I'm planning a trip for May 2020. The group will consist of 4 people and I am the only one with experience in the Boundary Waters (20+ trips). I want the rest of the group to truly experience the Boundary Waters but I don't want to start them off on an overly difficult trip. I'm thinking a 4-6 day loop would be a good start. Does anyone have any suggestions for a pretty easy but rewarding loop?

Thanks!

I've always wanted to do a Clearwater/Mountain/Moose/Fowl/Pine/Caribou loop with scouts.

We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible.

AmarilloJim: "I've always wanted to do a Clearwater/Mountain/Moose/Fowl/Pine/Caribou loop with scouts."

+1 You can also start a little farther west to see Duncan and Rose Lakes, but only if they are up for the longer (though rather flat) portage to go east out of Rose. The scenery is fabulous. There are also some nice little side hikes like going to Johnson Falls.

This is the route I was looking at. I'm familiar with most of the lakes.

joeandali: "We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible."

This was going to be my suggestion as well, with a tow to American Point on Saganaga Lake. You'll get to experience a nice mix wilderness and none of the portages are very difficult (YMMV).

morser83: "I'm planning a trip for May 2020. The group will consist of 4 people and I am the only one with experience in the Boundary Waters (20+ trips). I want the rest of the group to truly experience the Boundary Waters but I don't want to start them off on an overly difficult trip. I'm thinking a 4-6 day loop would be a good start. Does anyone have any suggestions for a pretty easy but rewarding loop?

Thanks!"

Entry 47 - Lizz Lake - Day 1 Poplar to Horseshoe Lake (Moose Central), Day 2 to Henson or Kiskadinna, Day 3 to Long Island Lake (You are going down the steep trail from Kiskadinna to Muskeg.), Day 4 Long Island to Banadad (This will be your hardest day. The portages get tougher as you go, but it is a very seldom traveled route and some pretty lakes.), Day 5 Layover on Banadad, Day 6 out to Poplar. The mile long portage is not hard and the food pack will be empty.

Shorter Version - Day 1 Poplar to Horseshoe, Day 2 to Winchell (climb the cliffs), Day 3 (Layover here) Day 4 to Henson. Day 5 to Caribou, Day 6 out to Poplar. All of this is easier portages with plenty of time to fish and sightsee.

joeandali: "We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible."

Curious on folks thoughts on pros/cons of doing this route or the reverse route. Seems like the reverse routes has downhill portages.

How old are your guests? Are they fit? Any of these loops would be long-ish and hard-ish for a not-so-fit or sorta-aging rookie paddler, in my opinion. If your ages all start with a 2 or 3, and everybody exercises, go for it. Personally, we always bring first-timers on base camp trips and then tailor day trips based on ability/fitness level once we know what we have on our hands. It's no fun grinding on vacation if you ask me. I'd base camp on the west end of Ottertrack after a tow to American Point. Nice day trips from there.

CoachBigD: "

joeandali: "We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible."

Curious on folks thoughts on pros/cons of doing this route or the reverse route. Seems like the reverse routes has downhill portages."

Done this route, it's a nice trip through both burn and non-burn areas.

BTW, if you're doing a loop, won't you have equal uphill vs. downhill portaging, being that you're ending up at the same elevation you started from?

CoachBigD: "

joeandali: "We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible."

Curious on folks thoughts on pros/cons of doing this route or the reverse route. Seems like the reverse routes has downhill portages."

This is what I'm thinking of doing and ending with the tow at American Point.

lundojam: "How old are your guests? Are they fit? Any of these loops would be long-ish and hard-ish for a not-so-fit or sorta-aging rookie paddler, in my opinion. If your ages all start with a 2 or 3, and everybody exercises, go for it. Personally, we always bring first-timers on base camp trips and then tailor day trips based on ability/fitness level once we know what we have on our hands. It's no fun grinding on vacation if you ask me. I'd base camp on the west end of Ottertrack after a tow to American Point. Nice day trips from there."

I'm 31 and everyone else is in their mid-20's and exercise so I'm confident they can handle the portages and paddling. May can get cold so that's my only concern.

CoachBigD: "

joeandali: "We did Saganaga with a tow to American Point to Ottertrack, then on to Knife, through Eddy to Ogish, then through Alpine on to Seagull. No difficult portages, lots of ways to shorten a trip or take side trips. Good fishing opportunities. A couple nice waterfalls. A tow out of Seagull is possible."

Curious on folks thoughts on pros/cons of doing this route or the reverse route. Seems like the reverse routes has downhill portages."

Logistically it works better getting a tow to American Point and ending the trip by paddling back to the outfitters. That way you don't have any time constraints as far as having to meet your tow at a specific time for pickup.