Looking for recommendations for family trip. We are a family of four with what will be 12 year and 15 year old boys. This will be our fourth annual trip. We look for adventure, beauty and fishing. Last year we did 45 miles and 27 portages totaling 900 rods in a five night trip. Could have been four night trip, but we give ourselves that extra day for weather.

With the boys growing, we would like to step it up a bit. Still planning for a five night trip, but would really like to go in deep for some fishing and new sights. The boys don't shy away from portaging and actually look forward to it. I plan for them to take a bit more weight to give mom a break.

We always go the third week of August and plan to do the same in 2025. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Many are happy to help with suggestions. Might help to start with where you have already been if you do not want to repeat one of the routes you have already taken.

I have a good trip recommendation for you and will also pass along some fishing spots that have served me well in this area. Shoot me an email or let me know an email that works for you!

Couple of longer options:

Sawbill Entry (#38) - Loop west through the Lady Lakes to Lake Polly and then turn north to Little Saganaga Lake. Turn southeast through Mora Lake to Whipped and Fente Lake. Turn south to Mesaba Lake. It's a great spot to spend an extra night. Leave early in the morning to finish your trip to Sawbill Lake.

Sawbill Entry #38 - Loop north to Cherokee Lake and keep going north through Gordon & Long Island Lakes. Head up the Cross River watershed to Cross Bay Lake and turn west to Snipe, Copper Lake and Howl Swamp to Tuscarora Lake. Head southwest from Tuscarora to Mora/Little Sag. You head back to Sawbill through the same route as above through Mesaba Lake.

The trips above will take at least 6 nights/7 days. Some great solitude, wonderful paddling. Little Sag is the iconic spot. Great scenery and good fishing there.

If you want a little more challenge, try this:
Sawbill Entry #38 - Louse River Loop - Head north through Kelso Lake/River to Lujenida to Wine Lake. The next day will be a tough trip through some of the best areas of the BW along the Louse Lake/River to Trial Lake. Day 3 takes you along more of the Louse River to Frond/Boze Lakes and then more Louse River to Malberg Lake. Turn south to Lake Polly and then head east along the Lady Lakes on your way back to Sawbill Lake.

Have Fun!

Thanks. Kids and I will look into this, they are helping plan everything this year and this really helps thanks

How brutal of a trip do you want?

Lake One to Alice on day 1. Last time we did this it took us about 7 hours of paddling and portaging. Day 2 Alice to Kekacabic. Day 3 Kekacabic through Eddy to Knife, camp at the west end of Knife. Day 4, Knife to Thomas by way of Vera, Ensign, Jordam. and Ima. Day 5 return to Lake One. I have done most of this trip so I know it can be done but it will be brutal.

I do most of my tripping in Quetico, but my favorite bwca trip by far started in Kawishiwi Lake and ended at Lake One. We camped on River, Sagus, and Insula. Everything between River and Insula felt remote and rugged - a lot like Quetico, but with better maintained portages. A lot of great fishing along the way as well!

Some good options mentioned. I’ve done the route michwall mentioned but without the Lady Lakes to make it a loop. Kawishiwi to Little Sag and back down to Sawbill. Great trip! It will be a challenge with more portages and a lot more portage distance, and some more difficult portages.

I’ve also done the Cross Bay-Snipe-Copper-Tuscarora-Little Sag section mentioned which was “interesting.

You and the family will have to review to see if things fit but some great trips. Have fun.

I gotta suggest this loop once a year. I'm hoping to enter in this fashion again this summer myself. Yes, entering in the evening is not an idea everyone will be comfortable with but trust me, this is the EP to do it.

Enter EP20 Angeworm Lake. Do this in the afternoon, preferably on the day you'd normally be paying for a bunkhouse or hotel. Hike the 2 miles and set up camp on Angleworm. You'll want to be well rested for a big day heading down the Sunday River to Iron Lake. After you find a site on Iron or Crooked, see how everyone feels. From here you can be lazy on Crooked for a couple days before heading back to Angleworm through Friday Bay, or if you feel like more of a challenge you can head further east along the border, taking either the Horse River or Basswood Lake south for an eventual exit at EP23 Mudro (and a hitchhike up to your car at EP20).

The boardwalks along the Angleworm Trail took a beating a couple summers ago and I haven't heard that they've been repaired, but that shouldn't slow down a young family such as yours! If the going gets tough, just remember that everyone says the next-door Trease Portage is much more difficult than the one you're on.