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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Listening Point - General Discussion How far do you travel to the BW? |
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09/13/2022 10:57AM
It's been a while since this question has been asked and there are enough new people on this board to ask the question again.
So how far do you travel to get to the BWCAW? At one point I think there was a couple that traveled from Israel to paddle the quiet waters of the BW.
For me it's just over 1200 miles round trip from my house to Ely. Hopefully retirement will shrink that number drastically.
So how far do you travel to get to the BWCAW? At one point I think there was a couple that traveled from Israel to paddle the quiet waters of the BW.
For me it's just over 1200 miles round trip from my house to Ely. Hopefully retirement will shrink that number drastically.
"In wilderness is the salvation of mankind." Thoreau.
09/13/2022 01:52PM
Most of our Canoe Country trips are Quetico-based. If we enter the park from the south, it's a 1250-mile commute to Ely. If we enter from the north, it's a 1400-mile commute to Atikokan. These mileages are one-way, and it's worth every minute of the drive! We're in western North Carolina about 45 minutes south of Asheville.
TZ
TZ
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. African Proverb
09/13/2022 02:00PM
TrailZen: "Most of our Canoe Country trips are Quetico-based. "
Our's, too. It's about 600 miles one way from our house in eastern Wisconsin to Atikokan.
On the occasions where we've gone to the BW, it's between 450 and 475 miles, depending on Ely or the Gunflint Trail as our destination.
"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." ~ John Muir
09/13/2022 05:49PM
cyclones30: "8-9 hours of drive time.....I don't measure in miles :) "
Funny the various measurement systems folks use for travel. A college friend listed trip length by the beer needed (yeah, I know, that doesn't say much about some of my college friends!). Another by the coffee stops required. Another by refueling stops. Whatever works...
TZ
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. African Proverb
09/13/2022 07:49PM
My last four trips have been from the end of the Gunflint Trail or Tuscarora Outfitters. About right at 1500 miles from our home in GA. A little out of the way to stay with friends in Indianapolis and also some extra miles to avoid Chicago.
If I am traveling solo, as in the last three trips, I can't do it in less than three days and still feel good on the first day paddling. It is safer, too. Its an age thing. I can actually enjoy the drive if I take three days. Traveling with my partner we have done it straight through in 22 hours, but we were young then and a bit wilder! It is amazing we never got a speeding ticket on that trip.
Still wild, but in a different way:)
If I am traveling solo, as in the last three trips, I can't do it in less than three days and still feel good on the first day paddling. It is safer, too. Its an age thing. I can actually enjoy the drive if I take three days. Traveling with my partner we have done it straight through in 22 hours, but we were young then and a bit wilder! It is amazing we never got a speeding ticket on that trip.
Still wild, but in a different way:)
09/14/2022 09:29AM
StLouisPaddler: "Round trip is 1600 miles; 512,000 rods. "
That is an awesome paddles response. My RT is 206080 rods, paltry by comparison. 644 miles, 6.5 hrs. there and about 8 back.
No good camping story starts with it was 70 and sunny.
09/14/2022 01:00PM
Google maps says 2076 road miles to Ely, one way. But we fly to MSP and rent a car.
There may have been others but our niece and her husband came from Israel to do a trip with us. But it was part of a longer trip to visit family around the US. Same for one of her brothers.
There may have been others but our niece and her husband came from Israel to do a trip with us. But it was part of a longer trip to visit family around the US. Same for one of her brothers.
09/14/2022 04:58PM
schweady: "From Perham MN:
235 mi to Insula in Ely
325 mi to Poplar Haus on the Gunflint
"
We are 302 miles to the Poplar Haus on the Gunflint, but Trail Center is an even 300!
:^)
Interestingly, the MapQuest app on my phone has it the other way around.
Mike
I did indeed rock down to Electric Avenue, but I did not take it higher. I regret that.
09/14/2022 09:23PM
1375 miles one way from home near Raleigh, NC. When I can, I will start or end a trip from/to my work location, Louisville, KY and reduce drive to 950 miles.
Just paddled out tonite from an 11 day solo. Worth every mile to enjoy this amazing place!!
Just paddled out tonite from an 11 day solo. Worth every mile to enjoy this amazing place!!
It's all good
09/15/2022 10:59AM
I live in Siloam Springs Arkansas. It usually takes me two days to get to the North Shore and then I usually like to mess around there for half a day or more before going into the woods. About half the time I don’t actually go into the park. I often prefer someplace like the timber freer area.
09/15/2022 02:57PM
We come from Mid-Michigan. It's an 11 hour trip and 670 miles one way. We use to drive all night but we would be dead tired paddling and portaging our first day. Now we normally stop for a night in the Upper Peninsula somewhere and then we are in Ely around 2pm the day before we enter the BWCA. Gives us time to get everything in order before we head out. It's a vacation at this point in my life so no need to kill myself like I did in my younger days!!!
09/15/2022 10:56PM
2,041.1 from SF Bay Area. That's why I fly. It only took 13 hours last time. It is also why it's only one trip a year for me. I do make it as long as possible. Started with 7 days as a newbie. Then 10 last trip. Maybe 14 next time?
I'll certainly keep coming back for days like this
I'll certainly keep coming back for days like this
"Illegitimi non carborundum"
09/18/2022 09:38PM
250 to Ely, 300 to mid-Gunflint Trail. Consider myself very fortunate to have such a relatively short distance to travel as compared to some of you. Truly impressed with the distances some of you travel to enjoy canoe country. Interesting thread.
09/19/2022 04:49PM
Just over 1000 miles from central Ohio, one way. Assuming you go across the Mackinaw Bridge and through the UP of Michigan (so much better than Chicago).
Last trip was to WCPP which was 1300 miles one way to Red Lake (never mind the 2.5 hours after that on a dirt/rock "road")... and I thought I grew up in the country... Worth it though, solitude is so much better than BWCA/Quetico.
Last trip was to WCPP which was 1300 miles one way to Red Lake (never mind the 2.5 hours after that on a dirt/rock "road")... and I thought I grew up in the country... Worth it though, solitude is so much better than BWCA/Quetico.
09/20/2022 12:07PM
1441 miles from here to Ely. The google map has it at 22 hours and 8 minutes currently. Too far for as many trips as I'd like to make. The worst part of the trip is getting to the north side of Houston.
"Geography is just physics slowed down, with a couple of trees stuck in it." Terry Pratchett
10/05/2022 03:04PM
According to Google Maps it is 2,245 miles from my house in San Diego to Grand Marais.
I store all of my gear and canoes at my sister's place near Stevens Point, WI. I visit family and friends in WI and IL, and then do three one week trips in the BWCA and Quetico. The round trip is usually a little over 6,000 miles.
For the past 5 years I've done this trip in both the spring and fall. It's great being semi-retired!!
I store all of my gear and canoes at my sister's place near Stevens Point, WI. I visit family and friends in WI and IL, and then do three one week trips in the BWCA and Quetico. The round trip is usually a little over 6,000 miles.
For the past 5 years I've done this trip in both the spring and fall. It's great being semi-retired!!
10/29/2022 09:53AM
1406 miles 1 way to Ely, about 22 hours of driving. We stop half way around O’Hare in Chicago for dinner & a hotel room for the night before we head North.
It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop. -Confucius
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