I'm planning a trip for my 9 year old son and me. This would be his first.

What I'm currently looking at is Moose Lake EP (25), getting a tow up through Newfound and Sucker, then paddling up Birch in the direction of Knife Lake.

I'm a little hesitant about actually going to Knife though, as I'd really like to avoid big water & the chop that often comes along with it. Certainly for a day trip or something, but not sure I want to camp on a big lake.

So I'm looking at the lakes south of Knife. Like heading off Birch to Frog, Trident, Ensign then Vera. And beyond that there's Trader, Missionary, Skoota, Dix, Spoon, etc.

I know nothing of these lakes & portages though really. It's also only a 3-night trip, so we probably can't go super deep. We'd be up for moving each day, or setting up more of a basecamp. Exit seems like it could be at the same place we entered, or maybe a tow out through Snowbank?

I think my son will be game for some portaging certainly, but maybe not super hard & long travels.

So...anyone have route suggestions, or even just cool lake recommendations in this area that we could target? Info on the portages - if there are any we should avoid due to difficulty level, etc?

Thanks!

That area is awesome. I wouldn't shy away from Knife unless the wind is crazy on the day you put in. It is a beautiful lake with clear emerald-colored water and some great fishing opportunities. You can stay on the west side which has a bunch of decent/nice campsites and it's not too far from the portages back to Melon/Seed/Carp/Birch. Birch and Carp are just as big and open as Knife (though you're not too exposed on Carp for this route) so if Birch seems do-able, then Knife is just as do-able. We battled more wind paddling west on Birch when leaving in Sept than we did on west Knife. All of the portages between Sucker and Knife are pretty easy with only mild elevation changes. I think the hardest one is from Melon(?) to Knife, mostly because it's the longest in the chain. There is one or two tricky landings but beyond that, I'd say 4/10 difficulty is the hardest to expect.








I didn't get to Vera or Trident but both would have been cool. Ensign is pretty popular but I didn't enjoy the scenery as much as Knife and the area further east. It just felt like flat terrain. All of the portages around Ensign are easy, I'd say 1/10 or 2/10 tops. Pretty flat and I don't recall any tricky footing.



You should check out Cattyman Falls if you go that way. It makes a great lunch spot!



You could stay on Jordan which looked like a nice little lake that I wouldn't have minded staying a night on. It would make a good 3 night trip destination I think, without taking too long or being too challenging to get to.

Personally I am biased towards Knife as I thought the scenery was more varied and it stuck with me. I will remember that area fondly for a very long time. I didn't dislike the Ensign/Ashigan/Jordan area, but I think I just preferred the rockier/hillier terrain and clearer water of the Knife area.

You could go to Knife, stay 2 nights, head down through Vera and stay on Ensign for 1 night, then exit through Splash. There are pretty rapids at the Splash entry.

One of the times I passed through Splash we decided to throw our lines out even though it is a small pass through lake. Couldn't keep the northern off our lines! They were small but fun to catch. Throwing spinner baits and spoons. It was a while ago but might be fun for a 9 year old.

Knife has lots of opportunity to get out and explore. Dorthy's island might be interesting to your son with a stop in Ely before to whet his appetite. As you know, the closer in campsites have been used a lot more. Ensign is pretty much a pass through for me as it has been overused IMHO. Early Knife sites have a reputation for bears, but once on the lake and into the south arm you will have plenty to see. With an early start and a tow the south arm of Knife is an easy day trip unless the wind is up. Stop at Dorothy's for lunch. See if you can find the ribbon rock.
Ima is a long day, but also do-able with a tow. Cattyman falls is really a great place for lunch and the variations in scenery from lake to stream along that route make it a favorite. My son's first trip was into Ima and base there with day trip up to Thomas and back towards Roe then back out on the fourth day.
Have a great trip.

Please take this in the spirit it's given... I think you're over-doing it. Your son is only eight years old and it's his first trip. He's not going to be much support for you in the paddling department and, although he sounds like a gamer when it comes to portaging, you're going to be doing a lot of work there, too.

Make this a FUN adventure for the two of you. Getting a tow will be fun. Paddling lots of big water will not be. Look for some smaller lakes - anywhere, not just off of Moose - and find a cool basecamp area. Have a campfire, go fishing, go swimming, throw rocks in the lakes, make s'mores, talk, cook great meals together... do fun stuff. He'll think this is the greatest adventure ever. On the flip side, if you paddle and portage all the time, he'll probably wish he were somewhere else. Save the bigger paddling and portaging trips for a few years down the road.

You're only going in for four days and three nights. Do it right and you very likely could have a paddling partner for life. Think about it.

I agree with a lot of what Jackfish said, though you don't say how much experience you have which could swing my answer a bit. I think your first route is more fitting than your second for such a short trip. I think what I would do if I were in your shoes and if weather(wind) cooperates is head along the border towards Knife. Just see how far you can comfortably get in one day. Then base camp wherever you end your day. I like this route over the Ensign, Vera route because Ensign is horribly crowded to me and can be just as windy as Birch and Carp on your way to knife. Also the portage to Vera is a doozy, mostly climbing out of Ensign, and I just don't think you would have the time to do a full loop that way. Your eight year old will not be much help carrying heavy packs across portages.

A three night trip is not enough time to do a loop with a lot of portages. Enjoy some free time, swimming, exploring, and teaching responsible camp skills like Jackfish said, instead of trying to accomplish an aggressive route. Also remember you will be doing most of the camp set up and cooking, dishes also unless your son has experience with this.

I agree with Jackfish. Make this first trip memorable but have the memories be of fishing, exploring (without having to carry all your gear because it is left at your camp) and go somewhere different each day. Your son will remember a great trip with dad, that he shared dad's love for the outdoors and got to share the day's events with a talk around the campfire each night. You'll both come back with a new appreciation of each other.

Wife and I dropped out of Knife through Bonnie a few years ago. We headed toward and stayed on Vera, which we loved, but passing quickly through Spoon really caught my eye. I hope to check it out one day. Entire area was very pretty as I recall. Only portage along there I recall making me breath much was Vera to Ensign.

Some information here. The ribbon rock

Thanks all for all the comments/advice!

I totally agree, and it was never really my intention to plan some aggressive route. I really only listed all those lakes to pinpoint the general area I'd like to hit...western side of Knife and the smaller lakes south of there. We may basecamp all three nights if we like our spot, but I also know the time of year we are going (July 4) features very looooong days, and quite honestly packing camp and moving might be a good way to fill them. I know how those afternoons can drag when you've already done your fishing, swimming, rock skipping, hiking and firewood gathering....and there's still 6 hours until the sun goes down!

Anyway, you guys are awesome, thanks again!

With Jackfish. Take a tow. Birch Frog Trident Ensign base in NW or N Ensign. Out Splash Newfound for another tow out. Make it a "CakeWalk" loop and your son will be back for more. Not to hurry Not to worry. Williams and Hall,Canadian Border Outfitter and LaTourell's all tow from Moose lakeside docks and have lodging/parking if wanted.

I’m late to the party, but here’s my 2 cents. I took my 10 yo (2nd trip) and another dad and 11 yo on their first trip. We had a fairly aggressive loop planned for an 8 day trip. By the time we hit Knife the boys were spent and we layed up early on the site north of bacon rock. We didn’t move for the rest of the week, except for paddling to carp for the last night so we could catch our early tow. The boys had a ball exploring, taking day trips, building fires, catching snakes, etc. I guess my takeaway was that kids care less about miles traveled, solitude, and moving, but more just enjoy being up there with the ability to explore on their terms. I say find a sit on Carp or Ensign, make a basecamp, and let him explore. Bring lots of worms, hooks, and bobbers, as well as s’mores and popcorn.

I hope you will take this in the spirit it is offered, but EVERY lake in the BWCA can have bad windy days. So first, you need to ask yourself, what is your experience with wind? What is your son's?

Second, your trip is too short. Vera, etc. are great places to visit, but not on a three-day trip. If Knife is where you want to go, then I second the recommendation about going up there, base camping and exploring. Even with a tow you will not make Knife until lunch time if you are an inexperienced portager. That means, at best, you will get there early afternoon, which in that neck of the woods is getting close to time to camp.

Take a day to explore, fish, whatever and then your third day you are back in. Always amused at the folks who get a tow to Prairie Portage only to get to the other side and see Bailey Bay sporting whitecaps.