of their menu:

East Bearskin Lodge dining

Canoe Country Outfitters has a nice base on Moose with cabins, trailer sites, camp sites, and even a bunk house. Sauna, showers, laundry, and store. Quite pleasant.

billconner: "Canoe Country Outfitters has a nice base on Moose with cabins, trailer sites, camp sites, and even a bunk house. Sauna, showers, laundry, and store. Quite pleasant."

My son and I stayed there last year and we had a great time. We took a couple of day trips to Basswood and caught ridiculous numbers of smallmouth. Walleye were a little harder for us but we both caught our biggest ever walleye, 6 1/2 & 8 1/2 lbs and some just right for eating. The caretaker was Bruce and he saw to it that everything was taken care of, couldn't ask for a better experience or a nicer host. We plan on going back.

Or rent a houseboat in Voyageurs National Park. It's similar to the boundary waters, except motors are allowed. They have campsites with docks. You can have the comfort of a houseboat, and the beauty of the boundary waters, or similar. Bit spendy though.

We rented a cabin thru Seagull Outfitters last year for the same reason. My Dad is 74 and wanted a bed and roof. Cabin was nice and there are other things to do along the Gunflint Trail if the weather and fishing are not cooperating.

River Point Lodge and Outfitters has a wide variety of accomodations from bunkhouse to cabins and villas. They have paddle access to the BWCA as well as outfitting services. They are out of Ely.

We stayed at Kawishiwi Lodge a few times years ago when my father wanted to be able to get out and do some fishing and was unable to camp. In spite of the heavy usage, we found the fishing on Lake One surprisingly good. The fact that it is on a no motor lake made it more appealing.

A decent tent, cot and a Therma-Rest will keep you dry and off the ground. Bungy cord the thermal Rest at your feet to keep it on your cot. Best for Base Camping. See the forum concerning ideas for that. You may well be interested in a quality chair if basecampjng. My favorite is a rocking chair that folds up. Worth the carry for just a couple or three short to moderate portages.

I hear September can give you all sorts of weather, but generally good especially the first part. Be prepared for it all.

LaTourell's on Moose lake(sponsors bwca.com) outfitters will going into Basswood set up camp for you and take it down. With wall tents, cots,fresh food, bait and everything you will need. But you have to have an over night motor permit. LaTourell's might be able to help with the permit.

cowdoc: "Tuscarora Outfitters has cabins on Round lake. Two entries off of Round into the BW ....and another back up the road a little. Quiet place off the beaten path. Decent fishing right on Round itself."

+1

andym: "Kawishiwi Lodge has cabins right on Lake One which has a fair bit of ground to explore by paddling. This is a no motor lake. I can't comment on fishing but have seen that some of their guests paddle to a small rapids that comes down from Lake Two and fish there."

I've used their cabins.........THEY are awesome. And I also like the convenience to Ely.

We went into town quite a bit for things like the wolf center, and even caught a movie one night......

Kawishiwi Cabins

Later,

Geo

Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the Gunflint also has some GREAT cabins. I've rented from them two times.

GeoFisher: "

andym: "Kawishiwi Lodge has cabins right on Lake One which has a fair bit of ground to explore by paddling. This is a no motor lake. I can't comment on fishing but have seen that some of their guests paddle to a small rapids that comes down from Lake Two and fish there."

I've used their cabins.........THEY are awesome. And I also like the convenience to Ely.


We went into town quite a bit for things like the wolf center, and even caught a movie one night......


Kawishiwi Cabins


Later,


Geo"

I've used several on the Gunflint before and after trips and for a few "Cabin" trips. Poplar Creek Guesthouse and their Little Ollie Cabin would be my favorite but in my experience from best to ok it would be have also stayed at Cross River Lodge on Gunflint, Hungry Jack Outfitter's cabins, Trout Lake Lodge and Old Northwoods Lodge on Poplar (I think they go by another name now?)

When my grandmother, whom I was very close to, wanted to see just WHY I spent so much time in MN we took her to Kawishiwi back around 2001 or 2002. Enjoyed it and we were able to find solitude every day we left the landing. I don't know how much it's changed as one of our paddles was to Pagami Creek, where the last big fire began? But it was nice not hearing any motors on the lakes all week. My grandma loved it, although, she kept calling the Loons "Goons" (LOL)! I treasure that trip! Here she is clowning around at Rydens when we took her up to Thunder Bay.

Echo Shores Resort has cabins, boats and motors, bait , and canoes. It is located on the Echo trail which has many good fishing lakes. I've stayed there many times and have never left disappointed.

Selfsuffi: "Another lake to consider for fishing is Moose Lake and I know LaTourells has cabins and and boats for rent. I am willing to bet there are others on Moose as well."

They wall tents with cots set up on Basswood

I'm 73 and took a trip two years ago. What kind of shape is your dad in? Have you asked him what he would like? You could get one of those car camping tents and a lightweight cot and it would not be that different than a cabin. I have had a fused spine for quite some time and frankly sleeping on the ground with a good pad is as good as it gets. In fact I take my pad and sleeping bag when staying in motels because sometimes those are better than a bed. Wilderness Outfitters used to have tent cabins on Basswood but since they went under I don't know if anyone has taken them over. If you want a resort that's also OK. There are a lot of good ones. The Vosburgh have some good ones on Moose that you could use to get you into the BWCA. They are great people.

I'll throw in a vote for Camp Van Vac on Burntside, as well. Cool cabins, but primitive (Cold running water, hike to the showers, wood stove for heat). But they are really cool. Burntside is better with a boat than a canoe, though. Early in the year we catch a ton of fish right from the dock behind the cabin.

They rent canoes and boats.

There are many nice ones, but I enjoy the cabins Trail Center has on Poplar. Nice to have the restaurant so close. Especially after a few cold ones!

Lots of great suggestions........ I've stayed at a few and all were good experiences.

East Bearskin Camper Cabins.... simple, nice, and cheap. If you want to fish Croc this would be perfect. I camped on Crocodile with my then 11 yo daughter and the eater size walleye were easy to catch.

Trail Center Cabins... only 2 of them there so it's pretty quiet even with the restaurant there. Stayed there twice and will again. Best restaurant in the world just a walk up the hill is a huge plus ;)

Rockwood... we are staying in one of their cabins for the 1st time this year but I've stayed in their bunkhouses many times. Mike and Carl are awesome!

Tuscarora Lodge is one I haven't stayed at but want to. On quiet Round Lake.. only a handful of cabins at the resort and no other cabins on the lake.

On the Ely side we've stayed at Kawishiwi Lodge on Lake One. Would stay there again also. FYI they only rent by the week. Sat to Sat

One option is Ladybug Lodge near Ely. Your Dad may like it. on web.

I know for the older folks, there can be issues.
May 13th this year, I am going with three others. I am the youngest and will be 69 in June. Our group has been going on and off since 1975, and since retirement 9 years ago, usually do a Spring and Fall trip. We sometimes struggle to get motivated, but push each other a bit, and never have regrets.
So, hope you all keep going back!

Coy1084: "I know for the older folks, there can be issues.
May 13th this year, I am going with three others. I am the youngest and will be 69 in June. Our group has been going on and off since 1975, and since retirement 9 years ago, usually do a Spring and Fall trip. We sometimes struggle to get motivated, but push each other a bit, and never have regrets.
So, hope you all keep going back!"

That's what I'm talking about! A group with prowess. Have the best of trips, Coy1084.
And y' all too, drbrummer.