Got my permit for entry point 33 for 5 days in late July. We are bringing our SOT kayaks and plan on base camping all week and doing day trips to fish and just enjoy the water. What time does everyone hit the water? My plan was to pick up the permit on Sunday at 10 when the outfitter opens that I am scheduled to pick up my permit from. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the BWCA. I should add I am driving from Indiana....13 hour drive. Should I adjust my drive time to get my permit the day before and hit the water early?

You’ll be fine picking up your permit at 10. That’ll give you a chance to get a hardy breakfast in before you head out. You should be on the water by noon at the latest and that will give you plenty of time to get where you’re going and set up camp. Enjoy your trip. I’ve never been in EP 33, but It’s on my list of probables for the near future.

Tony

You are going into a pretty busy entry at a pretty busy time of year. I would consider hitting the water earlier. Common wisdom is to start early and be looking for a campsite by 1pm or so, especially on a busy lake.

Gabbro has some really nice campsites but is popular because of good fishing and ease of entry. I would put myself in a position to be finding an open site early afternoon, especially if you want a great basecamp site for several days. It's probably a couple hours in from the entry so hitting the water by 10 or even earlier would make sense to me. That is if you plan on staying on Gabbro, earlier entry if you plan on going farther. Still leaves time for that good breakfast:)

Are you sure your outfitter opens at 10am? That seems unusually late.

Great area though.

Always try to hit the water at sunrise if possible.easier to find a campsite, which usually isn’t a problem where I go, and I love traveling in the early morning. Love sunrises....

I like hitting the water around 6am which usually ends up being closer to 630 cause I am slow moving early in the morning. If I were you I would try to get the permit the day before and get on the water as early as you can.