A few years ago, I threw out my brother-in-law's idea to take his SUP on a BWCA trip. He wasn't able to go on any trip last year, but we've begun planning our trip for 2020. I'm still trying to convince him to plop down in a canoe for the week, but he's insisting. He's a very experienced paddle boarder, can put his gear and food for a week on his board and get around a lake, has a sling for portaging and is telling me there are virtually no restrictions compared to our canoe.

If this actually does happen, do you have any recommended routes? I'm at a loss on how to start. We like to fish. We would do 2 travel days, followed by three basecamp days, and then 2 more travel days. I like to avoid the mammoth lakes (this is only confirmed by his SUP). We did the Kawishiwi Triangle a few years back and this is his only trip. We'd like new area. I've got about a dozen trips in and don't mind returning to previous areas.

Paddleboarding the BWCA?

How difficult is it to repair a punctured inflatable SUP?

When I see or hear of people using the outdoors in new or different or unusual ways, I try to be positive and encouraging. There are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors. This is insane... I think.

bobbernumber3: "When I see or hear of people using the outdoors in new or different or unusual ways, I try to be positive and encouraging. There are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors. This is insane... I think."

Hahaha!!! I was waiting at the pickup right after Splash Lake to Newfound/Moose Lake with about 10 other people. I was sunning myself on a rock as some kid (20s, but you know) pulls up in a crap red plastic kayak and gets out. He hauls out a bunch of gear stretches a bit and then lays out a blue tarp. He pulls his kayak onto the tarp throws on his pack then tosses a bunch of random gear and about 4 gallon jugs (milk) of water onto that kayak and starts to just drag it behind him. We all stop him and ask him if he needs help, why he's bringing all that extra water weight and random gear and he says he's fine and goes back to his version of portaging, leaving a trail of plastic shavings behind him from the tarp and kayak. Watching in horror and powerless to do anything about it we all just witnessed this person go into the wilderness unable to fathom the decision making process that got him to that point

Yes, this person's SUP experience may be a glorious experience, but I don't think I'd try it. Getting stuck in a storm in the middle of a lake on one of those seems like a great way to lose all your gear. Wouldn't this be a kite on the shore too?

This is a great idea. I know Grey Duck Paddleboards actually makes a board called the Quetico 14 that comes with a portage Seat/yoke. Very doable. I’m assuming his board is not an inflatable one, as I would not recommend that. My wife has a board that is 25 pounds and I’ve portaged that around some of the lakes by our cabin and never had an issue. My guess is we’re going to start seeing many more boarders in the BW in the next few years. Fishing from an SUP is amazing! You are up so much higher, so you can see farther and deeper into the water. I’ve landed fish as big as a 30” Pike from a paddle board. The only restrictions I can see you guys having is speed, can he keep up with the canoe? I know I can’t keep pace with canoes when I’m on an SUP.

With that said, I think Mudro, LIS, Sawbill or Kawishiwi Lake would all be good EP’s to try with an SUP.

Portaging SUP’s

Tony

I think the biggest limitations are going to be speed and gear capacity.

How many people do you have going with you? Is it just you and him? If thats the case then having him paddle a SUP while you paddle a canoe makes no sense. You'll likely end up paddling way faster and end up waiting for him at each portage and you'll likely end up having to carry all the gear even if he claims he can carry all the gear he needs for a week. Its just going to be easier and faster to dump the gear in your canoe versus strapping it all to the SUP at each portage.

I don't doubt a trip with a SUP can be done but I do doubt how much sense it makes considering speed and ability to carry gear. Seems like a frivolous decision thats not being made with logic and efficiency in mind.

I mean, it sounds like a terrible idea to me, but to each their own. I would suggest one of the loops of small, roundish lakes, personally - Moose River North or LIS North if you stay away from LLC. Even there, I've caught some substantial wind on Oyster and Gebe, and in neither case could I imagine being on a paddleboard.

They would not be inflatable.

TominMpls: "I mean, it sounds like a terrible idea to me, but to each their own. I would suggest one of the loops of small, roundish lakes, personally - Moose River North or LIS North if you stay away from LLC. Even there, I've caught some substantial wind on Oyster and Gebe, and in neither case could I imagine being on a paddleboard. "

I came back through LIS North last year into a ridiculous headwind. It was brutal in a canoe.

Just because a lot of folks here wouldn't do it is not reason to not do it. I googled SUP speed and doesn't seem different than canoe - 3.5 to 4.5 mph typical, up to 6-7 for speedy types. I couldn't and I couldn't put up with wind, but I try not to in a canoe. Hell, I doubt I could stay upright for 50' on a SUP, and no interest in finding out.

Go for it. Everyone told the Wrights they couldn't fly. (As I wait in Philly for 6th flight in 3 days.) Its the American way. I'd welcome the opportunity.

I suggest that people who don't remember the original thread go back and read it. People are already successfully tripping in the BW with SUPs. That thread contains video, info on contacting folks that have done it, and a report from some people who have done it.

For the new request, I think the main question is a good place to go in two days, hang out with some interesting side trips, and then two days back out. It would be easy to do Kawishiwi Lake to Malberg on that schedule. You might also make it to Malberg in one. It just depends on your speed and the wind that day.

Similarly Lake One to Insula is an option.

Hey there!

I often read things posted on here but have never actually posted anything myself. The discussion about taking SUPs into the boundary waters really grabbed my attention.

I’m not an expert when it comes to SUPs, however one of my friends is. He has contributed articles/photos to Standup Journal magazine. A few years ago he was looking to do some SUP photography in a place he hadn’t experienced yet. I’ve paddled the BWCA numerous times by canoe and I mentioned to him how amazing of a place it is. Long story short: we ended up doing a trip with SUPs. I was extremely hesitant/reluctant of the idea at first, but also thought it would be a fun adventure. I was having ALL of the same concerns people have expressed in this thread, and the original thread from 2016. What about wind? How fast can you travel? How can you fit enough gear on the board? Won’t the gear fall into the lake? Won’t I fall into the lake? Can you portage a paddle board? How sturdy are these things? Can I fish from it? Etc.

As a canoe paddler I’m writing this to tell you, the trip was fantastic! I would love to do another one some day. All my fears and concerns turned out just fine. Although I personally am not going to give up my canoe, I think it’s absolutely a great idea to use SUPs in the BWCA.

To answer the original question from this post about recommended routes: my friend and I went in at Kawishiwi lake. We base camped on lake Polly and did day trip exploring from there. We thought it was a good mix of stream and lake paddling. I also think the Lizz lake or Baker lake entries could be good for keeping you on smaller bodies of water.

If you have any questions about our trip, please ask! Like I said before, I am not even remotely close to an expert when it comes to SUPs. Just a guy that was willing to take on a new adventure. Here is a short write up of our Kawishiwi SUP trip in Standup Journal. (I tried adding the link the official way. But it won’t let me because I’m too new of a member)

https://standupjournal.com/destinations/minnesota-beauty-boundary-waters/

Best regards

Matt, this one did it for me. I've been in at Kawishiwi twice. Lovely area, but I haven't camped past Polly. We'll target Malberg as our base camp and day trip from there. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll definitely write up a trip report and if I end up hauling extra guy, towing a paddle board, and looking at my brother-in-law sitting in the middle of my canoe, he'll be hearing about it for the rest of his life.

CoffeeInTheWoods: "Matt, this one did it for me. I've been in at Kawishiwi twice. Lovely area, but I haven't camped past Polly. We'll target Malberg as our base camp and day trip from there. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll definitely write up a trip report and if I end up hauling extra guy, towing a paddle board, and looking at my brother-in-law sitting in the middle of my canoe, he'll be hearing about it for the rest of his life.
"

+1. Glad to see you pumped up for your trip. Have a great time!

Hey, I'd look at it this way - your in-law is bringing a FANTASTIC fillet table! Tell him you are ok with it, but he needs to bring two sawhorses along for the ultimate fish cleaning station, that would be sweet.

JK. Have fun, that's what matters!

This kind of travel would not be for me. I like bringing too much gear and like to spend hours fishing. But if it is what he wants to do, hey go for it. Tell him to practice with all of his gear on a local lake to see if his gear fits.

Another thought is I think you would be limited in the months you trip. No way would I want to be on a SUP in any month I would not want to swim in. That would leave out June, September and October.

Just Google "SUP camping". Lots of articles and reports.

CoffeeInTheWoods: "Matt, this one did it for me. I've been in at Kawishiwi twice. Lovely area, but I haven't camped past Polly. We'll target Malberg as our base camp and day trip from there. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll definitely write up a trip report and if I end up hauling extra guy, towing a paddle board, and looking at my brother-in-law sitting in the middle of my canoe, he'll be hearing about it for the rest of his life."

This made me laugh. You guys will have a good time. Once you get the kinks worked out you’ll be off and runnin’. Sounds like your brother in law is experienced and has the right gear. I would recommend he do a dress rehearsal before the trip. How many people/canoes are going? What time of year are you planning?

I would carry most of the SUP'ers gear in the canoe on the water. It will be quicker and give him a chance of keeping up. You guys can figure out the portaging part. In all of my trips, portaging is a group effort. You grab all that you can until everyone and everything is across. If someone doesn't meet the expectations and put forth 100% of their abilities, that person doesn't get invited again.

By googling how fast is a canoe and how fast is a SUP, an SUP is faster. I don't know who will have to keep up with who.

I would think a 17' canoe with 2 paddlers would be faster than a 10' SUP with 1 paddler.
(If the paddlers are all equal)

Wind seems to be the big contingency there. With a strong tailwind, I can envision the SUP having sail-like capabilities. With a headwind, they're going to have to kneel and dig.

I don't think wind would affect a sup nearly as much as it does a canoe or kayak.

Based on my experience getting passed as if I were standing still during the last few Des Plaines Canoe Marathon, SUPs are faster than canoes.