After a +/- 20 year hiatus for her, my wife has decided she would like to return to the BW for a short trip. We are planning on 4 days, beginning Sept. 6, starting on the Ely side. She is a fairly competent paddler and would like a lower key, fairly relaxing trip. She doesn't mind portaging but would like to avoid longer or really rugged ones. She would like to fish a little bit, but this is not a priority. I have looked a permits available as of today and came up with 3 possibilities: (1) Snowbank, heading up to Ensign or possibly Knife; (2) Lake One into the numbered lakes or possibly Insula; or (3) Moose River up to Agnes and either day trip up to LLC or stay in the boulder bay area. Any thoughts on these or another I may have overlooked would be appreciated.

Those are all great routes and each one is completely different. I myself would pick the Moose route. You have river and lake on that route. I love the Boulder Bay area. especially the site just thats NE from the portage. I recommend taking the 2 short portages from Agnes to Boulder Bay. All portage are very doable. You can get to that camp site in 5.5-6 hours with a casual, steady pace. Whatever route you decide have a great time.

Thanks. I have done that route before and like it also, but wanted to present some options.

My wife and I are also returning after many years and will be there at about the same time on the Little Sioux River up to Pauness and maybe Lynx. Have a great trip!

You could do Moose Lake and paddle to Birch, or get a tow to Prairie Portage and paddle to Birch. Easy trip, and some good campsites. No portages. Take day trips to Knife.

PappyCase: "My wife and I are also returning after many years and will be there at about the same time on the Little Sioux River up to Pauness and maybe Lynx. Have a great trip!"

Very nice. Hope you guys have a good trip too.

TechnoScout: "You could do Moose Lake and paddle to Birch, or get a tow to Prairie Portage and paddle to Birch. Easy trip, and some good campsites. No portages. Take day trips to Knife."

Thanks. I've never tried a tow. Might look into it.

Porkeater: "

TechnoScout: "You could do Moose Lake and paddle to Birch, or get a tow to Prairie Portage and paddle to Birch. Easy trip, and some good campsites. No portages. Take day trips to Knife."

Thanks. I've never tried a tow. Might look into it. "

Today, I reserved my tow to Ensign. It is $30/person one way using Piragis outfitter.

FYI: there is a wonderful smallmouth bass pocket on the west end of Ensign as the lake narrows and flows into Splash Lake.

Decided on EP 16. T minus 35 days.