BWCA First time trip - Solo backpacking Boundary Waters Group Forum: On Foot
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dlegatt
member (6)member
  
08/22/2019 08:24AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Inspired by a funny guy who juggles stuff, I've decided to try my first trip to the boundary waters by backpacking on the Angleworm Lake trail for a couple of days in September. My plan was to take the trail up the east side of the lake and camp for 2 nights, not do the whole loop. I've seen that the trail is very rugged and hilly and looked reminiscent of some of the hikes ive done in the north shore state parks.

I've done short backpacking trips in the past and feel confident that I can do 5+ miles in a day with a pack. Given that, should I be able to handle Angleworm Lake?
 
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08/22/2019 12:10PM  
You should have no problem handling the Angleworm. The full loop is 14 miles total, so at 5 miles a day you should consider doing the whole thing rather than setting up a base camp. The campsites are well spaced for a two night three day trip. Most people take the trail counter-clockwise. The Whisky Jack lake campsite is very nice if you can get it.

The trail is rugged but not to rugged. The foot tread is readily visible, and in places where the trail crossed bedrock cairns are well-placed and easy to see. Stream and beaver dam crossings are easy. The elevation changes aren't too bad. I personally would rate it as an easy trail, although AllTrails gives it a hard rating. I did the trail last weekend and it was in good condition. Trail crews must have been out recently as I only remember having to step around one tree fallen across the trail.
 
dlegatt
member (6)member
  
08/22/2019 12:55PM  
If I was going to be there for more than a couple of nights, I'd consider doing the loop. This time, im more interested in camping than I am in hiking. My plan is to head straight for site 1896 and hope that its not taken. I just want to enjoy the lake and the piney woods, rain or shine.
 
08/23/2019 09:08AM  
You'll have a good time on the Angleworm, it's a great trail.

I'll echo the others that you really should just do the whole loop. You'll go slower than you'd go on the SHT, for example, but you still shouldn't have trouble completing it in the time you have, and the sites are spaced conveniently.

The west side is more rugged than the east but not too bad. The trail isn't hard to follow either clockwise or counter-clockwise while the leaves are still on the trees and there's plenty of foot traffic, but once the leaves fall and the traffic dies down I find the trail a little tricky to follow going counter-clockwise over on the east side between the beaver dam and Whiskey Jack Lake. In September it shouldn't be an issue, but if you're thinking late September the leaves will be down.

Personally I'd bring trekking poles for the beaver dam crossing, and expect your boots to get wet.
 
08/23/2019 09:29AM  
And here's a trip report I wrote up two years ago when my daughter and I did the trail in mid October: Angleworm Trail Trip Report Oct 2017
 
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