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Bucky1Barnes
member (5)member
  
04/15/2021 01:59PM  
My friends and I have wanted to do a summer trip together and I've been to the BWCA a few times so I recommended we go there. My only problem is I'm bad at finding routes. All my trips have been with my dad and he has planned the routes.

I'm hoping to find one that takes around five days, but we could also take it a little slower and maybe see some sights. I would love to go to Johnson Falls, but I don't know where to go after it.
 
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schweady
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04/15/2021 02:02PM  
Welcome! You've found the right place. None of us will pretend to take the place of your dad, but you'll be getting a lot of excellent suggestions here. Do a search on this site ( where it says "Chat Rooms | Search | Member Directory | Edit Profile | Logout", above ) for Johnson Falls; a lot of write-ups in the Trip Reports forum will point you the way. Familiarize yourself with the maps section on this site and follow along there with the routes folks suggest here. I'll just provide these two, for starters:

64-East Bearskin -> Alder -> Canoe -> Pine -> Johnson Falls

62-Clearwater -> Caribou (via the W or E portage, rather than the middle one) -> Little Caribou -> Pine -> Johnson Falls

Although, overnight paddle permits for 62-Clearwater are pretty much gone for this summer... :-(
Michwall2
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04/15/2021 02:38PM  
5 days - Lots of great places to head with sights to see.

Entry 54 - Seagull Lake - South Arm of Knife Loop. Day 1 Seagull, Alpine, Jasper, Kingfisher, Ogishkemuncie. Day 2 - Day trip to Mueller Falls - Head southest out of Ogishkemuncie to Muller Lake and take the portage toward Agamok Lake. You will intersect with the Kekakabic Trail. Turn east and walk about 1/4 mile. You will find a bridge over the Mueller Falls. Day 3 - Ogishkemuncie Lake, Annie Lake, Jenny Lake, Eddy Lake. You will find Eddy Falls all along the drop from Eddy Lake to South Arm of Knife. There paths to the east all along the portage that take you into the falls. After you visit to Eddy Falls head way west on SAK to the point where the north arm and south arm of Knife Lake split. That peninsula is Thunder Point. There is a path to the (almost) top with a great view of the border between the USA and Canada. If you have time, head back along SAK and find an open campsite. Day 4 -SAK, Hanson Lake, Ester Lake, Ottertrack Lake, Swamp Lake, Saganaga Lake. Day 5 Saganaga Lake back to the Entry point which is just across the parking lot from where you put in at Seagull Lake. (You can also take the north arm of Knife Lake back the same way or just turn around and head back to Seagull the way you came in.)

Entry 38 - Sawbill Lake - Cherokee Loop - Day 1 - Sawbill Lake, Ada Creek, Ada Lake, Ada Creek, Skoop Lake, Cherokee Creek, Cherokee Lake. Cherokee Lake is one of the most picturesque lakes in all the BW. Day 2 - Day trip to Frost Lake. Cherokee Lake, Gordon Lake, Unload Lake, Frost Lake. There is a golden sand beach along most of the eastern shore of this lake. Also a better than average chance of seeing moose. Day 3 - Cherokee Lake, Sitka Lake, North Temperance Lake, South Temperance Lake. South Temperance is an island studded beauty. But it has only 4 campsites. Arrive early for a chance to find a site. The alternate is to head back to North Temperance or out onto Brule Lake for a campsite. Day 4 - South Temperance , Pond, Weird Lake, Jack Lake, Kelly Lake. You are following the Temperance River today. Beautiful river valley with river like paddling. Stop and check out the abandoned gold mine to the west of the north end of the Jack/Kelly portage. Day 5 - Kelly Lake, Burnt Lake, Smoke Lake, Sawbill Lake.

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake. 2 options -
Option 1 - This route requires a shuttle as you will be ending at Sawbill Lake. Day 1 Kawishiwi Lake, River, Square Lake, River, Kawasachong Lake, Pond, Polly Lake, Pond, Pond, Koma Lake, Malberg Lake, Try to find a campsite in the eastern end of the lake. Beautiful river paddles today. You will paddle & portge through the estern edge of the Pagami Creek Fire area. Day 2 - Malberg Lake, River Lake, Kivaniva Lake, Anit Lake, Pan Lake, Panhandle Lake, Pond, Makwa Lake, Elton Lake, Little Saganaga Lake. Find the canyon/falls on your way out of Malberg Lake. The massive cliffs on the west shore of Makwa Lake are worth the effort to see. We take the 2 portages out fo the north end of Elton Lake. Check out the impressive beaver dam at the portage. Little Sag is an iconic BW lake with beautiful islands and scenery. Stay an extra day here or . . . Day 3 Little Sag, Mora Lake, Whipped Lake, Fente Lake, Hub Lake, Mesaba Lake. Mesaba Lake is one of our favorites. Lots of solitude here. Day
4 Bushwhack your way to Leah Lake. Take a day trip to Dent or Bug Lake. Or just relax. Day 5 - Leave very early - Mesaba Lake, Hug Lake, Duck Lake, Zenith Lake, Lujenida Lake, Kelso River, Kelso Lake, Kelso River, Sawbill Lake.

Option 2 - Day 1 Kawishiwi to Malberg (see above). Day 2 - Day trip - Malberg Lake, River Lake (southwest), Fishdance Lake. See the pictographs on Fishdance Lake. Walk the portage along the Kawishiwi River toward Alice Lake. Venture into Amber Lake and make use of the sand beach on your right as you enter. Day 3 - Day trip - Adams/Boulder Loop. Head back out the southwest portage and paddle the loop to Adams/Boulder Lake and back.
Day 4 - Louse River - Paddle the Louse River to Boze/Frond Lake. This route is very rugged. Lots of beaver dam pull overs and winding river. You are rewarded by solitude and top notch wilderness. Day 5 - back to Kawishiwi Lake. Other day trips - Head north to Makwa to take in the massive cliffs.

Hope you have a great trip!

TuscaroraBorealis
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04/15/2021 05:03PM  
Welcome to bwca.com!

Here's a short basecamp trip that offers some excellent day trips - including Johnson falls. Trip report
04/15/2021 07:30PM  
Bucky, read this trip report and see what you think. Might work for you. Some good ideas here so far but also some pretty intense routes for your goals and experience level and off topic ideas. This is an easy and beautiful route with good fishing and time at Johnson Falls - the only caveat is that you can get a Clearwater permit. Could also be done out of East Bearskin in a pinch.

Clearwater entry to Johnson Falls
Bucky1Barnes
member (5)member
  
04/15/2021 08:47PM  
Thanks! I've been thinking I'd go through East Bearskin if I were to do Johnson falls. I'm trying to figure out the legalistic of it all because I know that Johnson Falls is more of a day trip if anything so I'm not sure what I would do after it. I also don't have much experience in navigation so I'm hoping to move on an easier route or set up a base camp for that reason.
airmorse
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04/15/2021 10:03PM  
It's awesome that the Winter Soldier is planning a trip to the BW.

Welcome!!!
Bucky1Barnes
member (5)member
  
04/15/2021 10:07PM  
airmorse: "It's awesome that the Winter Soldier is planning a trip to the BW.


Welcome!!!"


I panicked and didn't want to use my real name lol
airmorse
distinguished member(3420)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/15/2021 10:48PM  
Bucky1Barnes: "
airmorse: "It's awesome that the Winter Soldier is planning a trip to the BW.

Welcome!!!"

I panicked and didn't want to use my real name lol"

No worries Bucky. Lots of good info on this site as well as good people.
 
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