Hello everyone,

I have been doing quite a bit of reading and researching after I was tasked with planning a 5-day trip in early September for a group of six (mid 20s) and I am quite overwhelmed with the many options and things to consider. Each of us is quite experienced backpacking, canoeing, and camping, but not much portaging experience (not that that will be an issue). This is most of our first trips up here!

I would really appreciate some guidance on creating a route. Some priorities of this trip are good fishing, a mix of traveling on rivers and lakes, and no too brutal portages. Some falls, pictographs, and cool campsites anyone has to highlight would also be greatly appreciated! I really appreciate any help I can get as we approach permit reservations here soon.

Also, I would love to hear folks' experiences on September trips. I know you can't predict the weather, but how were bugs, water levels, trails, critters, etc.

Thanks!

Portaging is a lot like backpacking, except you're only carrying your pack for short distances instead of miles on end. As an experienced backpacker, you will already know that you want to pack efficiently. You don't want to have a lot of loose gear that gets carried by hand on the portages. That's how things get lost or forgotten... or they're just a pain.

Do you have your own gear or will you be renting gear from an outfitter?

You're kind of asking for the magical canoe route. Maybe someone else can respond with an idea that incorporates all of your prerequisites, but I think you should pick a route that allows you to be successful and have a great time.

So much of canoe camping in the BWCA is a crap shoot when it comes to campsite availability. You may have your heart set on "Campsite X", but when you get there, the campsite is being used so you have to keep moving. This is true in many areas of the BW, so you need to be willing to start paddling early in the day and be looking for campsites by noon or so. Be flexible. Don't expect the perfect campsite, but you might get lucky. One of the joys of canoe camping is finding a great campsite open and available.

And be happy if you actually get to see waterfalls and wildlife. There aren't waterfalls around every corner, but you might be able to incorporate seeing one into your route. Seeing wildlife (everyone wants to see a moose, for example), is pure luck-of-the-draw. You could trip for years and never see one. Be thankful if you do.

And bugs are part of the experience. They are there, no matter what. Just plan for the worst, but hope for the best and have a great time. You're not going to cancel your trip because someone mentioned the mosquitos were bad. Bring your bug spray and head net and be prepared for them. There are fewer bugs in the shoulder seasons - early spring and fall - but you never know.

As for a route, check out the Maps & Entry Points page on this website. With this being your first trip, your eyes will be going in circles as you try to determine the "best" route, but as you get suggestions from others, you can utilize this page to kind of see what the campsites and portages are like.

You'll eventually want to buy some maps, like the Voyageur Maps found here. Once you've determined where you want to go, use the Maps & Entry Points page to gather information and mark your maps accordingly so you have plenty of options when it's time to find a campsite. Keep in mind any reviews of campsites are subjective. One person's 2-star campsite may be another person's 4-star.

The bottomline is this - you have found a great resource for your canoe trip planning. This website if filled with helpful people who will offer suggestions and encouragement to every question you ask. Tell your buddies to join the site, too. The more information you receive as a group, the more likely you are to have a successful trip. Good luck! (Oh, to be in my 20s again and at the start of my canoe tripping days...)

Yes, there are a lot of variables to consider and a lot of options.

The first thing you need is a permit. Permits are limited and specific to both the date and the entry point (EP). What is your entry date?

Assumption: You'll be completely self-outfitted . . . ?

Questions:
Will you arrive the day before your entry?
Will you want bunkhouse accommodations?
Will you want an outfitter to get your permit?

There are several general areas for entry - Ely and the Echo Trail, Sawbill Trail, Gunflint Trail. Any preference?

There are three kinds of route options: Out-and back, point-to-point, and a lollipop loop from one entry. You have a 5-day, 4-night trip - how much do you want to travel?

September trips - bugs are generally not an issue, but more likely the earlier you go. Water levels and trails are as unpredictable as the weather, which is highly variable.

Moose River Portage N (EP16) - Nina Moose, Agnus Lake and into Tiger/Boulder bays above Agnus. I have done this specific trip twice.

The first trip (2017), we made it up to LLC to campsite 178 in about 6.5 hours and saw a bear on the shoreline just above Agnus as an added bonus. Was a busy day but worth it. Positives: A large number of 4-5 star sites just above Agnus, really good fishing, combo of lakes and rivers, pictographs just a mile paddle away from most of the sites, heard loons at every sundset and several west facing campsites. You get a little bit of everything on this trip minus the waterfalls unfortunately. Negatives: Agnus can be harsh on windy days. Again, no big waterfalls on this route. Distance and portages are a lot for most middle aged adults to do in one day. But again - well worth it and it sounds like you have several pack mules in their prime to take the brunt of the weight:-)

Second trip: (2022) Had a large group with 3 kids under 16 and 5 adults all approaching or over 50. We split into two days travel this time. Stayed on Agnus first night and then went north and were fortunate to land the 5 star site #170 for base camp. Best site I've ever stayed on out of the 40+ sites I've camped on. It's the Island site across from the pictographs. Site has 2 beaches, several fishing points, a hiking trail up the large hill it sits beneath and has good flat space for 3-4 tents and a few hammocks. We stayed on Nina Moose on the way back and come out the next day.

It should be noted. I've taken trips as far east as Loon Lake and as far West as Poplar. I'd put this area on my short list of favorites. If weather cooperates, it seems taylor made for your group. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Darin

Here is a discussion of pictograph sites:
Pictographs in BWCA

First, our September trips have been spectacular. None to very few bugs. Weather has been moderate to hot during the day. Night times are generally cool. We have run into some wind. We have run into rain and it tends to be cold.

A couple of things that can get disconcerting for September trips. The daylight hours are much shorter. Bring headlamps with plenty of batteries or plan to catch up on your sleep. The silence can be deafening. Most of the birds are either gone or in transition. There will likely still be loons and mergansers. You will find, in places, grouse. But most of the song birds will either be silent or gone.

The scenery with changing leaves can be amazing. I think this happens later in the season than you might be planning to travel.

Here are a few routes I think would fit your requirements:

Lots of river travel and pictographs:
Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - Day 1 Kawishiwi to Malberg Lake. Day 2 - Day trip to Fishdance Lake for the pictographs. Day 3 - Malberg Lake to Hazel Lake. Day 4 Hazel Lake to Beth or Alton Lake. Day 5 - Out to Sawbill Lake. Get a shuttle for Sawbill Outfitters at Sawbill Lake to Kawishiwi Lake and work your way back to Sawbill. This will have a lot of travel time and not a lot of fishing time. This has one longer portage - 280 rds from Grace Lake to Beth Lake.

Base Camping - Less Time setting up and tearing down will get you more time sightseeing and fishing:
Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - Day 1 Kawishiwi to Malberg, Day 2 - Day trip to Fishdance for Pictos, Day 3 Day trip up the Louse River to Frond/Boze Lakes. Day 4. Day trip to Makwa Lake for Cliffs. Day 5 - Out to Kawishiwi.


Waterfall route:

Seagull Lake entry - Day 1 - Seagull Lake to Ogishkemuncie (Nice rapids between Alpine and Jasper. Day 2 - Day trip to Eddy Falls between Eddy Lake and South Arm of Knife. Day 3 - Ogishkemunicie to Little Sag. Between Mueller Lake and Agamok Lake is Mueller Falls. Day 4. Little Sag to Gillis Lake. The portage out of Little Sag to Mora Lake follows one of the most scenic rapids in the BW. Portage from Tarry to Crooked Lake offers a chance to walk in to see a cool set of rapids Day 5 Gillis Lake to Brandt (Round Lake) Lake Entry. There are some great fishing lakes in here and super scenery. If you want to get a quicker start, get a tow through most of Seagull Lake to the end of 3 Mile Island. You might be able to do days 2 and 3 in one, but you should really test the fishing waters of Ogishkemuncie Lake.

Hope you have a great trip.

PointMe2Polaris: "Moose River Portage N (EP16) - Nina Moose, Agnus Lake and into Tiger/Boulder bays above Agnus. I have done this specific trip twice.


The first trip (2017), we made it up to LLC to campsite 178 in about 6.5 hours and saw a bear on the shoreline just above Agnus as an added bonus. Was a busy day but worth it. Positives: A large number of 4-5 star sites just above Agnus, really good fishing, combo of lakes and rivers, pictographs just a mile paddle away from most of the sites, heard loons at every sundset and several west facing campsites. You get a little bit of everything on this trip minus the waterfalls unfortunately. Negatives: Agnus can be harsh on windy days. Again, no big waterfalls on this route. Distance and portages are a lot for most middle aged adults to do in one day. But again - well worth it and it sounds like you have several pack mules in their prime to take the brunt of the weight:-)


Second trip: (2022) Had a large group with 3 kids under 16 and 5 adults all approaching or over 50. We split into two days travel this time. Stayed on Agnus first night and then went north and were fortunate to land the 5 star site #170 for base camp. Best site I've ever stayed on out of the 40+ sites I've camped on. It's the Island site across from the pictographs. Site has 2 beaches, several fishing points, a hiking trail up the large hill it sits beneath and has good flat space for 3-4 tents and a few hammocks. We stayed on Nina Moose on the way back and come out the next day.


It should be noted. I've taken trips as far east as Loon Lake and as far West as Poplar. I'd put this area on my short list of favorites. If weather cooperates, it seems taylor made for your group. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!


Darin"

+1 on this route for your stated priorities, but I would add that a day trip across Iron Lake will get you both fishing and waterfalls (Curtain Falls). 5 Days is plenty of time if you don't overload on gear...as Darin states you can make it to the terrific island campsites just north of Tiger Bay in a reasonable day. Suggested itinerary:
Day 0: Arrive in Ely no later than the afternoon before your permit day. Stay at an outfitters bunkhouse in Ely, finish stocking up at Zups, enjoy a great meal in town, get to bed early.
Day 1: Get up early, try to get to EP16 by sunrise, you should make Nina Moose in a few hours, Agnes by lunch, and LLC by early afternoon. Even in September those island campsites will be in high demand so research the campsite ratings ahead of time and head right towards them.
Day 2: Relaxation Day, visit Warrior Hill and Pictographs (both just a short paddle to the north)
Day 3: Day Trip across Iron to Curtain Falls. This is about an 7-8 hour journey depending on how long you spend eating lunch at the falls and how much fishing you do.
Day 4: Fishing / Bad Weather day. If you need to exit early on Day 5, consider moving to a campsite on south Agnes or Nina Moose Lake.
Day 5: Paddle out, enjoy Ely, spend another night in town if you have the time.

September is a magnificent time to visit the BWCA. Less crowds, less bugs, lower temps...enjoy!

wow you guys, this is exactly what i was looking for. I know theres no perfect route haha we are prepared to hoof it a bit if need be but I am happy to hear about yer experiences. The routes Polaris and Soundguy created sounds exactly like what our group is looking for. A lazy day is going to be necessary and im hoping to have a rod in the water for as much of the trip as necessary. We will be using all of our own canoes and gear, so no need for a outfitter for that.

I like the idea of having the longest travel day be our first day out while we are still spry and motivated

I'll be sure to throw some more questions as they come up during the work week as I prepare.

From my understanding - I really only need the dates and the EP picked out at this point, correct?

walleyewalloper: "wow you guys, this is exactly what i was looking for. I know theres no perfect route haha we are prepared to hoof it a bit if need be but I am happy to hear about yer experiences. The routes Polaris and Soundguy created sounds exactly like what our group is looking for. A lazy day is going to be necessary and im hoping to have a rod in the water for as much of the trip as necessary. We will be using all of our own canoes and gear, so no need for a outfitter for that.

I like the idea of having the longest travel day be our first day out while we are still spry and motivated

I'll be sure to throw some more questions as they come up during the work week as I prepare.

From my understanding - I really only need the dates and the EP picked out at this point, correct? "

Excellent if you have all of your gear already. If you can arrive in Ely fully packed and ready to hit the water, you really don't need any time in town. There are several outfitters that rent houses that will sleep 6 or you could stay at any of the motels in town.

Agree on having your longest travel day on Day 1. It's also your heaviest-laden day, so the return trip is somewhat mitigated by the food you've eaten.

For January 28th at 9amCST, all you need is the EP, entry date, and preferably the name of an "alternate" trip leader (in case you can't go, the FS will reassign the permit to them). If you don't already have a recreation.gov account, it's recommend you register for one and add a credit card to your "wallet" online.

EP16 permits go fast, even in September, so have an alternate EP or date in mind.

Good luck!

Some good EP suggestions have been offered - Moose River North EP #16 and Kawishiwi Lake EP #37. There are many other good options but time is short.

EP and date have been mentioned for permit day, as well as alternate leader. If naming an alternate leader you'll need additional information, so be sure you have what you need. You'll also have to choose an issue station for picking it up. There's a list on the website at rec.gov. I'd suggest choosing an outfitter because they have more days and longer hours than the USFS Offices. You may just want to have the outfitter get the permit for you since those are popular EP's and will go quickly. Don't wait until the day before to call them.