Looking for ideas for a mid-September trip - possibly utilizing a tow. Two of us have spinal issues, and while portages are definitely doable, I'd like to really minimize the load bearing. Ideas??

Little or minimal portaging in mid-Sept.

Entry 54 - Seagull Lake - No portaging. Lots of campsites. Day trip to Alpine Lake with canoe only.

Entry 55 - Saganaga Lake - No portaging

Entry 55 - Saganaga with tow to Red Rock Lake - Very minimal portaging.

Entry 41 - Brule Lake - Day trips to South Temperance Lake and the Cone Lakes with minimal portaging canoe only.

Entry 38 - Sawbill Lake - Sawbill/Alton/Kelso Loop. Minimal portaging. If based on Sawbill, day trips to Alto and Kelso.

Entry 37 Kawishiwi Lake - Stay right there on Kawishiwi. Day trip to Square Lake or Kawasachong Lake. Minimal portages/Beaver Dam pullovers with canoe only.

Entry 36 - Hog Creek to Perent Lake. May have a couple beaver dam pullovers.

Almost all these lakes (Kawishiwi excepted) are large lakes with wind as a factor in your stay.

There are others to the east of the Gunflint that would also work. E.g. Clearwater Lake.

Good tow options through Anderson's in Crane Lake. Currently, tows are limited to Snow Bay, but hopefully, by Sept...you can get on anywhere on Lac La Croix or to the portages beyond. I used the service a few years ago. It is the way to go if the physical part of portaging is not your cup of tea.

Maybe a hybrid of this trip?

Moose Lake tow to Splash Lake, over to Ensign. Pretty lake, good fishing, bazillions of campsites. But probably plenty of people too.

Lake One entry, another popular one. 13 campsites on Lake One without portaging. Two easy short portages to lake two and another 25 or so campsites between lakes two and three without portaging. You will see people, and some burn area on the southern shores but pretty lakes and decent fishing.

Slim Lake entry, easy flat 100 rod portage to get in. 4 campsites on Slim, all decent to good. More campsites on lakes beyond but Slim is a very nice lake with decent fishing and a good destination for an easy trip.


Good Luck!

second on moose lake to ensign, with or without a tow there it's minimal in terms of portaging and ensign has a good bass fishing spot right by the portage into splash

Fall lake up into Basswood would be another good option. Two easy portages then you've got lots of water to explore.

Spinal issues can impact paddling, weight bearing and distance/terrain issues. The friend of the elderly, arthritis, has limited me in all the above. At one time a 15-mile day was easy, now 5 is a good day.
A quick check on Rec.gov shows both Moose and Lake One have good openings the last ten days of September so finding a campsite should be easy enough. Both areas will have seen heavy use and finding firewood can be difficult. There is no tow at Lake One and it is a bit of a paddle to the main lake, although the channel is a pleasant scenic paddle. A tow to Splash would require the least effort in all categories to find a campsite on Ensign.
P.S. Coming out the 23rd or 24th checkout the wingnight get together in the Twin Cities area.