Okay, I am being a bit facetious and clearly have not really thought this out but reading Argo’s question about wanting a canal to make it easier to get somewhere (which I sympathize with) made me almost come to the opposite conclusion.

You see my least favorite thing about the BWCA is its popularity. I would enjoy it so much more if I had it mostly to myself so in an effort to satisfy my selfish desires I propose…

More mosquitos and no Deet or Permetherin. More black flies. More rain. Only bad gravel roads north of Minneapolis.

Just for fun… What would you be willing to put up with in order to never have to compete for a campsite or find a crowd at a portage?

I know for a fact that I'm okay with extra 10 hours of driving, including some poorly maintained roads, camping on barely used campsites without thunderboxes, walking unmarked and overgrown trails littered with deadfall - all this to avoid smelling other people's DEET on portages. As a matter of fact I learned to enjoy these things, except for driving of course.

When people bitch about the skeeters, I always say, that I'm glad they are here, or everyone would be here.

Went in early June last season - skeeters and flies were the worst I've ever experienced. Head nets 24x7. Funny thing, it's not even close to the top ten things we recall about the trip. Would love similar conditions this year!!!!! Almost felt like we were the only ones on the lake!

Do I dare say… grizzlies?!

Stumpy: "When people bitch about the skeeters, I always say, that I'm glad they are here, or everyone would be here."

Well said, Stumpy! If there were no bugs, there would be no available permits!

More "bad" weather might help reduce crowds...

Stumpy: "When people bitch about the skeeters, I always say, that I'm glad they are here, or everyone would be here."

I lived in the Pacific NW 40 years ago--ocean to the west, spectacular mountains to the east. I thought the rain would keep the riff raff out. Now there's a gazillion riff raffians there. Naive thoughts back then.

Lawnchair107: "Do I dare say… grizzlies?! "

You beat me to it lol. I'd like to think a few grizzlies would keep some of the yuppies at bay. Maybe the DNR should stock a few ;)

Welcome !!!

Having tougher logistics for entry like Wabakimi.

We've been avoiding the search for campsites and missing crowded portage landings for many years by paddling Quetico. We drive extra miles, paddle extra miles, and pay extra money for solitude. It's worth the effort.

In 2021, our Quetico permit was cancelled by wildfire so we went to Algonquin instead--what a circus! Pre-registered for each night's destination lake, usually saw 20+ people/day instead of maybe one canoe every couple days, and encountered a couple portage landings that looked like poorly organized yard sales. That's on top of the railroad cutting through the park and private cottage inholdings, etc.

A beautiful park, but too many people for our liking. We'll stick with Quetico as long as we can.

TZ

Algonquin is Toronto's playground.

TrailZen: "We've been avoiding the search for campsites and missing crowded portage landings for many years by paddling Quetico.

TZ"

Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded. --Yogi Berra

YaMarVa: "Algonquin is Toronto's playground.


"

...as we learned!

TZ

Less press would help.

Full disclosure: I have written about the BWCA many times.

More press for other canoeing areas would also help.

More full disclosure: I have also written about other places to paddle.

Lawnchair107: "Do I dare say… grizzlies?! "

I think that would likely get rid of me. I don't think I want to tent camp in Alaska, or even parts of Montana for that matter. I don't worry about Black Bears for 2 seconds, but I don't want to tent camp where there are grizzlies.

Confiscate all maps, cell phones, and other communication devices. I can live with that and get through the anticipated over crowding on the entry lakes. Return all to the owners only if they get back on the time expected.

TrailZen: "We've been avoiding the search for campsites and missing crowded portage landings for many years by paddling Quetico. We drive extra miles, paddle extra miles, and pay extra money for solitude. It's worth the effort. "

Bingo!

TrailZen: "We've been avoiding the search for campsites and missing crowded portage landings for many years by paddling Quetico. We drive extra miles, paddle extra miles, and pay extra money for solitude. It's worth the effort.

In 2021, our Quetico permit was cancelled by wildfire so we went to Algonquin instead--what a circus! Pre-registered for each night's destination lake, usually saw 20+ people/day instead of maybe one canoe every couple days, and encountered a couple portage landings that looked like poorly organized yard sales. That's on top of the railroad cutting through the park and private cottage inholdings, etc.

A beautiful park, but too many people for our liking. We'll stick with Quetico as long as we can.TZ"

I try to avoid Algonquin for the reasons you named. To be fair: the railroad is non-operating since the 20 century, cottages are restricted to some entry-point lakes and a few crazy portages are just a few. And going deeper into the park one will see very little people. One big advantage in favor of Algonquin: it's big and one can easily plan a 2-week trip staying mostly away from entry points and crowds.

Would put up with requirement to go as pre-Columbian native, birchbark canoes, skin garments, wood paddles, stone tools, possible drift copper may be allowed by prior approval.

Nah, am too old. Wouldn't work.

more mud.. the hip sinking deep mud

TrailZen: "We've been avoiding the search for campsites and missing crowded portage landings for many years by paddling Quetico. We drive extra miles, paddle extra miles, and pay extra money for solitude. It's worth the effort.

Hoping to make this my last year of BWCA only, and do my first Quetico trip next year. Seems like a no brainer aside from the enormous cost difference, but well worth the expense I am sure.

Traveler: "Just for fun… What would you be willing to put up with in order to never have to compete for a campsite or find a crowd at a portage?"

I put up with driving a few more hours north...Wabakimi.

I can't decide if I should join the club and head into Ontario or just hope all of you go to Ontario and leave the BWCA to me. :-)

Seriously, I used to canoe Ontario and Manitoba frequently (40 and 50 years ago) but I somehow got the idea that Canada was becoming less friendly, more expensive, and bureaucratically difficult. True or not?

It seems like a challenge to me to even figure out what is crown land and what is not, what permits I need, and how to get them.

Didn't read through all posts, but a little more cost would scare me away all together. And how about...no water filters! I made it 20 years before I started seriously filtering.

Traveler: "I can't decide if I should join the club and head into Ontario or just hope all of you go to Ontario and leave the BWCA to me. :-)


Seriously, I used to canoe Ontario and Manitoba frequently (40 and 50 years ago) but I somehow got the idea that Canada was becoming less friendly, more expensive, and bureaucratically difficult. True or not?


It seems like a challenge to me to even figure out what is crown land and what is not, what permits I need, and how to get them. "

Green on map marked Xxxxxx Provincial Park = not Crown Land

Not green on map = Crown Land

Crown Land permits are purchased online.

I was Quetico curious for a while before I took the jump to go. Yes, it is more expensive, but when compared to a vacation where you stay in hotels and eat at restaurants, the cost is negligible. Don't get me started on how much people pay for a cruise, Ugh, nasty germ factories IMO. We had to stay south of the border on our last trip due to the RABC issue. It was much more stressful due to having to go to another lake since all the campsites on the lake we wanted to stay at being taken by 2pm and there was always traffic on the portages. We picked a fairly popular area, so I shouldn't complain and it was still possible to get away from the crowds by staying on lakes one over from the busiest lakes.

I don't really want people not to want to go, though. We need people to go and appreciate the area to have the will to keep it protected. Using more difficult entry points and going to single campsite lakes can get you away from people if that is what you want. We were going to stay on Kiana, next to Thomas. We got to Thomas late and went over to check it out on a day trip and it was deserted. The latrine on the one campsite we were able to find was virtually unused. It was not a stellar campsite, but it was private. BWCA has many underutilized areas if you do the research to find them. The mosquitoes keep enough people out. I agree it would be a lot worse without them.

The shoulder seasons take care of this problem mostly , if you go in late October you will find yourself mostly if not totally alone .

Traveler: "I can't decide if I should join the club and head into Ontario or just hope all of you go to Ontario and leave the BWCA to me. :-)


Seriously, I used to canoe Ontario and Manitoba frequently (40 and 50 years ago) but I somehow got the idea that Canada was becoming less friendly, more expensive, and bureaucratically difficult. True or not?


It seems like a challenge to me to even figure out what is crown land and what is not, what permits I need, and how to get them. "

Yes, Canada is definitely more expensive than the BW but the solitude is worth it to me. Crossing the border is back to where it was pre-Covid so not that difficult or time consuming as long as it not around fishing opener when you could encounter long lines of vehicles towing boats. I have been going to Canada annually (sometimes several trips per season) and have never found Canadians to be unfriendly. Frequently, the border agents are even friendly since we will spending money in their country.

Just go late Sept or first week of Oct. Problem solved

I find lower temperatures do the trick. Around -15F is ideal. There are extra costs with all the gear needed for comfort but winter camping in the BWCA is incredible. No bugs, no permits, and no people. Perhaps it has even changed my perspective on summer trips and made them a little more easy going.