Greetings,

We have a great group of guys who has been taking trips to the BWCA on and off for the last 28 years of my life. We have reached a point where my dad and another guy physically won't be able to make the trip much longer. We have made the trip easier(shorter trips, shorter portages, no portages) to extend the number of trips we can take, but paddling, portaging, and sitting in a canoe is getting too hard on their bodies.

I'd like to find a trip where we head somewhere that would have a 'BWCA feel', (though I realize it won't be the same), that we could bring fishing boats so the transporting gear would be easier and the fishing would be more comfortable for them.

I'd like to avoid cabins or traditional campgrounds yet, though we may end up there. Are there 'boat in' camp sites near the BWCA where we could dock a couple boats?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Birch Lake is one idea. Other boat-in backcountry campsites like those can be found on the Forest Service website.

Maybe Voyageurs National Park

Ed Shave Lake has an undesignated campsite at the edge of the boat loading parking lot. I've seen a camp there a couple times. Motors allowed on the lake.

Saganaga has a lot of motor boat campsites.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Maybe Voyageurs National Park "

Exactly what I was thinking. Voyageur’s is kind of the perfect transition for people in that age/ability group where things are getting too hard and or dangerous for them.

Otherwise, you could do Ojibway/Triangle lakes which are outside of the BWCA, but still have USFS campsites and pretty good fishing.

Tony

Opportunities abound and you really don't need to leave the BWCA or immediate vicinity if you don't want to. You can camp with a motorboat and do zero portaging on Saganaga, Seagull, Clearwater, Basswood, and others.

The Gunflint Trail has a bunch of non-BWCA spots as well. Head to Gunflint lake and grab one of the USFS campsites. You couldn't be much closer to the BWCA without being in it and I think those sites get very little traffic. Connected to other fun opportunities on both the east (little gunny > North lakes) and west (Magnetic lake) ends.

Other ideas:

Turtle Flambeau Flowage in WI (I think the willow flowage and chippewa flowage have sites as well.)

Island camping on the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway upstream of Stillwater MN. (not at all like the BWCA but this is a fun trip!)

The thing that makes Voyageurs such a great option is that you can reserve your specific site ahead of time. Whereas if you planned a trip to Saganaga, you could in theory find ALL the campsites occupied (i know, unlikely) and have no choice but to turn around and quit.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Maybe Voyageurs National Park "

100% - - We love VNP!

You could check out the area of Little Vermilion Lake / Loon Lake / Lac La Croix. There's mechanical portages that allow you to get all the way to Lac La Croix without portaging (for a fee). Entry point is #12 Crane Lake.

I would also recommend Voyageurs as a good spot to check out too.

While there are some very nice BWCA destinations that would fit your bill, Basswood, Seagull, Saganaga for example, I think that Voyagers National Park might just be perfect for what you are looking for. The quality of the wilderness is comparable, the fishing is very good and the campsites are nice. Plus they are reserveable, nothing like knowing you got a place to stay for the night. If you do some research you will find that most VNP campsites are pretty nice and offer picnic tables, bear boxes (generally 2 per site) and nice tent pads. Most if not all offer a place for boat dockage, either an actual dock as many of them have, or a gravel or sand landing and a post to tie your boat off to.
But the best part is that before you reserve you can go online and see numerous photos of each campsite including the common area, the bear boxes, and the docking area. You can be on the main body of a big lake or back in the sticks on a small bay. Lots of islands, points and large expanses of water. I am still paddling and portaging for a few more years but when that gets to be too much VNP is where I will be headed. Sounds like a great fit for your group and you won't be giving up much on the typical BWCA experience.

Here's a link that will bring you to photos of various VNP campsites so you can get a feel for it. They are nice.

VNP campsites

We are considering similar trip with elderly relatives and may stay at various lodging options on the Ash River for easy access to day trips into Kab and elsewhere in VNP

Two ideas:

1. Sylvania Wilderness in the UP of Michigan. The Sylvania Wilderness is in the Ottawa National Forest. Sylvania Wilderness. Unlike the BWCA, you reserve a specific campsite. Special fishing regs apply so read up on those before you go.

2. Poplar Lake off the Gunflint Trail has FS campsites that are not in the BW. That would give you motorized access to those sites and easy day trip possibilities to a couple of BW lakes if you are so inclined. I would contact Rockwood Outfitters about these sites.

+1 for the Turtle-Flambeau and Willow Flowages in northern Wisconsin. Motors allowed, BWCA-style sites (with picnic tables), mostly undeveloped shorelines.

I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear.

Nigal: "I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear. "

+1

Nigal: "I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear. "

What areas did you previously share, though? :)

yellowhorse: "

Nigal: "I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear. "

What areas did you previously share, though? :)"

Very poor state campgrounds. 8D

After what I’ve seen happen in the BWCA I try to keep the secret places secret.

Nigal:
After what I’ve seen happen in the BWCA I try to keep the secret places secret. "

Would you please PM me your secret places so I can make sure I don't mention them accidentally? Thanks.

WIMike: "

Nigal:
After what I’ve seen happen in the BWCA I try to keep the secret places secret. "

Would you please PM me your secret places so I can make sure I don't mention them accidentally? Thanks."

Ok, I’ll give you one freeby. LOL!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Provincial_Park

Nigal: "I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear. "

Thanks for going out of your way to let everyone know your very special feelings on your secret ideas. Without people sharing info out of kindness and mutual respect for fellow travelers, sites like this wouldn't exist.

I’ll also add a recommendation for Turtle Flambeau Flowage. Beautiful area. And pretty good fishing at times although the walleyes run small. The “big water” (southern open part of lake) can get a little ugly on windy days and there are a few special regulations to be aware of (particularly about driftwood) so plan accordingly. Plus you could float the Flambeau River from the dam down to Park Falls. Visit the St Croix factory store in Park Falls too. I own a cabin on TFF and plan to do a few canoe camping trips there this coming summer now that I’m retired. Message me if you want more info.

There are other possibilities in WI on smaller lakes. Cauldron Falls and High Falls Flowage, the Peshtigo River, Palmer/Tenderfoot lakes, etc. Probably quite a few more that I’m unfamiliar with. Maybe search the WI DNR website if you haven’t already.

I’ll second Sylvania Wilderness Area in upper MI too. “Boundary Waters Lite”. Some strict fishing regs (barbless hooks, unscented baits, etc.) to be aware of. Beautiful hemlock forest.

It's interesting to see people call Sylvania "BW-Lite." I've always considered that to be a more tightly regulated wilderness than the BW -- at least in terms of motor use and fishing regs. Isn't Crooked Lake the only motorized lake? And electric only at that?

thegildedgopher: "It's interesting to see people call Sylvania "BW-Lite." I've always considered that to be a more tightly regulated wilderness than the BW -- at least in terms of motor use and fishing regs. Isn't Crooked Lake the only motorized lake? And electric only at that?"

Good point. I use that term because the lakes are smaller, portages are generally shorter and easier and the entire area is smaller. My use of that term isn't meant to be a slight though. I love Sylvania for camping and day hiking/snowshoeing. And being able to reserve a specific campsite is awesome.

thegildedgopher: "

Nigal: "I have stopped sharing any areas I hold dear. "

Thanks for going out of your way to let everyone know your very special feelings on your secret ideas. Without people sharing info out of kindness and mutual respect for fellow travelers, sites like this wouldn't exist.
"

Any time. 8)

And hey, I did post a link to Algonquin.

Another vote for Sylvania Wilderness near Watersmeet, MI in the UP. The portages are easy trails and most are under 60 rods. Lots of pretty lakes, nice reserveable campsites (some adjacent pairs), many good hiking trails around and between lakes. Beautiful old growth forests.