Hello!

After a busy summer of running my kids every which way, coaching baseball, and now getting back into the classroom for my day job, I'm in the midst of planning my annual solo paddling trip in mid-October. I have several spots in mind. All of my 14 previous BWCA trips have been either on the Ely side or along the Echo Trail. I have a few trip possibilities over in that area in mind for this fall. However, I'd like to do an eastern trip just to say I did it and to get over the proverbial hump of the extra drive time it will take me (7 hours versus 5 hours). I'll be taking the turbo tub (17ft Grumman).

I'm looking for just a short, simple paddle in with a portage or two, basecamp close to my EP, and have options to throw in a line, check out a river/rapids, and do some hiking for two-three days before heading back out. After looking at various EP's, John Lake caught my eye. Based on my research, rapids and the Royal River, three nice campsites, hiking trail in the area, and it being as far east pretty much as a person can get in the BWCA check all of my boxes so far. I'd also be pretty close to Grand Portage, and that's another box checked for me if I go this way.

Will I find solitude on John Lake during this time of year? Or would I expect to find these campsites taken? Weekend entry vs. weekday? Is there a way to access the Border Route Trail anywhere on John Lake? Any other information from personal experiences?

Thank you in advance!

I went up to John the first week of June this year. We had planned on staying at the campsite that sits right next to the royal river but it was taken. The other two sites were open but we decided to keep moving and ended up all the way back on West Pike. John looked beautiful and I would assume at that time of year your chances of being alone would be pretty good. I've always gone on in on a weekday but I have never gone on a fall trip so I'm not sure if there would be a difference this time of year or not. A fall trip is on my bucket list but I coach football so it will be a few years before I am able to.
Have a great trip!

hawleycanoeguy: "Will I find solitude on John Lake during this time of year? Or would I expect to find these campsites taken? Weekend entry vs. weekday? Is there a way to access the Border Route Trail anywhere on John Lake? Any other information from personal experiences?

Thank you in advance!"

Whatever you do, stay off Pine this time of year if you are going solo. That's a dangerous lake to be on alone with any amount of wind, and it is the windy season. I actually cancelled a John permit that I had for last Thursday due the projected winds being 25-30mph gusting pretty much all day/night over the weekend. I found smaller water to be on, and it was still pretty crumby.

What I ended up doing, which you may consider, is Lizz Lake through Caribou or Horseshoe and back. Or Lizz through caribou and over to Meeds and back up through Poplar. I did the 300 rod portage out of Meeds into Poplar and it was well cleared and worn this time of year, making the entire trip only 5 portages. The Banadad Ski trail runs through the Meeds and Lizz portages East/West and is totally hikeable right now. You could follow that West for miles. Just make sure you have your blaze orange on.

We stayed on John lake in October a few years ago. The campsite by the River was nice. Fishing was ok. I think we caught some perch and some northerns as I recall. Not sure where the hiking trail would be. If you go to grand portage I highly recommend hiking the mt.josephine trail. When you get to the top you can see isle royals if it’s not foggy. That is my wife and my favorite hike in cook county.I hope you end up going to the area as the arrowhead trail is quiet and beautiful! We saw a wolf along the trail a few trips ago. Go for it and have fun! Marc

Go in at Duncan Lake. You can camp there...just an 80 rod portage. Then you can take a day trip to Rose Falls and access the Border Route Trail to hike to Bottlecap or other overlooks. If you want more challenge, travel to South Lake. I stayed at the eastern most campsite by the portage and then went over to the other eastern campsite and hiked to Bottle cap from there. Or do a little loop from Duncan to Rose to Daniels and out. The Long Portage is very flat and most of the beaver ponds are gone.