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Corcor
Guest Paddler
  
04/09/2020 08:44AM  
Hi, I am looking for a good trip idea for my husband and me to do this summer. We are avid backpackers/campers, but have never been to the Boundary Waters.

We are healthy and fit. We want to do moderate portaging and canoeing to give us a good taste of what it's like. We want moderate privacy, but are mostly looking for beautiful scenery.

We have anywhere from 4-7 days. We don't want to bite off too much on our first trip!

Open to loops or camping and exploring from a single point. We do need to rent a canoe, but have all the camping gear and food.
 
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04/09/2020 09:05AM  
Couple options;

Moose Lake paddle up to Knife. You can see Dorthey's Island, the painted the rock, thunder point, the falls. Paddle to to Kekekabic, then come back across through Ensign.

Put in at Brule, paddle over to cherokee, long island, back across through kiskidinna, winchell and back to Brule.

Basswood, through the falls to Crooked, then down through fourtown, gun and fairy.

You can't make a wrong choice here. All are great!
04/09/2020 12:50PM  
I would suggest putting in at Little Indian Sioux River north and doing a lollipop loop through this area. I did it in a clockwise direction and loved it. Lots of wildlife, scenery and solitude.

The lakes are varying in depth and clarity, but they’re all beautiful. You can also intersect the Sioux-Hustler hiking trail and take a little day hike if you were interested.

Here’s a video of a solo I did in the area a few years back.

LIS River North Loop

Lollipop Loop

Tony
cyclones30
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04/09/2020 05:07PM  
There are a TON of options. One good one would be the Lady Chain near Sawbill.
Rent your canoe from Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte along Lake Superior or Sawbill Outfitters on the edge of the BWCA on the lake of the same name. (They have a campground there, too, if you wanted to stay a night before you go in or on your way out.)

Leave your car at Sawbill and have them give you a ride with all your stuff and canoe to Kawishiwi lake 20-30 min west of there. You paddle north through a few lakes to Polly where you can camp on night one if that's far enough that day. You'll be in a burned area that is pretty cool to see for the hour or two that you pass through it, you're out of it by the time you hit Polly.

Head east (with the prevailing winds) into the Lady Chain of lakes and small river including Pheobe, Beth, etc. and end at Sawbill where your vehicle is waiting for you. Small lakes, small streams/rivers, medium size lakes and portages of varying length, but nothing killer.

My other thought is call Clearwater Outfitters and tell them your story. They'll have a few routes that fit north of Grand Marais.
Jackfish
Moderator
  
04/09/2020 06:06PM  
The Kawishiwi to Sawbill route looks like a fun one. Might have to look into that someday.
Michwall2
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04/09/2020 08:37PM  
cyclones30: "There are a TON of options. One good one would be the Lady Chain near Sawbill.
Rent your canoe from Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte along Lake Superior or Sawbill Outfitters on the edge of the BWCA on the lake of the same name. (They have a campground there, too, if you wanted to stay a night before you go in or on your way out.)

Leave your car at Sawbill and have them give you a ride with all your stuff and canoe to Kawishiwi lake 20-30 min west of there. You paddle north through a few lakes to Polly where you can camp on night one if that's far enough that day. You'll be in a burned area that is pretty cool to see for the hour or two that you pass through it, you're out of it by the time you hit Polly.

Head east (with the prevailing winds) into the Lady Chain of lakes and small river including Pheobe, Beth, etc. and end at Sawbill where your vehicle is waiting for you. Small lakes, small streams/rivers, medium size lakes and portages of varying length, but nothing killer.

My other thought is call Clearwater Outfitters and tell them your story. They'll have a few routes that fit north of Grand Marais. "


+1
04/10/2020 03:44PM  
The Kawishiwi Lake entry to Sawbill exit would be a good trip for you. When we did it back in 2014, the Lady Chain from Polly across Hazel, Phoebe, Grace, and Beth lakes to Alton and Sawbill was our short option for a week-long trip. The weather and everything was good, so we elected to go from Polly to Little Saganaga and down to Sawbill via Hub, Mesaba, and Zenith. So you'd really have 2 options depending on the number of days you have, weather, and how things are going. For reference, we double portaged (walked each portage 3X), had one layover day on Little Sag and another short day of travel and no long days. The longer loop will take you through some lesser-traveled country. I did a trip report on it if interested.
Michwall2
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04/12/2020 07:11PM  
boonie: "The Kawishiwi Lake entry to Sawbill exit would be a good trip for you. When we did it back in 2014, the Lady Chain from Polly across Hazel, Phoebe, Grace, and Beth lakes to Alton and Sawbill was our short option for a week-long trip. The weather and everything was good, so we elected to go from Polly to Little Saganaga and down to Sawbill via Hub, Mesaba, and Zenith. So you'd really have 2 options depending on the number of days you have, weather, and how things are going. For reference, we double portaged (walked each portage 3X), had one layover day on Little Sag and another short day of travel and no long days. The longer loop will take you through some lesser-traveled country. I did a trip report on it if interested."


Hi Boonie. Since you are posting I am assuming you and yours are well and safe.

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Little Sag loop. I have done it at least 3-4 times. but that section from Mora to Lujenida is not what I would call "moderate". Whipped has that tricky little bit of paddling through the deadfalls at the narrows. The 300 rd. portage from Fente to Hub does not start moderate. That is a glute burning climb. They look innocuous, but the portages from Mesaba to Zenith climb (gently, but insistently) about 150 feet in elevation. And while the 480 rd from Zenith to Lujenida is not overly hilly, it is just plain long. I love being in there (Mesaba is one of my favorite lakes), but I have to make sure I am in the frame of mind that I am going to have to work for it.

For a first trip to the BW, I would stick to the Lady Chain. Learn a little about route finding from the seat of a canoe, get a portage routine/rhythm going, learn about choosing a campsite, etc. It will also give them a little time buffer. It is not a long route and being slow at the start will not negatively impact your ability to get out on time. The one 280 rd portage from Grace to Beth is enough to give people an idea of what longer portaging is all about.

Have a great trip.
04/12/2020 09:30PM  
No problem, Mike. We're all fine - how about you?

Yeah, it's been 6 years and since I did it and that was two years before the heart attack. My memory of it has surely faded some, too. I do remember Fente-Hub being a climb more like some hikes back home in WV. And Zenith-Lujenida is long. I don't really know that it's something they'll be interested in, but thought I'd put the option out there. I'm never really sure how to interpret information like "avid backpackers" and "healthy and fit" in terms of travel suggestions. I assume they'll ask more questions if they have any interest.

Now that Sitka-Cherokee portage last fall was a real grinder for me! I must be getting old.

Stay well.
Michwall2
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04/13/2020 07:47AM  
boonie: "No problem, Mike. We're all fine - how about you?


Yeah, it's been 6 years and since I did it and that was two years before the heart attack. My memory of it has surely faded some, too. I do remember Fente-Hub being a climb more like some hikes back home in WV. And Zenith-Lujenida is long. I don't really know that it's something they'll be interested in, but thought I'd put the option out there. I'm never really sure how to interpret information like "avid backpackers" and "healthy and fit" in terms of travel suggestions. I assume they'll ask more questions if they have any interest.


Now that Sitka-Cherokee portage last fall was a real grinder for me! I must be getting old.


Stay well."


Nope. You are not getting old. That Sitka-Cherokee portage has always kicked my butt. It's like a roller-coaster - not a flat spot anywhere.
 
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