Working on planning a trip to BWCA with just the wife and me. It'd be her first time out there and only my second time. We are both great at canoeing, but not sure how far we can make it with portages. Thinking maybe a 3-day weekend trip for her first trip up there.

Any recommendations on where to go in? Previously gone in around Ely at Moose Lake near Snowbank Lake.

I’d recommend a longer trip. It’s a lot of work to get up to the BWCA and gather the gear and get entered. 3 day weekend is two nights. In my opinion you won’t have enough time to relax and get into sync with the trip. 3 days is better than nothing though so if that is what works go with it.

Moose entry is nice and you could stay on the moose chain and avoid portaging or go into Ensign with 2 easy portages. Get an early start and try to be in a campsite by early afternoon.

Ryan

Try a few day trips from Fall Lake with your wife ("the wife" seems crude).

Or Enter At Wood Lake and loop thru Basswood to Newton and exit at Fall.

The first thing you need to do (ASAP) is check permit availability. It's going to be challenging at this point. Then go from there.

Gaidin53: "I’d recommend a longer trip. It’s a lot of work to get up to the BWCA and gather the gear and get entered. 3 day weekend is two nights. In my opinion you won’t have enough time to relax and get into sync with the trip. 3 days is better than nothing though so if that is what works go with it.


Ryan"

I agree. My first trip with my husband was six days. If it had been only three, I never would have returned. And I did return, many times over the next 40+ years, often beginning to plan the new trip before he did.

I think if I were going to suggest a route it would be off the Gunflint, and probably Clearwater/Pine/Caribou area, or Poplar/Lizz to Caribou (the other Caribou), Horseshoe, Gaskin, Vista, and vicinity. Another good route would be East Bearskin, Alder, Crystal, Canoe, etc. It isn't a loop, but it is pretty, small lakes, and you could always day trip to Johnson Falls.

But it may be very hard to get a permit for anywhere this particular busy year and this late in the season for planning.

Yeah, check permits and see what's open. When are you thinking of going? Lots and LOTS of options....and get it as long as you can.

Snowbank to disappointment.

Lake 1 to lake 4

Daniel's or Duncan lake if you can get ther permit.

All of these are pretty easy.

Sorry double post. One thing I would add, though, spray outer clothes and socks with permethrin spray if going in mosquito season and to discourage ticks.

I agree with Spartan2. It takes a few days to get into a rhythm and stop being dependent on a clock. My 1st trip with my husband and the scouts was 10 days. We had 2 sites we stayed on 2 nights and moved every day on the others. It really was what got me into wilderness camping. I don't recommend moving that much or that long, but it's good to have some time to use to relax as well as exploring new territory. The feeling that you have time to appreciate your surroundings and aren't rushed to fit it in a short period of time is part of the experience. You can always bug out early if ya'll are really miserable, but I find I'm more sad the closer we get to leaving even if I am missing some of the comforts of home. (Like a chair with a back or ice.) ** edited a bit, I didn't express it well the 1st time**

I feel that three days and two nights is ideal for a first trip. It is how I prefer to introduce first timers to canoe camping. It is long enough for them to experience paddling, portaging, and camp routine and gives them an opportunity to assess likes, dislikes and be better equipped and mentally prepared for a longer trip. The biggest changes in route, equipment, and food are often made after the first trip when a person has a better understanding of what to expect.

I have to side with the above. For a first trip with someone not used to wilderness (read no potty) canoe camping, keep the trip short and no portages.

Our first trip was only 3 days, but it worked because she has gone with me for 50 more years. We started at Lake One but went down the Kawishiwi River instead of out on the lakes. Portages were all short and not difficult. Keep it relaxed and focus on enjoying the surroundings.

Gunsmokes,(wife),first trip was to paddle to an island on Big Saganaga and camp a couple of nights, then paddle to camper island on Saganaga and camp a couple of more nights. It was a great trip!

Portages are not necessarily everyone's idea of the Boundary Waters. Our guys have been coming up for almost 15 years. We started out doing 6 portages in. Now we do base camping 1-2 portages max. Sometimes we base camp on Seagull so we don't have to portage at all. For our guys it is about relaxing, cooking great food in the outdoors, fishing and not having to work much.

My wife would hate portaging. I would imagine those who like to portage also like to backpack. That would not be my wife. Come to think of it, its not any of the 18 guys we take up the BWCA each fall.

Spartan 2 recommendation. Easily done in 3 days if that's your time limit.
The Gunflint is a beautiful drive with beautiful lodges/outfitters tucked into the forest. Good eats at The Trail Center Lodge (est. 1938). It overlooks Poplar Lake. Worth a stop if you go that route.

But portages are the best part! It's where you see all the cool stuff. Like mushrooms and grouse and waterfalls and thigh deep, boot sucking mud and slanting slippery rock faces. And the satisfaction that you made it through. Also I've had a goal to get in shape so I won't make my husband have to shoulder my load so I have been working out really hard. Ok, maybe it's not to everyone's taste and I know, I'm a weirdo, but Iike exploring new territory and seeing new stuff. I understand everyone has their own reason for going and enjoy different things. Maybe best to ask his wife what she is looking forward to and plan accordingly.

I bring up groups of men each year in September to BWCA from our church. Typically 3 groups of 4-6 men each. After 15 years of doing this I have yet to hear anyone say that portages were the best part.

What they would say is the best part is sitting around the camp fire each night after a big meal (our groups each really well), just talking and watching nature.

We do a lot of exploring as well when we in the BWCA, often to multiple lakes. But we do it as day trips from the base camp so that we are just portaging our canoes and fishing gear.

Our affinity for base camping probably comes from larger groups. But it also comes from guys that have pushed themselves all year and just want a time they can do anything they want to do.

Well, now you've heard from someone who enjoys portages. Also more portages mean more solitude. We can run naked through the forest if we want to. We don't. Mosquitos and chiggers love me too much. But we could. Been going since 2006 at least every other year. Not easy since we live in Texas and have been taking care of declining parents for the last 8 years. I stick by my enthusiasm for portages, maybe due to double portaging and having time to look. Sorry OP. Didn't mean to hijack your post.

Freeleo1: "But portages are the best part! It's where you see all the cool stuff. Like mushrooms and grouse and waterfalls and thigh deep, boot sucking mud and slanting slippery rock faces. And the satisfaction that you made it through. Also I've had a goal to get in shape so I won't make my husband have to shoulder my load so I have been working out really hard. Ok, maybe it's not to everyone's taste and I know, I'm a weirdo, but Iike exploring new territory and seeing new stuff. I understand everyone has their own reason for going and enjoy different things. Maybe best to ask his wife what she is looking forward to and plan accordingly."

Funny, I have been away from this site for a few days as we are in a cabin on the Gunflint and I am busy doing other things (also don’t have Internet unless I sit outside the lodge.).

I totally agree with the above quote.

We have retired from canoe-tripping after 40+ years. But one reason is because I discovered that I did like portaging and when I could no longer do it for myself the joy of the experience was gone for me. We tried base camping and for me it just wasn’t the same. We tried tripping with another couple who carried my packs. It was a nice trip, but not the same sort of satisfaction I had when I did it all and made the extra effort. For me, canoe-tripping is paddling, portaging, camping, relaxing: repeat, repeat, repeat, etc. (Incidentally, have never backpacked in my life.)

Not saying anyone has to be like me. But I do stand by my original statement: if my first trip had been a long weekend, I would never have wanted to return. I am so very thankful that my husband didn’t underestimate me and gave me a real adventure.

Thanks for the reinforcement Spartan 2. We're headed in Wednesday. I'm looking at a time soon we'll have to take it easier as we're both over 60 now. It's hard to think about ending the adventures, and I feel the same about working for the payout at the end of the day. I've got 4 lakes picked out for 7 nights. Dan isn't usually into moving sites as much, but there's so many lakes to see. We'll see how it goes.

I'm encouraged with seeing the younger generation of men and women out there and on videos that are enjoying the area responsibly and seem to be invested in caring for it in the future. I just hope there's enough of them.

Freeleo1: "But portages are the best part! It's where you see all the cool stuff. Like mushrooms and grouse and waterfalls and thigh deep, boot sucking mud and slanting slippery rock faces. And the satisfaction that you made it through. Also I've had a goal to get in shape so I won't make my husband have to shoulder my load so I have been working out really hard. Ok, maybe it's not to everyone's taste and I know, I'm a weirdo, but Iike exploring new territory and seeing new stuff. I understand everyone has their own reason for going and enjoy different things. Maybe best to ask his wife what she is looking forward to and plan accordingly."

I love portages, too. They provide variety, physical/mental challenge, and lots of cool stuff to see. I would never want to just sit in a boat all day, nor would I ever want to just carry stuff on my back all day (hence I am not a backpacker).

I would recommend starting on smaller lakes. A big lake like Snowbank, Sag etc, could have some really nasty waves, if the wind is up, and make for a very unpleasant first experience. But you said you're experienced paddlers, so maybe that won't scare her.

Regarding permits. If there are only one or two weekends you can go, just watch the permit site daily. Cancellations pop up now and then, even for popular destinations like sawbill.