My husband, son and I will be doing our first BWCA trip in early August. We will be putting in at EP25 going up Moose lake, through Newfound and Sucker lakes to the Prairie Portage, then on to Basswood Lake portage at Basswood-Back Bay down Lewis Narrows through Pipestone Bay, Portage Pipestone bay - Newton Lake, down Newton lake to Portage at Fall Lake- Newton Lake and exit at EP24 Fall Lake. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

We are interested in fishing, nature and wildlife viewing. The dates of are trip are 8/6 to 8/11. Should we move camp every day? Any great campsites?

Thank you!

I have not been to that area but it sounds like an overly ambitious trip...especially for your first time. It seems like a lot of water to cover in a (fairly) short period of time. Yes...you will probably need to break camp each morning and hopefully find a campsite by late afternoon.

I think it's a doable distance. Moose lake landing to Prairie Portage takes about two hours,. I have also camped near Basswood falls and paddled out to the Moose entry via Wind and got to the Ely Steakhouse by dinner time. So you should be able to cover that distance easily in five days. You're covering a lot of big water, so be careful with the wind. Also hopefully you are aware that most of your loop is on a motor route. Enjoy your trip!

Not sure if you know it but this whole route is on motor lakes. Just saying because some are looking for canoe only lakes.The fishing on Basswood is top notch. You could get a tow from Moose lake to Back bay. Your route would not take you through Lewis narrows. However if you have a hard time finding fish you might want to detour to Lewis narrows. If you wanted no motors you could skip Back bay on go around US point in paddle only water.

I also assume you are aware you will have a parade of motor boats on your route, esp the first day. At that time of year the lakes on the way to Prairie are like a flotilla. The boat traffic tapers off after Prairie but is still there most of the way down Basswood. You can take a tow if you want to spend the money. Again, what some paddle in two hours can easily balloon to four hours if you have limited paddling experience.
As mentioned you will be headed west on some of the biggest water around. If you have limited paddling experience you might consider an alternative route that keeps you on smaller lakes that don't have motor traffic.
The upside is your route will limit how many portages you have.
In any event, have a great trip!

Depending on the day if the week and time of day, you will see and gear some motor traffic on Moose. Ive never found it a big deal but everyone is different. After driving 10 hours, the paddle up Moose even with sporadic motor traffic is enjoyable.

My second and fourth trips were from PP to Basswood Falls on day 1 with son - 11 first time and I was 53 - and I hope to do it again. Based on getting to BF for night 1, i don't see a problem. That entire route is around 35 miles. I figure 10-12 a day (now at 67) and you have 5 days. I'll assume 3 person canoe, which is faster usually? And your son will paddle? You have room for a layover day or two.

BUT if wind and waves are bad first day, don't try for BF. Just look fir a site not far from PP and try to head out very early second day. I suspect biggest mistake is feeling you have to stick to your plan.

Please clean up 100% of your camp. I'm not saying you were not planning on it but somehow, there are a lot of campers that still leave their garbage for others. Everything must go, all the way down to the twist ties. Make the camp look better than when you arrived. Thanks.
Tom

If you're experienced paddlers I'd say it sounds like a decent trip. There's a chance you'll see motor boats on most if not all of that route. (one of the few parts of the park that allows boats) We were on a motor lake in another part of the park and camped there a night. It's not something I want to do again anytime soon but to each their own. Big water and good fishing potential is what you'll find there.

Just allow for a day to be windbound and off the water whether new at it or not. Pack light.

For the money, I would suggest a tow up to Prairie Portage. This will help you get past some of the traffic and get you to some more peaceful water. And it could give you a more relax paddle out. I have paddled moose lake numerous times and wind can really affect your paddling.

First trip? My advice is to avoid that busy route with big wind prone lakes and plenty of motorboats and take a different route that will help you capture the "essence" of the BWCA much better. Paddle or take a tow to Splash Lake and head over to Ensign. Many route options from there that don't include huge lakes and motorboats. Some beautiful country and very good fishing and a much quieter and more comfortable experience. Ensign Lake can also be very busy but you won't hear the drone of motor boats on the lake and as you head further in it will be much quieter.

Basswood is great, don't get me wrong. But for a first trip you will be adding the potential for a lot of challenge/risk due to wind and possibly not experiencing the solitude/quiet that is so much a part of the experience. If you love it up there, as you likely will, you can do the trip you are thinking of down the road after you have gained some wilderness canoeing savvy and experience. Basswood will still be there.

Thank you, we will keep that in mind.

Great to hear. We are really looking forward to this trip. You have given us some alternatives to think about.

We definitely will clean up after ourselves and attempt to leave our camp sites cleaner than we fine them.

lindylair: "First trip? My advice is to avoid that busy route with big wind prone lakes and plenty of motorboats and take a different route that will help you capture the "essence" of the BWCA much better. Paddle or take a tow to Splash Lake and head over to Ensign. Many route options from there that don't include huge lakes and motorboats. Some beautiful country and very good fishing and a much quieter and more comfortable experience. Ensign Lake can also be very busy but you won't hear the drone of motor boats on the lake and as you head further in it will be much quieter. "

+1 on recommending Ensign for your first trip. This was my first trip with my wife (then girlfriend). We took another group of first-timers there with our three young kids 12 years later. Taking a tow up will get you on Ensign early with a very short portage onto a beautiful lake. Set up camp or move on from there and then paddle back down through Moose. Day trips from Ensign are numerous and beautiful. Fishing can be great to decent.

What if they get to Basswood and its like glass? Its not ALWAYS windy.
If I was planning that trip I would do it in reverse. I always plan my trips West to east and south to north if I can.
The prevailing wind is from the West and South more often then not in the summer.
Tom

You'll have a great time. So you see a motor boat now and them. It's hardly a parade. Just keep an eye on the wind, wear your pfd and all will be right with the world.

Blatz: "You'll have a great time. So you see a motor boat now and them. It's hardly a parade. Just keep an eye on the wind, wear your pfd and all will be right with the world."

+1