Looking at an August trip off the GF - Entering at Poplar and looping through Lizz, Caribou, Horseshoe, Gaskin, Winchell, Omega, Henson, Pillsbury, Swallow, Meeds and back to Poplar through Caribou.

What maps would give us the best coverage of these lakes? What company, what map # etc?

Recommendation for over night accommodations for the night before entry? Outfitters?

If you can steer me to some recent trip reports of this area I would appreciate it. Any 5 star campsites? General fishing sites? Sites to take in? (Waterfalls etc?) Pros and Cons of this loop?

Hi Chippewa,

Plenty of info on this route. Very popular. I'm doing the same trip in late May. Here's what I've discovered:

1) Link to my previous inquiry on the same route
2) video of loop
3) This website has lots of trip reports to the area...simply search the trip reports.
4) Plenty of great campsites. Again, use the map on this site to review.
5) My map for the trip is McKenzie 3 and cloth True North 14 as a gift for my dad. I also use a garmin and download gpx files with everything marked.
6) We are using Rockwood Lodge for a bunkhouse and they've been great to work with...I've seen lots of positive comments on this website about their services.

Feel free to contact me this summer for more info if you'd like.

Going on memory here, but I’m pretty sure the Voyageur map #9 covers the whole route. Rockwood Outfitters would do a great job for you. They’re right on Poplar Lake and have a great bunkhouse and showers after your trip. The Trail Center is also five minutes away.

Voyageur #9 coverage zoom in on area, click map in upper right corner

Great area. I haven’t done that loop but have been to all of those lakes at least once and several a few times.
Rockwood is a great outfitter to work with and being on poplar you can just push of from their beach in the morning. I like getting up there early enough the day before to get everything taken care of so I can push off at first light. Their bunkhouses have a view of the lake and each has a private bathroom.
I also use Voyageur map #9 for the area.

McKenzie map #4A will do that for you, too. Not always found at retailers, but I found one at Rockwood.

I have been to all of those and one thing to note for you: The portage north to Swallow from Pillsbury is not where it is marked on many maps. There are some false trails you don't want to follow. Go East through the narrows on Pillsbury and all the way into the bay to the north.

Planning the same, also in August. Rockwood bunkhouse, Over to Trail Center for breakfast, then back to shove off from Rockwood. My first time on that side of the BW.
I picked up Fisher F 13 and it has all of it.
I like Fishers for planning trips and McKenzie and Voyageur while tripping, but they’re all good.

Just an FYI in case you didn’t know. Trail Center doesn’t open until 8:00am. Their breakfast is excellent but doesn’t make for an early push off for your trip. I’ve read reports of people expecting it to open at 5:00 like.
Brittonss and being disappointed when they arrived. My Trail Center meals are always the night before entry and the post trip meal before heading home.

Trail Center is my favorite restaurant.

Good to know - thanks!
Guess if we get back and go by 9:30ish and aim for Horseshoe or Gaskin, we should still be ok.

HowardSprague: "Planning the same, also in August. Rockwood bunkhouse, Over to Trail Center for breakfast, then back to shove off from Rockwood. My first time on that side of the BW.
I picked up Fisher F 13 and it has all of it.
I like Fishers for planning trips and McKenzie and Voyageur while tripping, but they’re all good.
"

Mine is before Memorial Day.
Rockwood Bunkhouse, canoes from Rockwood, eating at Trail Center as much as possible. I was also planning on F-13. I’ve always used Fisher in the past, and this map fits the area well.

I am interested in that true north cloth, however!

Also, the folks at Rockwood have been a pleasure to work with thus far.

My last two trips were in that area. No advice other than to say I love it. Horseshoe is a good place to look for moose.

wanderingfromkansas: "

"

Also, the folks at Rockwood have been a pleasure to work with thus far."

Agree! Super responsive & nice.

HowardSprague: "Good to know - thanks!
Guess if we get back and go by 9:30ish and aim for Horseshoe or Gaskin, we should still be ok."

Yes. My wife and I made it to our site on gaskin in 3 hours. That our 2nd trip ever.

We like the people at Rockwood a lot.

ducks: "Just an FYI in case you didn’t know. Trail Center doesn’t open until 8:00am. Their breakfast is excellent but doesn’t make for an early push off for your trip. I’ve read reports of people expecting it to open at 5:00 like.
Brittonss and being disappointed when they arrived. My Trail Center meals are always the night before entry and the post trip meal before heading home.

Trail Center is my favorite restaurant. "

Is there a place in that area to get an earlier breakfast?

Lightfoot: "Is there a place in that area to get an earlier breakfast?"

Rockwood Lodge has answered this question a few times before. Check out the rest of their FAQ too. I booked my first stay at their bunkhouse on permit-reservation day this year and have been very impressed thus far.

Looks like the restaurant at Gunflint Lodge opens at 7:00. But it's also 13 miles away vs Trail Center about 2 miles away.
There's a link to the very nearby Poplar Haus, but no info if they have breakfast or what their hours are during the summer.
Hungry Jack Lodge less than 5 miles away (per google maps), but site posts no summer hours for the restaurant or if they do breakfast.

i did this a number of years ago. Loved it.

My recommendation would be to have a quick breakfast of maybe sausage and cheese on a bagel (cold or toasted on your stove) before you shove off from Rockwood and get an early start to get a campsite and once you get a campsite have a hearty late breakfast/lunch. From Rockwood you would be on Horseshoe in about 2 hours (double portaging and not racing), on Gaskin in just over 3 hours, etc. The water isn't big, the portages aren't difficult, the scenery is beautiful. We usually push off from Rockwood around 7:00 a.m. and have camp completely set up and are eating lunch on Gaskin by 12:00. We go in September and have our choice of campsites however. August is a busy time so I would shoot for an early start and as you pass people coming out ask where they are coming from because by 10:00 a.m. they are going to be coming from Caribou, Horseshoe, Vista, Gaskin, or Winchell.

Sounds like a great plan! I'm hopeful that the area isn't too busy before Memorial Day. I think we'll have to save Trail Center breakfast for our exit day.

What's the best dinner in the area? Trail Center? Poplar Haus?

Morning of the trip I always just do a cold breakfast in the bunkhouse so I can get on the water at first light.

Trail Center is my favorite restaurant anywhere. Not just up the gunflint trail.