Looking for a route suggestion!

I'm coming in mid-to-late August with a group that is looking for a bit more relaxation than hard work. We'll drive up, get outfitted, and hopefully make it to our campsite all in the first day - we'll probably just set up a base camp and stay in one spot. Days 2-4 will be spent hanging out, maybe a day trip or two, and some fishing. Day 5 we'll be returning to the outfitter and back to Minneapolis. We're hoping for something closer to Minneapolis like on the southern edge to be able to get outfitted and make it to camp all in one day.

For an example, last year we outfitted in Tofte, entered at 41, and set up camp on Winchell. The trip was great and offered some day trips which worked out really well. The only downside to our trip was that Portage 534 almost did our group in. At 190 rods it was the limit of what some of our group could handle physically and mentally. We're planning on trying to keep the portages a little shorter, but everyone should be a little more ready for it this year.

Any ideas are great to hear!

Any other info to help guide suggestions? Just about every entry in that area can give you want you've suggested you're looking for--southern edge of the park with base-camping in range and short portages. Sawbill, Baker, Homer, Brule, Hog Creek, Kawishiwi... They have varying amounts of options, but that's why I ask for more info. Maybe you want to get off of the entry lake or want day-trip options, or maybe you're happy to just chill right there.

If you're OK with the extra drive time (not even sure if it's much longer), Lizz Lake, East Bearskin, and Clearwater are all great options. Clearwater has a number of longer portages, but it's big and long enough that camping on it, especially in the east, won't feel too much like being on an entry lake, and Mountain is a very short hop, and if you get your friends to endure the portage to Caribou, you'll be well-positioned to enjoy a great area. Whether you're on Mountain, Clearwater, or Caribou (or anywhere off of East Bearskin), be sure to visit Johnson Falls.

Enter at Cross Bay (Ham Lake) and head to Long Island, Frost or Cherokee. Or Enter at Lizz/Swamp and head to Gaskin, Vista, or Omega.

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - to Malberg Lake. (Outfit with Sawbill Outfitters at Sawbill Lake or Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte.). It is a long day to Malberg Lake but the day trips are worth it. Fishing Malberg Lake and River Lake to the north is good.

Day Trips:
Southwest - Fishdance Lake for Pictographs and fishing river lake.
Northwest - Boulder/Adams Lakes loop for fishing, scenery, and solitude.
Northeast - To Makwa Lake for the Cliffs and fishing along the way.
East - Louse River to Frond Boze Lakes - Great wilderness river route and scenery.

About 5 years ago I did a 4 night trip with another dad and our two sons, who were 11 and 9 starting on Sawbill lake from the Sawbill outfitters. We left the twin cities in the afternoon and set up a quick camp at their campground.

We were going to camp for 2 nights on Alton but all the spots we passed were full so we ended up at the southern most campsite on Kelso (good, not great). The next day we did a day trip north along the Kelso River and Lujenida Lake. We did the 444 rod portage as just a hike to see Zenith Lake and had a little picnic lunch at the landing. Didn't see anyone except of all things two paddle boarders on Zenith. We returned to our campsite in time for some afternoon swimming and watching the paddlers go by (fair amount of traffic on this spot)

The next morning we packed up and headed to the northern part of Sawbill via the south part of the Kelso river. We scored a great Island campsite (site 916) to be our home for the next couple of nights. With our fairly early start and the short trip we were there by mid morning. We relaxed and tried for some fish around the island. The kids explored the whole island...great views all around.

The next day we packed up our daypacks and did a really cool day trip to Cherokee. We had lunch on one of the closer island sites. We were back midafternoon for a little relaxing and swimming before supper.

It was a nice trip...maybe something you would be interested in. Minimal portages at least.

Delta, you sound like you want the type of trip we take nowadays, fairly easy in to a basecamp situated well for daytrips, exploration and fishing with relaxation high on the agenda.

There are many trips that would fit this bill, depending on how hard you are willing to work the first day. Kawishiwi Lake entry to Malberg was mentioned and would be awesome if you are willing to put in a 7 hour day to get there. Hog Creek to Perent would be good too with a couple hour paddle down a narrow scenic and winding stream to a very pretty lake with good walleye fishing - but not a lot of daytrip options. There are some good trips off the Gunflint if you would consider them but you mentioned southern edge and the Gunflint is a longer drive, Clearwater to Caribou basecamp with daytrips to Johnson Falls among others.

But here's one that could fit the bill if you want a relatively easy entry from a southern entry point with decent scenery, solitude, fishing and daytrip opportunities.


Homer to Vern

I'll second cross bay to Long Island

You could Outfit and Launch from Rockwood Outfitters on Poplar Lake off the the Gunflint Trail and Enter via Lizz/Swamp EP 47 (Use Lizz) and head to Horseshoe Lake. Most of the campsites are decent with two great ones. Very close to the same area you were in last year. Great fishing for Walleye in Horseshoe, Gaskin, Caribou, and vista. Awesome Smallies in Vista and if you day trip to Morgan I caught 5 small mouth trolling a #4 Mepps minnow a few years ago. Smallest was 18 1/2". If you want you can also head to Misquah and troll deep water for Lake trout. Probably 5 1/2 top 6 hours to outfitter. It is about 4 miles from outfitter to Middle of Horseshoe( Campsite 673) which is a great large site if you have 6-9 people with 3 Portages of 46,68, and 22 rods respectively. So maybe another 2-3 hours? Longest portage you might have during day trips would be 90 rods if you day trip to Gaskin. Most are 45 or less. Really nice area. Hope this info helps.

Sawbill to Alton. Outfitter right on the lake, one super easy/short portage and you're there. One more short and you're into Kelso. Plenty of day trip options and fits your bill for travel distance to EP, portages, etc.

Baker Lake to S. Temperance. The last portage is kinda long but fairly easy. Day trips to Brule, Cones, N. Temperance or even Cherokee (Sitka to Cherokee portage is tough but day trip not bad). The portages from Baker up to weird are short but have some rocky landings.....more annoying than physically taxing. Other option is to enter at Brule and go to S. Temperance.....one short portage....which is a trade off for paddling west across the length of Brule.