I've been to Quetico multiple times. Was planning to go again this summer but the RABC pause has me considering a BWCA trip instead.

Our group will be five boys ages 9-14 and two adults. Not looking for a real hardcore trip and our focus is fishing. For reference, the Quetico trip I was considering was a PP entry, up through Burke and base camp on North Bay. I've always used Williams & Hall for a tow to PP and for the BWCA they suggested a Moose Lake entry, tow to Birch and then head east along the border.

Any other route suggestions for a Quetico like experience in the BWCA for first timers?

While I tend to agree, I've never been to the BWCA to compare and I've got to play the cards I'm dealt.

First, I think what others are trying to tell you is that there is no "Quetico Like" experience in the BWCAW. They are different animals and you should adjust your expectations accordingly.

You don't say how many days the trip is so my suggestions are going to be in broad terms.

Bigger Lakes with or without tows:

Entry 62 - Clearwater Lake. Paddle or get a tow to the Mountain Lake portage. Hop over to Mountain Lake and base camp there

Entry 55 - Saganaga Lake. Get a tow anywhere short of American Point and fish your heart out. Or get a tow to Red Rock Bay and/or Red Rock Lake for water that is a little smaller. Still a lot of water to cover here. Or get a tow to American Point and paddle your way to Ottertrack or Knife Lake along the border.

Entry 54 - Sea Gull Lake - Get a tow to the end of Three Mile Island. Portage over to Alpine Lake for your base camp or keep heading west to Ogishkemuncie.

Entry 41 - Brule Lake - No tows here. Head to either South Temperance (west) or Cone Lakes for a base camp that will allow you fish in windy weather. But paddle early in the day to avoid wind complications.

Want a more BW like experience?
Entry 38 - Sawbill Lake - Several options here - Head west along the Lady Lakes chain to Grace or Phoebe Lake. Head east to the Fire Lakes to Smoke or Burnt. Stick around Sawbill or Alton Lake.

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - Head north to Lake Polly and base camp here or keep going to Malberg Lake. Malberg is at a major crossroads in the BW. Head southwest to visit the Pictographs on Fishdance. Head northeast for more solitude in the little visited area of Boulder/Adams Lakes. Head north east to Makwa Lake to visit the canyon/falls leaving Malberg and the cliffs on Makwa Lake. Head east into the wild interior of the Louse River.

Have a little longer and are willing to put in a little work to get away from it all?

Entry 52 - Brandt Lake entry - You are heading to Little Saganaga Lake. This may take a couple of days to get to but is well worth the visit. This BW gem has islands and bays enough to keep you busy exploring for several days. Get bored? Portage over to Gabimichigami to visit one of the deepest lakes in the BW.

If you change your mind about the "hardcore" trip - Ask about a visit to the Frost River Route.

My favorite pick for you (if you have the time) is the Kawishiwi Lake entry. To me this is quintessential BWCAW. Hope you find what you are looking for.

Look into the Granite River starting at Larch Creek or Magnetic Lake. Could even get a tow back from Saganaga Falls. Fishing is excellent all throughout.

I'd do exactly what the outfitter is suggesting and head over into Knife Lake. Good place to base camp and fish, with plenty of day trip options.

A couple things... why not enter Quetico from one of the northern entry points? Is it the extra driving or is it just because you're unfamiliar with that part of the park?

If you're set on the BWCA, have you thought about entry points and routes off the Gunflint Trail? Papa09 mentioned the Granite River. Good option. You could also go in at Seagull or Poplar and find your way to some campsites and good fishing.

I would second the Knife lake suggestion, south arm Knife is an excellent base camp area for fishing, not sure about permit availability. I do have to mention that your original plan of traveling to North Bay to base camp would have been illegal. There is no longer a North Bay base camp permit as there once was. The closest entries are Basswood River, in which case you are required to travel down the river, Sarah, in which case you are required to enter Sarah lake, Kahshapiwi, you'd have to first enter that lake, or Agnes, same story. Ontario Parks has stated to me that they want to discourage people from doing as you planned, and as I have done in the past, in order to force people further in to the park and spread them out, as there has been a lot of overcrowding and overuse of campsites in that area and others. I met a couple of guys that had been fined for base camping on N. Bay as a maintenance crew had observed them entering N. Bay from Burke and not leaving after a couple of days.Their permits were checked, and due to the fact that they had entered N Bay on the same day as their entry date it was impossible that they had gone to their entry point first as required. You are required to head directly and without significant delay towards and in to your entry lake or river. I do not remember any other details as it was some time ago, and came out of a discussion about base camping there, which we had done after traveling up Agnes and down the S chain, which is legal.

Thanks for the excellent suggestions all. Lots to research and think about. We are coming from Ohio so already a long drive to consider the northern entries. I should have mentioned it will be about a 5 night trip and prefer base camp style for this one.

Also, thanks for the warning on Q entry permits. I hadn't realized the North Bay permit was no more. I've been through there several times on longer trips and thought it would work well for an easier trip with younger kids. Unfortunate they did away with it.

Papa09: " Look into the Granite River starting at Larch Creek or Magnetic Lake. Could even get a tow back from Saganaga Falls. Fishing is excellent all throughout. "

This is a good choice, have done it several times.

mgraber:I do have to mention that your original plan of traveling to North Bay to base camp would have been illegal. There is no longer a North Bay base camp permit as there once was."

Just want to clear this up for anyone wanting stay on Basswood Lake now. I don't know how long it's been since you've been that way - but you did say it was "some time ago". In the past 2-3 years QPP has had an "Agnes Lake/Basswood Basecamp" permit available for just such reason. Of the 7 Agnes permits, they carved out 4 for this and the other three remain Agnes Lake only. Check the reservation site and you'll see that there. To make sure my understanding matched the park rules, I called and spoke with Jordan at the Atikokan Park Headquarters, and he confirmed that with the basecamp permit you do not need to ever dip a paddle in Agnes Lake. That permit allows the holder to either travel to/thru Agnes or just stay on Basswood or anywhere around/between.

Good luck with your plans showalbc! Have a great paddling season all - 10 weeks until entry!!!

pd

portagedog09: "

mgraber:I do have to mention that your original plan of traveling to North Bay to base camp would have been illegal. There is no longer a North Bay base camp permit as there once was."

Just want to clear this up for anyone wanting stay on Basswood Lake now. I don't know how long it's been since you've been that way - but you did say it was "some time ago". In the past 2-3 years QPP has had an "Agnes Lake/Basswood Basecamp" permit available for just such reason. Of the 7 Agnes permits, they carved out 4 for this and the other three remain Agnes Lake only. Check the reservation site and you'll see that there. To make sure my understanding matched the park rules, I called and spoke with Jordan at the Atikokan Park Headquarters, and he confirmed that with the basecamp permit you do not need to ever dip a paddle in Agnes Lake. That permit allows the holder to either travel to/thru Agnes or just stay on Basswood or anywhere around/between.


Good luck with your plans showalbc! Have a great paddling season all - 10 weeks until entry!!!


pd"

Thanks for that info, good to know!

If you want to minimize people, and have the closest thing to the Quetico feel, consider a tow to Bottle Portage on Lac La Croix. Then you can get up on Iron and Crooked. Or you stay on LLC and other lakes like Ge-be, Oyster, etc. A tow from Crane Lake by Anderson’s.

You can also go into Quetico by that route since you don’t need an RABC. They stop at Sand Point Customs. Bottle or McAree Entry.

And the tow ride by Anderson's over the railroad portage into LaCroix is in itself an amazing and fun experience.