Hello all,
I've been a member of this forum for about 9 years now, and have really appreciated the information that has been shared by other members. While I have been to the BWCA every summer for the past 8 years, I'm at a loss for a route for this year. Like many others, my group has evolved over the years, which as changed our route preferences. It started off as a group of 3 guys in their late 30's and has evolved to 3 guys in their mid-40s, one wife, and an early teen boy (this will be his first trip).

Below is a list of our preferences:
- 4 night trip. We will be driving up the day before and staying overnight in the area, then entering the BW in the morning.
- Four hour max travel time each day.
- No big water. The big wind/waves that often accompanies big water has been a severe damper on a couple trips... to the point of traumatizing the wife on our last trip.
- We don't mind portaging as long as it isn't extreme.
- Fishing is a primary objective for most of us.
- Waterfall(s) would be an added bonus.
- We don't have a time frame yet... likely mid-June or mid-July.
- If it matters, three of us hang and the other two share a tent.
- We are traveling from southern WI, so the entry point doesn't really matter as they are all about the same travel time from us.

Anyone have some good route suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
-RW

Have you checked out 39 Baker or 40 Homer? These were on my list because I wanted to avoid big water as well. If you enter at 39 you can target South Temperance lake. At 40, you can target the Vern River.

Also, I would review the trip reports from lindylair on these entry points.

I'll echo what was already said. Good entries with smaller water and supposedly decent fishing. I've never been myself.

Other ideas....LIS North to Pauness and over to Shell etc. Day trip to Devils cascade to get your waterfall fix...kind of. Really pretty area, nice river paddling with no real issues and a nice easy scenic portage to break it up.

Larch creek and go as far as you want would be another option on Gunflint side

I know it's a big lake but, you might consider Brule lake. We took our 2 month old on this route.

Head east to Vernon Lake and grab the campsite (if available) nearest the portage in from Brule bay. The trip report

Brule bay and Vernon are good for fishing. Theres a beautiful waterfall between them and the campsite offers some really neat amenities.

I like rdgbwca"s idea of Baker Lake to South Temperance. It also gives you the option of venturing out onto Brule if the wind is cooperating. I think that South Temperance is more than 4 hours so it would take 2 days to get there. The peninsula site on Jack Lake is nice. Two nights on S.Temperance and then 2 days back out again. (Or you could make the trip in one day knowing you will not have to travel again until you leave.) It is one of my favorite paddles in the BW.

A couple of other ideas for you:

Entry 37 Kawishiwi Lake
Option 1 - Day 1 - Kawishiwi Lake to Lake Polly. You will paddle through the far eastern end of the Pagami Creek Fire burn area. It is fascinating to watch the recovery. You leave the burn as you enter Lake Polly. Lake Polly has good fishing options. Day 2 - Lake Polly to Malberg Lake. Lots of good campsites and good fishing options. Day 3 - Pick a direction and day trip. Day 4 Head back to Lake Polly. Day 5. Head back to Kawishiwi.

Option 2. Day 1 is the same as above. Day 2 - Lake Polly to Phoebe Lake. This is a beautiful river paddle. It may be a little more than 4 hours but not much. Day 3 Fish and day trip to Grace Lake. Day 4 Back to Lake Polly. Day 5 Back to Kawishiwi. This route offers a lot of river paddling.

Entry 47 - Lizz Lake -
Option 1. Day 1 Poplar Lake (outside of BW and will get you to the portage to Lizz Lake) to Gaskin Lake. Day 2 Gaskin Lake to Long Island Lake. Day 3. Long Island Lake to Banadad Lake. Day 4. Layover. Day 5. Banadad Lake to Poplar Lake. This is a nice loop that after the first day will probably offer you a lot of solitude. The hardest day will be from Long Island to Banadad, but travels some little traveled country and some beautiful small lakes. The long narrow lakes in this area can be deceptive. With the wind out of the right direction they can act as a wind tunnel and create some large waves. I have not encountered this, but others have.

Option 2 - Day 1 Poplar (Lizz) Lake to Horseshoe. Day 2. Horseshoe to Winchell. Day 3. Winchell to Henson Lake. Day 4. Henson to Meeds Lake. Day 5 Back out through Lizz Lake to Poplar. The first and last days will be the longest travel. This is a popular area. the lakes north of Winchell will likely be the least occupied.

Have a great trip.

You guys rock! Those are excellent suggestions, and I'm sure one of them will fit the bill perfectly. I was already considering Homer, so your suggestions move it up my list of possibilities.

As for Brule, we went two years in a row (one to the east, and the other to the west) and we liked the lake (fishing was fantastic), but it was also one that gave us a terrible time with the wind. We got stranded in Jock Mock Bay one year because the waves from the west were crashing over our bow. Thank God that the bay was situated the right way that it completely sheltered us and we were able to still fish.

Thanks again for your help.
-RW

Homer is an awesome and easy entry area, scenic and good fishing


Homer Lake July 2018


Baker to South Temperance is also one of my favorites


Baker to S. Temperance


Another thought would be to enter at Clearwater Lake and head over to Caribou or Little Caribou. Good fishing, scenic with the benefit of an easy daytrip to Johnson Falls which is one of the more scenic spots in the BWCA. Could go out and back or an easy loop to do what we did.



Clearwater to Caribou...Johnson Falls


Have a great trip!