My wife doesn’t know it yet, but she is going on her first BW trip next year. I’ve been 8 times or so, but she has never been intrigued by sleeping on the rocks. We’re 57 and I am considering 3 different options at this time, but really am open to suggestions.

We would likely do an August trip and I am looking for a 7 night trip. I have always done Gunflint area Saganaga, Ottertrack, Granite River, Saganagons, and will probably stick to the Gunflint side. I am going to pick an EP where we can drive to and park (no tow launch) with few portages, and at this time the 3 locations that interest me are Perent Lake, Caribou Lake (EP47?) and Clearwater Lake. Probably base camp with day trips.

Have all of our gear, so will not need an outfitter unless we decide to stay the first night near our EP.

I know it’s luck of the draw, but seeing moose or hearing the wolves would really be a bonus if there are locations that are better than others for the likelihood.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I can only speak to EP47 as I haven't tripped through the other two. EP 47 is one of our favorites for an easy trip. Portages are relatively easy and short. Also small water to paddle. Plus it can be a moose highway. Caribou is often busy but if you go one lake further to Horseshoe Lake, you may find a spot easier and that's where seeing a moose is highly likely.

The first trip we took there a few years back, we saw 7 moose in two days. It was really cool. Horseshoe can be busy as well but we found a campsite there in mid July without a problem.

Horseshoe Lake Mama moose and her twins

I agree with Twins. 47 is great and if you make it to Horseshoe then you have a high chance of seeing a moose. Especially if you go to the south-eastern side/arm.

Perent is one of my favorites for beginners because it is super easy but it can be hard to find a site and its kind of a dead end so you kind of have to find a site. I would do this if you are entering between Monday-Wednesday.

EP 47 allows many day trips too whereas Perent does not. Perent is a nice lake though don't get me wrong but 47 seems more your thing. Clearwater though I have never been through this lake can lead you to Johnson Falls which I accessed from Pine. That is also a nice area.

So my opinion.....

EP 47 for Moose and daytrips

Perent for easiest trip

Clearwater for waterfalls and daytrips.

After 7 trips I wanted to take my wife. A little older than you. My decision was to make the first trip as easy as possible...minimal portaging... She made it through and agreed to take a second trip. Same plan...a little deeper in but minimal portaging. She loves me (who couldn't?) but that was it for her. Maybe you will be luckier.

One more for 47. Moose are almost a given, especially in the SE arm toward Vista. One thing I would add, that's where I took my wife on her first trip. Pack strategically so that she gets light packs to carry. Don't tell her about it, just do it.

What month is best for seeing moose on Horseshoe?
That’s a cool video Kari, you’re lucky. Do you remember which site you stayed at? I think the possible moose sighting makes my decision for Horseshoe.
TechnoScout, I hope she enjoys it enough that she will go more than once, but I have a feeling she may be more like your wife and tolerate it for me a time or two. I read your recent trip report, looks like a real nice time, good photos, and your wife does look happy.
Bill, I’m with you on the pack weight, I did think about that. She’ll get the fluffy bag.

plexmidwest: "What month is best for seeing moose on Horseshoe?
That’s a cool video Kari, you’re lucky. Do you remember which site you stayed at? I think the possible moose sighting makes my decision for Horseshoe.



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John,

It was incredibly cool to see the Mama and twins. We sat for a really long time but kept drifting too close and making her nervous so we headed back to camp. We saw them in the bay near our campsite, #673. Great site, wide open inside of it but some tree cover around the perimeter so you don't feel too exposed to the traffic coming by. Good pics here of the site and on other websites too.

Site across from us, 675, looked awesome for moose viewing. The people camped there sat out on the rock lakeside at happy hour time and watched the moose in the bay. We couldn't see the moose from our site, but once on the water there were plenty of opportunities. I have read 675 doesn't have great tent pads but we've never stopped there to check it out.

Down in the area of the lake near the portage to Vista is also very moosey but the site down there is very small and tent pad is one big rock. We checked it out but didn't stay there.

Highly recommend daytrips to both Vista and Gaskin. Both gorgeous lakes. We moved on to Gaskin after a couple of nights on Horseshoe. That remains one of my favorite trips ever.

Not sure about best month for moose viewing, we usually trip in July or early August so that's when we have seen them. But I don't have anything to compare it to.

Keep us posted on your plans and trip. Hope your wife ends up enjoying it. I'd go canoeing in the BW for every vacation but hubby wants to do other things too so I usually plan one or two trips a year.

NIce video......but it shows exactly why I choose to filter my water and not drink it straight from the lake.

I would go the Clearwater or Caribou route. Clearwater is more scenic and has lake trout and smallmouth in it. But if you want to get away from motor boats take the west portage into Caribou as it is an easy one and camp in Caribou. I also I think it's easier to catch fish, (smallmouth, walleye, northern), in Caribou.
We then took a day trip starting at the west end of Clearwater, portaged into Caribou, paddled to the West end, portaged back into Clearwater, and paddled back to camp on the west end of Clearwater. We fished the whole way catching smallmouth, walleye, and northern in Caribou and a monster lake trout in Clearwater.
The portages at the west end of Clearwater either to Caribou or Mountain Lake are not easy!