BWCA 4-5 day loop route w/ kids? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/23/2022 08:03PM  
Looking for ideas for a 4-5 day loop route with our three kids for next summer. Considering Kawishiwi triangle area, but open to other routes as well or areas that are more off the beaten path! Two adults and kids will be 14, 10 & 8. Oldest has been to the BWCA a few times and is comfortable with portaging/paddling. two

We have two canoes and the older two usually each paddle with an adult and the littlest rides and will likely get a little more experience paddling this year, too. Nothing too crazy for portages but comfortable doing easy-moderate portages. Also husband and kids all enjoy fishing.

We’d like to paddle the mornings and fish/explore in the afternoon evenings. Any entry point is fine. Not into the base camp thing as we like to explore different campsites and get bored with base camp. We did Lake One as an entry this past summer. What are your favorite routes with kids?
 
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Michwall2
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12/23/2022 08:58PM  
Option 1
Go end to end from Entry 47 - Lizz Lake to either Entry 50- Cross Bay Lake or Entry 51 - Missing Link Lake. A trip might look like this:
Day 1 - Poplar Lake, Lizz Lake, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake. Horseshoe is moose central in the BW. Your chances are better here than anywhere else to see moose.
Day 2. Horseshoe, Gaskin, Winchell Lake (Climb the cliffs as you pass through), Ogema Lake, Kiskadinna Lake, Muskeg Lake, Muskeg Creek, Long Island Lake.
Day 3 Day trip to Frost Lake. Golden sand beaches and another chance to see moose here.
Day 4 Long Island Lake, Karl Lake, Lower George Lake, Rib Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Snipe Lake
Day 5, Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, Round Lake
Most portages are short(er). The truly hard one is the Kiskadinna to Muskeg. The portages from Snipe to Round Lakes are longer with some hard spots.
You might choose to spend more time on Winchell climbing cliffs and finding the waterfall on the south shore.
There are several loops you can make without going to Long Island Lake. e.g. Vista Lake is also worth a visit.

12/24/2022 10:41AM  
Kawishiwi Triangle would be a great trip with kids, especially with them being bow paddlers. I did my first solo from EP 32 South Kawishiwi River and really liked it.

Starting at age 5 I have taken one of my 2 daughters on a daddy/daughter trip each year alternating who goes with me and which one does something special with mom. I really like small lakes especially with a kid in the bow.

My favorite trips with them have been
Baker 39
Lizz 47
Cross Bay 50

Baker is the only EP that both of them have been to because the younger one didn’t want to repeat what her older sister did because we saw 5 moose and caught a lot of walleye.

Lizz is my overall favorite EP because there are so many options for where to go whether you are basecamping or doing a loop. It will most likely be our 4 year boys first father/son trip when he turns 5. One of the other things I like about Lizz is staying in Rockwood’s bunkhouse with a view of the lake and private bathroom the night before entry and the convenience of being able to push off from their beach at first light.

His first trip out of Ely will be the Kawishiwi Triangle and his first trip out of the Sawbill Trail area will be Baker.


canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/24/2022 11:56AM  
Michwall2: "Option 1
Go end to end from Entry 47 - Lizz Lake to either Entry 50- Cross Bay Lake or Entry 51 - Missing Link Lake. A trip might look like this:
Day 1 - Poplar Lake, Lizz Lake, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake. Horseshoe is moose central in the BW. Your chances are better here than anywhere else to see moose.
Day 2. Horseshoe, Gaskin, Winchell Lake (Climb the cliffs as you pass through), Ogema Lake, Kiskadinna Lake, Muskeg Lake, Muskeg Creek, Long Island Lake.
Day 3 Day trip to Frost Lake. Golden sand beaches and another chance to see moose here.
Day 4 Long Island Lake, Karl Lake, Lower George Lake, Rib Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Snipe Lake
Day 5, Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, Round Lake
Most portages are short(er). The truly hard one is the Kiskadinna to Muskeg. The portages from Snipe to Round Lakes are longer with some hard spots.
You might choose to spend more time on Winchell climbing cliffs and finding the waterfall on the south shore.
There are several loops you can make without going to Long Island Lake. e.g. Vista Lake is also worth a visit.
"

That looks like a fun route! It’d be cool to see moose or be in an area with a better chance of it, haven’t seen any on our more recent trips! Thanks for the route idea!
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/24/2022 01:51PM  
ducks: "Kawishiwi Triangle would be a great trip with kids, especially with them being bow paddlers. I did my first solo from EP 32 South Kawishiwi River and really liked it.


Starting at age 5 I have taken one of my 2 daughters on a daddy/daughter trip each year alternating who goes with me and which one does something special with mom. I really like small lakes especially with a kid in the bow.


My favorite trips with them have been
Baker 39
Lizz 47
Cross Bay 50


Baker is the only EP that both of them have been to because the younger one didn’t want to repeat what her older sister did because we saw 5 moose and caught a lot of walleye.


Lizz is my overall favorite EP because there are so many options for where to go whether you are basecamping or doing a loop. It will most likely be our 4 year boys first father/son trip when he turns 5. One of the other things I like about Lizz is staying in Rockwood’s bunkhouse with a view of the lake and private bathroom the night before entry and the convenience of being able to push off from their beach at first light.


His first trip out of Ely will be the Kawishiwi Triangle and his first trip out of the Sawbill Trail area will be Baker.
"


I’ll have to check out those entry points, haven’t been out of those three yet! So cool that you get the chance to take your kids starting younger, I wish we’d had the chance but work schedules didn’t allow it til more recent years. I’d love to take each of my girls on their own trip. So far only my oldest has done a trip with just me, but the little two haven’t yet. Thanks for the ideas!!
cyclones30
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12/25/2022 12:01PM  
The "Lady Chain" would be a nice route. It's not a true loop but with Sawbill outfitters at the start or end depending on which way you go, they can give you a ride on first or last day.

Nice mix of lakes and small streams, no lakes that are real large. Good fishing throughout and nice scenery. Nowhere near as popular as Lake One area. The route can be done in 2 days if really flying or enjoyed in the 4-5 you're saying.
cyclones30
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12/25/2022 12:04PM  
Here's a good summary of that route.

https://sawbill.com/routes/lady-chain-route/
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/25/2022 06:24PM  
cyclones30: "The "Lady Chain" would be a nice route. It's not a true loop but with Sawbill outfitters at the start or end depending on which way you go, they can give you a ride on first or last day.


Nice mix of lakes and small streams, no lakes that are real large. Good fishing throughout and nice scenery. Nowhere near as popular as Lake One area. The route can be done in 2 days if really flying or enjoyed in the 4-5 you're saying. "


That looks like a nice route! I forget about the option of seeing if an outfitter can shuttle to a different starting point, we’ve never used an outfitter before. I actually want to take my middle daughter on her own mother/daughter trip in the next year or so, and this might be a good route to save for that trip, too, since there’s not any big lakes! Thanks!
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
12/25/2022 06:45PM  
No worries, it's a very nice area.

As far as an outfitter helping shuttle, I much prefer to try and have my own vehicle or end the trip at an outfitter's place but those are rare. Both give you a lot more flexibility on exit timing, even a different day if needed. It's much less flexible if you need to get picked up at the end by an outfitter since then you're kinda stuck with a day and time to meet.

In this case of the Lady Chain, you could have both of those more flexible options. You could leave your stuff @ sawbill, park vehicle at Kawishiwi Lake entry lot, get a ride back to Sawbill and start there and paddle west to your vehicle. Just remember your keys or stash them well! The even easier option IMO is park @ Sawbill and have them shuttle you/gear/canoes to Kawishiwi Lk and slowly paddle your way back to the car/outfitter. Going west to east with the general prevailing winds as well. Not that winds should be bad on that route like you said.
Michwall2
distinguished member(1435)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/26/2022 07:11AM  
canoemama3: "
cyclones30: "The "Lady Chain" would be a nice route. It's not a true loop but with Sawbill outfitters at the start or end depending on which way you go, they can give you a ride on first or last day.



Nice mix of lakes and small streams, no lakes that are real large. Good fishing throughout and nice scenery. Nowhere near as popular as Lake One area. The route can be done in 2 days if really flying or enjoyed in the 4-5 you're saying. "



That looks like a nice route! I forget about the option of seeing if an outfitter can shuttle to a different starting point, we’ve never used an outfitter before. I actually want to take my middle daughter on her own mother/daughter trip in the next year or so, and this might be a good route to save for that trip, too, since there’s not any big lakes! Thanks!"


While it is true that most of the lakes are smaller, please don't mistake Alton for being a small lake. You can only hide behind the islands on the west side for so long. And I have seen Alton Lake rocking and rolling in an afternoon blow. Paddle this lake as early as you can to try to avoid being out there in the rollers.
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/26/2022 06:30PM  
Michwall2: "
canoemama3: "
cyclones30: "The "Lady Chain" would be a nice route. It's not a true loop but with Sawbill outfitters at the start or end depending on which way you go, they can give you a ride on first or last day.



Nice mix of lakes and small streams, no lakes that are real large. Good fishing throughout and nice scenery. Nowhere near as popular as Lake One area. The route can be done in 2 days if really flying or enjoyed in the 4-5 you're saying. "




That looks like a nice route! I forget about the option of seeing if an outfitter can shuttle to a different starting point, we’ve never used an outfitter before. I actually want to take my middle daughter on her own mother/daughter trip in the next year or so, and this might be a good route to save for that trip, too, since there’s not any big lakes! Thanks!"



While it is true that most of the lakes are smaller, please don't mistake Alton for being a small lake. You can only hide behind the islands on the west side for so long. And I have seen Alton Lake rocking and rolling in an afternoon blow. Paddle this lake as early as you can to try to avoid being out there in the rollers."


True, Alton isn’t the smallest lake around. I’m not naive about paddling bigger lakes, I have experience on big lakes from longer trips up in Canada and comfortable with my abilities/limits along with knowing my kids’ abilities and limits. I think a mostly smaller water trip would be fun for my middle daughter. I’d be perfectly comfortable with gauging our abilities to get across Alton given the conditions at that time, just that she’d be most interested in exploring the little lakes and smaller rivers. She thought crossing Brule was boring and was happier near shore looking at trees and trying to see if she could spot any turtles on the rocks or other critters!
cyclones30
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12/26/2022 08:37PM  
If you do the Lady Chain, you'll be on the very narrow Kawishiwi R. as well as the Phoebe R.

Lots of chances to be VERY close to nature and shore while you're quietly coasting along. You'd also have some recent-ish burn area to pass through on the first or last day in the Square/Kawashachong areas. Very interesting to see how its growing back and what's living there now
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/26/2022 10:31PM  
cyclones30: "If you do the Lady Chain, you'll be on the very narrow Kawishiwi R. as well as the Phoebe R.


Lots of chances to be VERY close to nature and shore while you're quietly coasting along. You'd also have some recent-ish burn area to pass through on the first or last day in the Square/Kawashachong areas. Very interesting to see how its growing back and what's living there now "


That’d be neat to see! When I paddled the Seal River to Hudson Bay after high school, some of the areas were recovering from the fire back in mid 90s. Can’t remember what year exactly that fire was, but it was interesting to see the regrowth in progress! Be a good experience for the kids to see that, too!
12/29/2022 06:05AM  
Michwall2: "Option 1
Go end to end from Entry 47 - Lizz Lake to either Entry 50- Cross Bay Lake or Entry 51 - Missing Link Lake. A trip might look like this:
Day 1 - Poplar Lake, Lizz Lake, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake. Horseshoe is moose central in the BW. Your chances are better here than anywhere else to see moose.
Day 2. Horseshoe, Gaskin, Winchell Lake (Climb the cliffs as you pass through), Ogema Lake, Kiskadinna Lake, Muskeg Lake, Muskeg Creek, Long Island Lake.
Day 3 Day trip to Frost Lake. Golden sand beaches and another chance to see moose here.
Day 4 Long Island Lake, Karl Lake, Lower George Lake, Rib Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Snipe Lake
Day 5, Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, Round Lake
Most portages are short(er). The truly hard one is the Kiskadinna to Muskeg. The portages from Snipe to Round Lakes are longer with some hard spots.
You might choose to spend more time on Winchell climbing cliffs and finding the waterfall on the south shore.
There are several loops you can make without going to Long Island Lake. e.g. Vista Lake is also worth a visit.


"


Rarely tripped with kids, but loved a good loop and this area is one of our very favorites. Have done it a couple times; first time was on our "Long Trip" (it is on the trip report) and agree about Horseshoe being great for moose sightings. We also had really good luck with moose in the Kelly/Jack/Weird Lake area. Fond memories.

TuscaroraBorealis
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12/29/2022 07:21PM  
We just base camped on this trip but, you could certainly hop around some if you like.

Due to the waterfall along Stairway portage , Duncan itself will likely be quite busy. However, Partridge Lake (one portage away) is very quiet and also provides access to the famed B-R-T. Daniel's is an entry point lake but, is also much quieter than Duncan. I don't believe Moss Lake gets alot of visitors either.

Top notch side trips to the waterfall, Rose Lake and Height of land portage are all nearby.
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/30/2022 08:04PM  
Spartan2: "
Michwall2: "Option 1
Go end to end from Entry 47 - Lizz Lake to either Entry 50- Cross Bay Lake or Entry 51 - Missing Link Lake. A trip might look like this:
Day 1 - Poplar Lake, Lizz Lake, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake. Horseshoe is moose central in the BW. Your chances are better here than anywhere else to see moose.
Day 2. Horseshoe, Gaskin, Winchell Lake (Climb the cliffs as you pass through), Ogema Lake, Kiskadinna Lake, Muskeg Lake, Muskeg Creek, Long Island Lake.
Day 3 Day trip to Frost Lake. Golden sand beaches and another chance to see moose here.
Day 4 Long Island Lake, Karl Lake, Lower George Lake, Rib Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Snipe Lake
Day 5, Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, Round Lake
Most portages are short(er). The truly hard one is the Kiskadinna to Muskeg. The portages from Snipe to Round Lakes are longer with some hard spots.
You might choose to spend more time on Winchell climbing cliffs and finding the waterfall on the south shore.
There are several loops you can make without going to Long Island Lake. e.g. Vista Lake is also worth a visit.



"



Rarely tripped with kids, but loved a good loop and this area is one of our very favorites. Have done it a couple times; first time was on our "Long Trip" (it is on the trip report) and agree about Horseshoe being great for moose sightings. We also had really good luck with moose in the Kelly/Jack/Weird Lake area. Fond memories.


"


Thanks for the input! Would love to see moose and for the kids to have that experience!
canoemama3
member (50)member
  
12/30/2022 08:07PM  
TuscaroraBorealis: "We just base camped on this trip but, you could certainly hop around some if you like.


Due to the waterfall along Stairway portage , Duncan itself will likely be quite busy. However, Partridge Lake (one portage away) is very quiet and also provides access to the famed B-R-T. Daniel's is an entry point lake but, is also much quieter than Duncan. I don't believe Moss Lake gets alot of visitors either.

Top notch side trips to the waterfall, Rose Lake and Height of land portage are all nearby. "


That waterfall looks so fun! You’ve got a lot of good ideas for me to check out! I’ve been daydreaming about summer this past week, can’t wait until permits are available to really get plans in place! Thanks!
 
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