My son and I are planning a trip next June with his 4 year old son. Just a short 3-4 day trip. Seeking a route with minimal portages where we can base camp and do day trips to smaller, calm lakes. Any suggestions on entry point and routes would be appreciated.

With little kids we've done Lake One, Slim, Wood, and Little Gabro. I especially liked Slim and Wood being so close to Ely in case we needed to bail. Wood was my son's first trip (3 years old) and Slim was my daughter's (also 3). There's very easy access to the hospital from Slim if a kid trips and ends up needing stitches. Ask me how I know... We did Little Gabbro when the youngest was 6 and that portage in might be too much for a 4 year old.

If you can't get the permit you want for the BW, you might check out the lakes on the Circle Tour. It's in the Superior National Forest but has the same style of paddle-up campsites as the BW and (at least parts of it) are very doable for little kids.

Each of my 3 kids did their first trip with me when they were 5. My 2 favorite kid trips are Baker to Kelly or Jack because of Small water and very short/ easy portages. And Lizz to Caribou and if you want one more lake it’s a really short portage to Horseshoe. These two areas are where I’ve seen the most moose. Baker is the only entry point that both of my girls have done (20 and 18 now) and it’s where I’m taking my 7 year old son this year.

You’ll have 2 adults so small water won’t be quite as important as it is for me when it’s just me and a little in the bow.

With a 4 year old you may want to go somewhere like Kawishiwi Lake, Sawbill, or Lake One so you can be flexible and camp on the first lake without portaging if the 4 year old is having a bad morning.

I agree with prettypaddle on Slim or Wood being good options. I soloed to Slim one year over Halloween weekend and I went to wood with my younger daughter when she was 15.

Something I like about Ely with kids is you have the Bear Center and Wolf Center for something to to the day before entry or on exit day.

Thanks. Great ideas.

I took my son for his first trip to Brule last year and stayed at one of the island campsites that weren't too far from the EP. He didn't care that we didn't have to portage in, he was just happy to be there.

If you are able to take your trip late July or August there will be less bugs and water more enjoyable for swimming.

I started taking all mine around 2 years old and one at 10 months. They liked Larch Lake the most, Seagull, Cross bay EP.

My wife and I took our son on his first trip when he was four. We just went to Duncan and were fortunate to get the site on the point opposite the portage from Bearskin. It was pure serendipity, as I had hoped to grab that site, and we met the folks who had just left it while we were on the portage (which is a highway). The site's advantages are a large, elevated area to hang out and a perfect swimming area that is sheltered, shallow-entry, and not rocky. We spent a lot of time in the water (it was August). We also took day trips to Rose and hiked along the Border Route trail, which allowed the kiddo to roam around a bit.

The first two trips I took my kids on were out of Sawbill and Little Gabbro, both in June. I did both of these trips without another adult, so you have quite a bit more flexibility with 2 adults and 1 child.

We stayed on Sawbill for 3 nights and picked the calmest day to do a short loop through Alton and Kelso.

Putting in on Little Gabbro we moved over to Gabbro and base camped there. Good fishing, a great sand beach, close enough to the Kawishiwi River to explore.

EP 77 - South Hegmann. Pictographs on the lake and only one portage down from the parking lot to the campsites. Perfect for kids to feel like they're out in the woods without being too far from anywhere if something happens

afromaniac: "EP 77 - South Hegmann. Pictographs on the lake and only one portage down from the parking lot to the campsites. Perfect for kids to feel like they're out in the woods without being too far from anywhere if something happens"

I really like this one as well. The picographs are pretty cool and you don’t have to work hard for them. In the event, your kids were able to get up on the rock, don’t touch the pictographs.

If you haven't seen it already? Check out this old thread which has lots a great suggestions.

I took my kids in to Daniels Lake when they were about that age. The portage is short and sweet; and the lake is quite nice and quiet. We had a campsite on the southern shore about halfway up the lake. The kids really enjoyed the swimming. And the smallmouths were eager to bite gulp under a bobber. There wasn't much for kid friendly day-trip options to other lakes from there. But they were small enough where they didn't care. Daniels was large enough to keep their interest for the three days we were there. When they're that age, it's the little things which most adults overlook that really draws them in, such as skipping rocks or building a fire or splashing in the lake.

Duncan would definitely be another good option if you can get a permit.