Greetings!

I am looking at the possibility of a late October BWCA trip. I've canoed/camped in early and late October before and am aware of the risks. I'll be using a 17 foot Grumman. I won't be traveling once I reach a campsite - I just want to paddle a touch and camp in the B-DUB for 3-4 nights for some solitude after making the 5-6 hour trip from home. I plan on having hearty meals, warm fires and hot chocolate, and savoring what's left of the paddling season. The weather this week looks to be decent especially toward the weekend which is when I'm planning on going. I am thinking either South Hegman or Slim Lake EP's. I've never been on these lakes but scouted the EP portages two years ago and they are pretty favorable. I've also researched what I can about posted campsite reviews I have three questions:

1. Any campsite recommendations for either lake?

2. Any cell phone service on either lake?

3. Any other info/advice about this area lately?

Thank you in advance! This board is always fun to read and has been helpful to so many paddlers of all ability levels.

I am not familiar with that area but I hope you have a great trip

I have not been on S. Hegman but we did a mid Sept trip to Slim a few years ago and enjoyed it a lot(except for the weather). Slim is a very pretty lake and also has decent fishing, especially smallies but some walleyes too. Access is very easy and there are 4 campsites on the lake. All are decent to good sites. We stayed at the 3rd one going south to north and it is the highest rated - very nice site. The furthest north one also looked nice from the water, the site there is right at water's edge. The second one from the south end is a fairly newly designated site and looks to be pretty nice too. The southern site is a 3 and decent enough but the view from there is not as expansive as the other sites. There is a network of hiking trails behind this site if that might be part of your plan.

In terms of desirability I would rate the 3rd one first, then the 4th one, then the 2nd. If you check out the southern site and don't dig it it is a long paddle up to the northern sites. By the way, site 3 has an almost perfect spot for setting up the tarp - large, flat and just slightly above the fire pit area.









View from site 3









Should be pretty darn quiet there that time of year. Enjoy.

Both lakes are very nice and pretty well suited to a trip that time of year.

A possible advantage of South Hegman is that it is smaller than Slim so depending on the forecast that may be a plus that time of year. It's also a beautiful lake. I haven't camped on it but thought the sites looked nice from shore. I don't have a specific recommendation but it's small enough that you could easily scout out the sites and pick. It's normally a very busy lake with people going to the pictographs on North Hegman (a possible day trip for you if the weather allows) but either lake should be very quiet in late October.

On Slim, if there is a north-south wind, that could turn into an issue given the time of year and plunging water temperatures. The two middle campsites are the best. An advantage of the second one from south is that it is right by one of the North Arm Trails (the Druid Pines Trail comes down to Slim Lake just north of the campsite) so you could hike a bit if you wanted. The northernmost campsite is the worst. The southernmost campsite is more in the woods which might be an advantage if wind is an issue, but a disadvantage if you want to catch some sun. An informal but established trail goes from the southern site to Old Baldy which is connected to North Arm Trails. But it may be harder to follow in late October with leaves on the ground.

There's a new AT&T tower on the Echo Trail that should provide good service at either lake. I know Verizon service extends out the Echo a ways but not sure it goes that far. Not sure about others.

Be safe and leave plenty of time to collect a lot of firewood.

Have you checked the weather up there? The temps off the Gunflint right now are 27 degrees with lowes in the low 20's. High today is 39 degrees. Wind gusts up to 25 mph.

Also, most of the outfitters are closed now.

South Hegmann has full cell service and there are pictographs on North Hegmann. I have taken my kids there every year for 5 years, starting when they were each 4 years old. It is easy to get into it, there's just the 80 rod portage down to the lake and then you're there. All 3 sites are pretty well traveled but it's still the BWCA and it's still a good time. Good for the kiddos, I wanted them to get used to the trip and the ethos of it all without kicking their little butts on portages.

As someone said, typically you do see a few more paddlers because folks get the day pass and rent a canoe from an outfitter to check out the pictographs. I would bet that late fall you'd have a lot fewer of these travelers though.

The good thing about October trips is you can get a full "out in the wilderness" feeling trip on lakes that are normally a borderline circus during the summer.

My last October trip was Sawbill to Cherokee to Frost. Base camped on Frost for a few days and returned. Having Sawbill and Cherokee more or less to yourself is an unusual experience.

Hawleycanoeguy,
How was the trip? I saw on your other post that you made it to Slim.

I’m wrestling with the idea of heading up this Saturday to Monday. But A couple things need to line up at home and the 20 mph gusts are weighing on my decision. Slim and Hegman are both on my short list of where I’d go.

Hi friend,

Not sure if you made it on the trip but just a heads up- I went into South Hegman with the intention of seeing the pictos on North Hegman about this time of year last year. South Hegman had a breeze so no problem there (besides being cold) but North Hegman was already iced over enough where I could not put the canoe in even mid-day. Also- the mice were in full attack mode at the parking lot so watch out if you left food in the vehicle!

Last year September and October were cold and ice formed on the lakes earlier than any year I've lived off the Echo Trail. This year September and October have been quite warm, with only a few nights below freezing. It will be a while before lakes freeze up.

ducks: "Hawleycanoeguy,
How was the trip? I saw on your other post that you made it to Slim.


I’m wrestling with the idea of heading up this Saturday to Monday. But A couple things need to line up at home and the 20 mph gusts are weighing on my decision. Slim and Hegman are both on my short list of where I’d go.
"

I had a blast!!! WOW!!! It was incredible!!

It was the first time there for me! I portaged my 80+pound Grumman with ease on the portage into Slim - not sure the exact length as I've seen varying lengths for it on different maps. Anyway - long, but simple portage into the lake.

I camped at the site closest to the EP - beauty of a site!! Chock full of tall red pines, excellent "kitchen" area, good mix of sun and shade, and easy access to the site itself. Connects to various hiking trails (which I did not do as I was on a solo trip). I paddled around the lake, explored some of the shoreline/cliffs, and just had the best of time there! On the day I left, I took the whole Echo Trail westward and hiked a ton of EP's just to check them out - super fun!

If you do go, don't let the wind scare you off - I paddled in some 15-20 MPH winds on the day I entered - took me just 20 minutes to reach that site - just be careful, wear your PFD, and do it!

I had very weak Verizon cell service there.

Ho Ho: "Both lakes are very nice and pretty well suited to a trip that time of year.


A possible advantage of South Hegman is that it is smaller than Slim so depending on the forecast that may be a plus that time of year. It's also a beautiful lake. I haven't camped on it but thought the sites looked nice from shore. I don't have a specific recommendation but it's small enough that you could easily scout out the sites and pick. It's normally a very busy lake with people going to the pictographs on North Hegman (a possible day trip for you if the weather allows) but either lake should be very quiet in late October.


On Slim, if there is a north-south wind, that could turn into an issue given the time of year and plunging water temperatures. The two middle campsites are the best. An advantage of the second one from south is that it is right by one of the North Arm Trails (the Druid Pines Trail comes down to Slim Lake just north of the campsite) so you could hike a bit if you wanted. The northernmost campsite is the worst. The southernmost campsite is more in the woods which might be an advantage if wind is an issue, but a disadvantage if you want to catch some sun. An informal but established trail goes from the southern site to Old Baldy which is connected to North Arm Trails. But it may be harder to follow in late October with leaves on the ground.


There's a new AT&T tower on the Echo Trail that should provide good service at either lake. I know Verizon service extends out the Echo a ways but not sure it goes that far. Not sure about others.


Be safe and leave plenty of time to collect a lot of firewood."

Ho Ho - Thank you so much for the great information and encouragement - I truly had a wonderful time on Slim! I camped at the south middle site - a beaut for sure! Plenty of protection from the wind, wide-open beneath the red pines, awesome kitchen, and plenty of downed wood for fires. I'll be back someday to bring my boys!

lindylair: "I have not been on S. Hegman but we did a mid Sept trip to Slim a few years ago and enjoyed it a lot(except for the weather). Slim is a very pretty lake and also has decent fishing, especially smallies but some walleyes too. Access is very easy and there are 4 campsites on the lake. All are decent to good sites. We stayed at the 3rd one going south to north and it is the highest rated - very nice site. The furthest north one also looked nice from the water, the site there is right at water's edge. The second one from the south end is a fairly newly designated site and looks to be pretty nice too. The southern site is a 3 and decent enough but the view from there is not as expansive as the other sites. There is a network of hiking trails behind this site if that might be part of your plan.


In terms of desirability I would rate the 3rd one first, then the 4th one, then the 2nd. If you check out the southern site and don't dig it it is a long paddle up to the northern sites. By the way, site 3 has an almost perfect spot for setting up the tarp - large, flat and just slightly above the fire pit area.











View from site 3










Should be pretty darn quiet there that time of year. Enjoy. "

Thanks for your advice, lindylair! Slim Lake was a blast! I hope to venture to Hegman next time!

That's awesome. I haven't camped at that site but I've stopped at it on day trips around the lake and also hiked into it from the North Arm Trails and thought it looked really nice. The weather has been super cooperative this fall (for the most part - there are always exceptions). It's the end of October and still feels like canoeing weather up here!

Glad you had a great time.

Ho Ho

That was awesome! Slim is a beautiful lake and the weather was amazing . I also stayed at the beautiful site closest to the EP. Saturday I hiked the adjacent trails for a while and then paddled to the southern site and explored there. Sunday I paddled and portaged to Hook and back. I had good solitude without having to work hard. My dog Echo and I had a great time.

Hawleycanoeguy. Thanks for the nice stack of split firewood. I only had a small fire 1 of the 2 nights and split some more for the next person.
Halloween weekend is now the latest trip I have taken.
Thank you all for the great info