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05/17/2020 10:14AM  
Hello everyone!

I'm planning to take my sister on a senior trip this summer to the BWCA. I'm looking for any suggestions on routes. I'm 21 (male) and my sister is 19. We are both in very good condition and are experienced campers. However, this will be our first trip ever to the BWCA.

My ideal trip would be 4 to 6 days (loop or no loop) on smaller lakes that allow for greater seclusion, good fishing and a lake camp site that we could spend two days at relaxing and making smaller day trips. We are willing to make long and difficult portages to achieve these goals. I plan on going mid-July to late August.

I have thought about going on the Dent lake loop or the Lady Chain route through Sawbill Outfitters.

Thank you for your recommendations.

 
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05/17/2020 10:42AM  
That route you chose would be alright. My opinion possibly maybe too much? But always depends on your skill level. For a first trip I would think maybe more

Day 1: Sawbill > Smoke > Burnt

Day 2: Kelly > Jack > Temperances

Day 3: Cherokee > Gordon > Frost (from Frost you can do the smaller trips)

Day 4: Stay on Frost or Gordon

Day 5: Either get back to car or maybe south end of Cherokee and then depart on day 6.

that is more manageable and allows for the couple days of relaxing however... not as secluded as the one you mention.

I'd also vote for late August.
05/17/2020 12:42PM  
Welcome to the site! Consider entering at Snowbank Lake and traveling to Boulder or Adams for your base camp I would take you at least a long day or possibly part of day 2 if double portaging. When We went to Adams several years ago, we had the lake to ourselves. Come back in the way you entered or loop back through Alice for a pickup.
Scroll down from Trip Planning and you will find many basecampjng ideas you can get from the Basecamping Basics forum.
cyclones30
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05/17/2020 03:47PM  
I like your lady chain idea. It's moderately easy route but still plenty of small lakes and river travel. Good spots for your layover day or two. Still plenty of lakes and portages of different lengths and sizes to see a variety of stuff.

If you do head up to Mesaba/Dent area you'll have tackled one of the longer portages in the whole park. That alone gets you away from most of the people. Less campsites but also way less people and more secluded and small river and lakes. I'd come back out the same way (doing that long portage again) over doing the whole Louse River down to Malberg and south.
05/17/2020 03:59PM  
cyclones30: "I like your lady chain idea. It's moderately easy route but still plenty of small lakes and river travel. Good spots for your layover day or two. Still plenty of lakes and portages of different lengths and sizes to see a variety of stuff.


If you do head up to Mesaba/Dent area you'll have tackled one of the longer portages in the whole park. That alone gets you away from most of the people. Less campsites but also way less people and more secluded and small river and lakes. I'd come back out the same way (doing that long portage again) over doing the whole Louse River down to Malberg and south. "


Ooh I like that idea even more. Take Sawbill up to Mesaba lake or somewhere near. You are right that portage will separate a lot of the people.
05/17/2020 05:44PM  
Enter at Poplar, either from the boat landing or from an outfitter(actual permit is Lizz Lake). Paddle and portage through Lizz Lake and Caribou Lake and hopefully find a campsite on Horseshoe Lake. This is a beautiful and very unique lake, good fishing and among the highest chances of moose sightings in the BWCA. A classic BWCA experience. If sites are full there are several other options nearby and those also serve as multiple daytrip possibilities. It's a busy area, for a reason, but if you get a campsite a few canoes a day paddling by shouldn't ruin your trip. It's a great place with some very nice lakes nearby for backup camping or for daytrips(Gaskin Lake and Vista Lake).
schweady
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05/17/2020 05:47PM  
Oh... I thought by 'Senior,' you were looking at easy trips for folks over 65, such as myself. Based on that, I had a bunch of quick basecamp ideas for you, but:

If ever on the west side, try a loop going in at Little Indian Sioux River North and loop through the little lakes North Steep Eugene Beartrack Thumb Finger Pocket Lac LaCroix Agnes and out Nina Moose and Moose Rivers.

A similar route follows the lakes a bit to the south, Pauness Shell Lynx Ruby Hustler Oyster, etc.

Both are nice 4-5 day trips

cyclones30
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05/17/2020 09:47PM  
schweady: "Oh... I thought by 'Senior,' you were looking at easy trips for folks over 65, such as myself. Based on that, I had a bunch of quick basecamp ideas for you, but:

If ever on the west side, try a loop going in at Little Indian Sioux River North and loop through the little lakes North Steep Eugene Beartrack Thumb Finger Pocket Lac LaCroix Agnes and out Nina Moose and Moose Rivers.

A similar route follows the lakes a bit to the south, Pauness Shell Lynx Ruby Hustler Oyster, etc.

Both are nice 4-5 day trips. "

Agreed! Nice routes there and smaller water in general.
05/19/2020 06:20PM  
A lot of good options have been suggested in addition to the two you listed. Any of them should work well for you. Some will be more secluded than others, some easier, some longer, etc.

The first thing I'd suggest is to make it a 6-day trip if at all possible. Weather is always unpredictable and can impact your trip. This will give you more time to adjust.

There are other options too depending on experience with paddling and portaging a canoe. I have been through most of those areas except for the Lady Chain. It was our "short" option for the trip, but good weather lured us on to Little Sag and back through Mesaba and Zenith. Feel free to email me if you like.
 
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