Good day to you all,

I have led a group of 4 to 6 guys into the boundary waters for 5 day canoe trips each of the past 5 years. The first 4 years we went to different spots up the Gunflint Trail and this past year we went up through Ely. Our trips have been fairly rigorous and we haven't shied away from portaging.

As we were hauling our overly stuffed packs this past year, we entertained the idea of taking it easy next year. Our idea was to try a cabin rental on the BWCA border. Here is what we are looking for and what we would really appreciate suggestions about:

1) Cabin rental that is on a BWCA border lake. We'd also like to be able to rent canoes from where the cabin is.

2) On a lake that a small motor can be used on. I have a 9.5 HP on a 14 ft boat that would be perfect for up there.

3) Within paddle canoe paddle distance of other lakes. We love doing day trips.

4) Good fishing. Either the lake that the cabin is on or an adjacent lake we could portage to. Target species is walleye.

In other words, we want the boundary waters experience; the solitude, wilderness, the fishing, without sleeping on roots and treating back pain.

If you know of a cabin rental establishment that meets this criteria, or comes close, please let me know! It is never too early to plan for next year. Much appreciated.

Seagull Creek fishing camp

Clearwater Lodge has cabins that would fit your requirements, as does Trail Center, Rockwood Lodge, and several others on the Gunflint.

+1 for Rockwood!

Canoe Country Outfitters on Moose Lake.

Trail Center cabins are very good and reasonably priced. They are several steps above bunkhouse-type accommodations. Cabins come with a shower, heater, couch(es), real beds, etc. Right on Poplar Lake, which allows motors. Not sure if they rent canoes, but other places on Poplar, such as Rockwood do. Great food at Trail Center restaurant across the street from the cabins as well.

Tomster

This was my thought when I read your post...stay at Bearskin Lodge (or car camp at E. Bearskin National Forest Campground with most of the comforts but a lot cheaper) and fish E. Bearskin which is a decent lake for multiple species. But for walleye...there is a 100 rod or so portage from the south shore into Crocodile Lake which would be a great and pretty easy daytrip for you. Walleye heaven.

Read others comments to verify but it is a great spot for easy walleye fishing, lots of numbers and occasional good sized fish, 20 inches plus. Seriously, if you are decent walleye fishermen you will have a heyday here. Also some pike and jumbo perch to be had. Very nice lake and off the beaten path so a nice remote feeling.

I have never stayed at Bearskin Lodge but the cabins look nice. I have tripped to Crocodile Lake a few times and it's the real deal. Lunkers may be tough but numbers and decent sized fish are pretty dependable.

Just a thought, there are plenty of good options.

Sea Gull Outfitters has cabins on both Seagull Lake and Saganaga Lake. I've read that the fishing is good on both these lakes.

billconner: "Canoe Country Outfitters on Moose Lake."

+2

On the Gunflint are Hungry Jack Lodge & Cabins, Trail Center Cabins, Clearwater Lodge or Rockwood Lodge. You guys could fish nearby lakes w/motor: Clearwater Lake, Poplar Lake, Hungry Jack Lake, E. Bearskin Lake & portage to Crocodile Lake (uphill climb and within BWCA boundaries, so canoe required). All within short drive & easy access/ landing from either of these lodges/cabins.

The eats at Trail Center are so good! There's a bar in the restaurant section too.

If you want the option of setting-up a family-sized tent in a nice developed campground & boat landing closer to Ely, there's Fall Lake.

Of course, you are going to encounter canoers and other boaters.

Another related question-

I have always done overnight paddle trips and gotten a permit for that. How does the permit process differ if I am renting a cabin on a border lake? Do I need a day motor permit? Overnight motor permit? No permit?

tcoeguy: "...How does the permit process differ if I am renting a cabin on a border lake? Do I need a day motor permit? Overnight motor permit? No permit? "

If you are camping overnight in the BWCAW you will need an overnight permit, either motor or paddle, depending on how you plan to get to that campsite. If you are staying at the cabin every night you will need a day use permit.

Clearwater if they're still operating - that lake is amazing. Good fishing. BWCA day paddle all over the place. Nearby hiking trails. Great area.
Another thought as you look forward- have you considered making the switch to hanging? No more "bare roots" or backaches. For some, the change in comfort is profound.

inspector13: "

tcoeguy: "...How does the permit process differ if I am renting a cabin on a border lake? Do I need a day motor permit? Overnight motor permit? No permit? "

If you are camping overnight in the BWCAW you will need an overnight permit, either motor or paddle, depending on how you plan to get to that campsite. If you are staying at the cabin every night you will need a day use permit.

"

We would be in the cabin every night. For a day use motor permit, do you need to reserve them ahead of time? Are there a certain allotment of them similar to overnight paddle permits?

You don’t need to reserve day use permits. You just need to pick them up from your host, ranger station, or entry kiosk. I don’t know about day use motor allotments, if any, however.

While you would need to transport canoes, McFarland Lake is positioned directly between the entry points for Pine Lake and John Lake. There is at least one Vacation Rental available on McFarland. Good Luck

McFarland Lake VRBO

tcoeguy: "

inspector13: "

tcoeguy: "...How does the permit process differ if I am renting a cabin on a border lake? Do I need a day motor permit? Overnight motor permit? No permit? "

If you are camping overnight in the BWCAW you will need an overnight permit, either motor or paddle, depending on how you plan to get to that campsite. If you are staying at the cabin every night you will need a day use permit.


"

We would be in the cabin every night. For a day use motor permit, do you need to reserve them ahead of time? Are there a certain allotment of them similar to overnight paddle permits?"

I have never had to use a day-use motorized permit. However, using the Search feature on this site can help considerably.
Indications are that you do need to pay a small fee. Indications also that there is a limited amount issued per lake allowing day-use motorized entry. The best thing you can do is to call Gunflint Ranger Station so a ranger can answer specific questions directly.
A minor challenge is to figure out how you are going to retrieve your day-use motor permit each and every day if those specific permits are only issued on "day before or day of entry". My assumption would be to locate a permit-issuing outfitter on the Gunflint able to print-out a motorized day-use. Perhaps someone on this board, with direct knowledge, will eventually respond.
meanwhile, two related postings: HERE, and HERE
Hope this helps you.

+2 on Rockwood.

Packsack Canoe Rentals and Log Cabins out of Ely/Winton...and on Fall Lake.

On the Ely side....

There are a number of resorts on the White Iron/Farm/Garden chain. Direct access via EP 31/Farm Lake to the North Kawishiwi river plus all sorts of daytrip opportunities within a short drive. 9.5HP would be a bit small on White Iron but probably be plenty for Garden and Farm.

As Boppasteveg noted, Pack Sack is on Fall Lake. With some portage wheels you could get all the way into Basswood using your boat.

JD

ladybug lodge on shagawa. 3 miles drive to ely. comes with small pontoon. canoes/bw trips or daytrips and bw a lake or two away. maybe not paddle direct to bw; but good for your small boat too. some lakeside, some a few steps away. kitchenette/shower etc. some with tv if bad weather. reasonable....comes with small pontoon and with your boat everyone should catch dinner. close to town for some people maybe.

On the Day Motor questions -- yes there is a quota just like overnight motor or overnight paddle. You can't see this now because permits are done for the season, but when you go to recreation.gov in January and find your way to the BWCA reservations page, I believe you select your lake/EP and you should should be able to see the different permit types available for each lake. There is a $6 reservation fee, and then the standard recreation fee -- $16 per adult, per trip.

One other thought -- some of the lodges have special arrangements. I know, for example, if you rent a motorboat from Clearwater Lodge, the permit is included because those boats are exempt. So even if all the Day Motor permits are gone for your desired EP/date, there may still be a way.


I have not heard anyone mention Gunflint Lodge so I will throw that out there as well. It's a bigger lake and fishing can be tough at times, but the lodge, cabins, and service are top notch. And you can get to Magnetic on the West or Little Gunny > Little North > North on the East end. We took our very low-freeboard, very shallow-v 14 footer on Gunflint and did fine. One day we got pounded by waves in a storm, but if you're experienced it can be done. We ran that little 6 horse all the way across the lake and into the smaller lakes to the east.

Maybe Big Lake resort up the Echo Trail out of Ely or Echo Shores resort on Little long lake.

Day use motor permits definitely need to be reserved as soon as they become available. They are in short supply on most, if not all, lakes where they are allowed. They are a completely different story than day paddle permits. I don't use them but friends that do talk a lot about how hard it can be to get them. There used to be a lottery and if it doesn't come back expect to be on a computer right when the permits become available.

Pick a resort and talk to them about how best to get them and how hard it is.

From an entirely different angle - you mentioned carrying those "overly stuffed packs" on your portages.
Nothing like carrying way too much gear can make what should be an enjoyable time a miserable one. Learn how to pack.
Seriously - the less you carry - the sooner and easier you get where you're going - and the more fun you'll have.
Maybe those overnight paddle trips will become more desirable.

I suggest taking more weight in the form of a cot for each and if needed, a tent for each or at least a 4 man tent for every 2 people instead of cabin camping. Go in for about 6 to 10 hours with at least 2 good long or difficult portages and then base camp. Take as many day trips as desired and fish to your hearts content every day. Read about many ideas for base camping in that forum and enjoy. The trip in and the trip out can be tedious, but the time saved and difficulty saved in the logistics should more that cover the trouble of a few double or triple portages.