Greetings,

So excited for a trip coming up! Two questions for y'all.

First, I'll be landing in Duluth and need a one-way ride to the Clearwater Lodge to meet someone up there. Any recommended outfitters (or other means of transit)?Very little to carry, so no major need for a large vehicle, etc. Likely an early-morning start. Thoughts/recs?

Second, I'll be hiking in to meet someone with an existing canoe permit mid-trail (their permit date starts before my work has given me leave). Will I also need a hike-in permit, or can I hike to meet them (3mi, but with a pack) with little worry?

Thanks and have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Arrowhead Transit provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais:

Arrowhead Transit – Cook County

Harriet Quarles provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais and trailhead service:

Harriet Quarles

There may be other options I don't know about.

You cannot enter the BWCAW with the intent to stay overnight unless you are listed on and accompanying an overnight permit. You will need an overnight paddle permit issued in your name. You can join your companion on the trip, but you need separate permits in this scenario. All other advice to the contrary, even from someone wearing a USFS badge, is wrong.

Thanks so much! Great ideas to contact.

I should clarify: the person I'm meeting is obtaining the overnight paddle permit that includes myself -- the issue is that he has to leave a day before I'm able to join, and so I'll be joining him in a non-standard way :o/

That is, hiking in (presumably a permit needed) but then joining, almost immediately, someone w/ the paddle permit I'll be on, to then exit together several days later.

gravelroad: "Arrowhead Transit provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais:


Arrowhead Transit – Cook County


Harriet Quarles provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais and trailhead service:


Harriet Quarles


There may be other options I don't know about.


You cannot enter the BWCAW with the intent to stay overnight unless you are listed on and accompanying an overnight permit. You will need an overnight paddle permit issued in your name. You can join your companion on the trip, but you need separate permits in this scenario. All other advice to the contrary, even from someone wearing a USFS badge, is wrong."

I guess the question is if you had a hiking permit and a ranger stopped your canoe with your partner and their overnight paddle permit and you with a hiking permit,what would happen. Just when you think you've heard them all.

I can say if your partner lists you and you do to enter the date of the permit, you can't legally enter. But on your own permit, youve entered legally.

Enter on a hiking permit, carry a oak canoe, and paddle out? Beyond me.

My guess is the ranger might tell you to get out of the canoe and hike. Overwhelming odds you won't get caught.

To reiterate: there is no "non-standard" way to join someone in the BWCAW.

You go in at an entry point WITH a permit bearing your name, or you don't go in.

A day hike permit does not allow you to stay overnight.

Since you didn't enter with the permit your friend was carrying, you will violate the regulation by staying overnight, unless you do so on your own permit that you brought with you.

Although technically against the rules you would be best off getting that hiking permit to meet him and then once in you would be on his permit.

x2jmorris: "Although technically against the rules you would be best off getting that hiking permit to meet him and then once in you would be on his permit. "

However, the permit won't show that he watched the final LNT informational video at either an outfitter or USFS office...

x2jmorris: "Although technically against the rules you would be best off getting that hiking permit to meet him and then once in you would be on his permit. "

Right up to the time the USFS Law Enforcement Officer asks him about the day hike permit in his name, a copy of which was presumably placed in the box at the entry point.

Like shooting fish in a barrel at that point. As is the case with everything with a paper trail – been there, defended clients where the stakes were much higher.

Pleflar: Only the trip leader needs to pick the permit up. I never have the others on my permit with me when I pick it up.

Gravelroad: True but the likelihood of that happening is so slim. But it is why I prefaced it with "against the rules". It is a risk but if he is going to attempt it then I would do a day hike permit to meet the original permit.

hikingdave: "Thanks so much! Great ideas to contact.


I should clarify: the person I'm meeting is obtaining the overnight paddle permit that includes myself -- the issue is that he has to leave a day before I'm able to join, and so I'll be joining him in a non-standard way :o/


That is, hiking in (presumably a permit needed) but then joining, almost immediately, someone w/ the paddle permit I'll be on, to then exit together several days later.

gravelroad: "Arrowhead Transit provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais:



Arrowhead Transit – Cook County



Harriet Quarles provides service between Duluth and Grand Marais and trailhead service:



Harriet Quarles



There may be other options I don't know about.



You cannot enter the BWCAW with the intent to stay overnight unless you are listed on and accompanying an overnight permit. You will need an overnight paddle permit issued in your name. You can join your companion on the trip, but you need separate permits in this scenario. All other advice to the contrary, even from someone wearing a USFS badge, is wrong."

"

click on the thread below for a similar question/discussion.

https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadid=1328170&confid=1&forumid=16

My comments were based on the hiking permit being an overnight permit. Others mention day hike. I agree you can't enter on a day hike permit and stay overnight, but entering on an overnight hiking permit and traveling later by canoe.....hard to say but I think you might be ok. The rule is enter at the EP and date on your permit, then you can go anywhere for as long as you like and don't leave.

hikingdave: "Greetings,

So excited for a trip coming up! Two questions for y'all.

First, I'll be landing in Duluth and need a one-way ride to the Clearwater Lodge to meet someone up there. Any recommended outfitters (or other means of transit)?Very little to carry, so no major need for a large vehicle, etc. Likely an early-morning start. Thoughts/recs?

Second, I'll be hiking in to meet someone with an existing canoe permit mid-trail (their permit date starts before my work has given me leave). Will I also need a hike-in permit, or can I hike to meet them (3mi, but with a pack) with little worry?

Thanks and have a wonderful holiday weekend!"

What day are you looking to head in?

What day are you flying in to Duluth?