We are going to try something new this year and I am hoping you guys can help us with it.

Instead of traveling with a group of 9, we want to break up (permitted) into two separate groups. Ideally, one group goes left, the other right, and we meet up for lunch at some pre-determined lake.

For example, we start at EP 14. Half the group heads up north to Slim, the other half heads east towards Shell. A few days later, we meet up somewhere near Gebeonequet to swap a few stories and share lunch.

Our trips are usually 6 days (50 - 60 miles) and we don't mind longer portages (always single portage as we travel light). This trip though, we are willing to cut back on the mileage (somewhere around 40 mile loop) so we can spend two nights at one campsite. Our problem is we have not found the right entry point. EP 14 example above would be perfect, except we've all already done that loop.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I would consider starting at two different entry points. You could trade keys when you meet up for lunch if necessary. Regardless of your vehicle situation this is feasible. With multiple canoe-carrying vehicles you could even do something crazy like entering Ely side and Gunflint.

Far-away EPs
Enter 25 Moose and 55 Saganaga, stick to the border and meet for lunch on SAK.
Enter 27 Snowbank and 54 Seagull, meet for lunch on SAK, Kekekabic or Fraser.
Enter 49 Skipper and 38 Sawbill, meet for lunch on Cherokee.

Closer-to-each-other EPs
Enter 37 Kawishiwi and 38 Sawbill, meet for lunch on Little Sag.
Enter 50 Cross Bay and 52 Brant, meet for lunch somewhere on the Frost River.

One EP
Enter 20 Angleworm Lake and the loop that includes Crooked, Iron and the Beartrap River. This way your group could travel together over the 1000+ rods of the first three portages.

Gary Ebert: " we don't mind longer portages (always single portage as we travel light). "

Lake One -> Snowbank Loop. You could meet up on Thomas/Fraser/Alice/Adams/Boulder.

EP 22/23.

One group goes horse/horse river/basswood falls/crooked direction.

Other goes fourtown/boot/gun/crooked direction.

Start together. Possibly end together.

Meet somewhere on crooked.

Nice 40 +/- mile loop in either direction. Horse river not a problem either direction.

Just a thought.

I'm unfamiliar with BWCA permitting requirements. Does this proposal require 2 permits, one for each group?

Castaway: "I'm unfamiliar with BWCA permitting requirements. Does this proposal require 2 permits, one for each group? "

Yes. My understanding is 1 permit = 1 campsite. You can search (“can groups split up?”) this site for additional info on this question.

Castaway: "I'm unfamiliar with BWCA permitting requirements. Does this proposal require 2 permits, one for each group? "

Yes, it does, since all members of a permit must camp together. The two groups can occupy the same site as long as they don't exceed the nine-person four watercraft limitation.

I really like the idea of one group starting from Ely and the other from the Gunflint with both groups crossing the BWCA with a meet up in the middle to exchange car keys. After the trip both groups could then drive to a predetermined meet up spot for beer and burgers. I might have to see if I can arrange a trip like that in the future.

I like the idea too. But as a precaution, since even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry, I would recommend that each party carry a duplicate key for the vehicles just in case you were to miss each other for some reason.

2 or 3 ideas

Sawbill Entry - Sawbill West Loop
Group 1
Sawbill to Phoebe
Phoebe to Malberg
Malberg to Little Sag
(Lunch together on Pan or Makwa?)
Layover on L. Sag
L. Sag to Mesaba
Mesaba to Sawbill

Group 2 - Reverse G1 with Layover on Malberg.

Lizz Lake and Skipper Entrance (both are starting on Poplar Lake off the Gunflint)
Group 1
Poplar to Gaskin (or Winchell)
Gaskin to Long Island Lake
(overnight together here)
Long Island Lake to Banadad
Layover on Banadad
Banadad to Poplar (Via Skipper Entry)

Group 2
Poplar to Banadad
Banadad to Long Island Lake
Overnight together here
Long Island to Gasking or Winchell
Winchell to Poplar via Lizz Lake

Sawbill East Loop
Group 1
Sawbill to Cherokee
Cherokee to Snipe Lake
Snipe Lake to Mora Lake (Or Little Sag)
I would suggest lunch on the sand beach on the Tuscarora end of the portage to Howl Swamp.
Mora Lake to Mesaba Lake
Mesaba Lake to Sawbill Lake

Group 2
Sawbill to Mesaba Lake
Mesaba Lake to Mora Lake (or Little Sag)
Mora Lake to Snipe Lake
I would suggest lunch on the sand beach on the Tuscarora end of the portage to Howl Swamp.
Snipe Lake to Cherokee Lake
Cherokee Lake to Sawbill Lake

I very much like your plan, but am having trouble planning the route. The Horse Lake/Horse River up to Crooked is easy enough. I'm having issues with your Fourtown/Boot/Gun over to Crooked. I have the #11 map out and really don't see a route to Crooked. Am I missing something?

Gary Ebert: "I very much like your plan, but am having trouble planning the route. The Horse Lake/Horse River up to Crooked is easy enough. I'm having issues with your Fourtown/Boot/Gun over to Crooked. I have the #11 map out and really don't see a route to Crooked. Am I missing something?"

There's a well established route to Crooked from Gun through Wagosh - Niki - Chippewa - Papoose etc. Into Friday bay.


Here's a trip report that details a trip to/from Crooked.

We did the loop up Horse River, through Crooked and back out through Papoose, Gun, Fairy, Boot in 2019. It is a well traveled loop. Two groups should be able to find on another if they went different directions.

Papoose Creek was my favorite part of the paddle. The portage between Wagosh and Gun is long but not difficult. Don't let that stop you.

What I liked about the loop was the variety. Medium sized lakes, rivers, water falls, petroglyphs, the border, old rusted out cars, big water of Crooked, and creeks. If you like solitude, the lakes between Crooked and Gun have one or two campsites so you have the lake to yourself. We camped on one and saw no other people.

ScottL: "I like the idea too. But as a precaution, since even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry, I would recommend that each party carry a duplicate key for the vehicles just in case you were to miss each other for some reason."

This is a great idea. So many things could happen that would get in the way of the key exchange.

Mike

Gary Ebert: "I very much like your plan, but am having trouble planning the route. The Horse Lake/Horse River up to Crooked is easy enough. I'm having issues with your Fourtown/Boot/Gun over to Crooked. I have the #11 map out and really don't see a route to Crooked. Am I missing something?"

There is a well established route from Friday Bay on Crooked down to Fourtown as others have indicated. Portages are fine but there is one long one, about a mile in length.

We (party of 4) did this loop a couple years ago going counter clockwise. On day 3 or 4 we were one of the portages between Friday Bay and Gun heading south when we were passed by a party of two young guys and their dog around midday. They had started the day early at the Mudro entry point and were looking to complete the loop by days end. They didn’t have much gear other than a day pack and they were moving quickly. I have no doubt they finished before dark...and it did make us 50 something guys feel old.

You can do this with Ram Lake (EP 44) and Bower Trout Lake (EP43) entry points. Even though they are different entry points, the parking lots are within walking distance of each other. My son and friend started at Ram, while I started at Bower Trout the same day. We each exited at the others' start point. We had planned to meet up halfway around the loop, but my son shortened his route and missed me by a half day. Lots of possibilities to tailor the loops to the challenge/difficulty your group desires.

Aldy1: "Lake One -> Snowbank Loop. You could meet up on Thomas/Fraser/Alice/Adams/Boulder."

This is one of our favorites - we have done this a couple of times. the route is a little busy but no motors until Snowbank.