What are the advantages/disadvantages of a BWCA multi-day paddle trip in October?

The weather is both. It's a great time of year because the people are few and the bugs are even fewer.

Certian fish species the season is closed (Lake Trout). The weather - we've been rain/snow/wind bound for four days stuck in one campsite. The wind can really pick up and the rain is harder to deal with when it's 32/33 degrees out. Be prepared for 80 degrees and for 20 degrees and you can experiance both in one trip.

Weather is highly variable and unpredictable - as mentioned you can have very cold temps, wet and very windy. Daylight hours are short.

An advantage is that you could make it a "blast and cast" trip with both grouse hunting and fishing.

No bugs, solitude, crisp clear night skies.

About mid-October this year we had an afternoon of no wind, 75 and sunny, but also a couple days with a high around 45 and 15-20 mph winds, an overnight thunderstorm and waking up to ice in our cups with frost on our gear.

As already stated, be prepared for variable weather and cold water.

No permit needed, wait for a weather window that looks good and go

Speckled: "The weather is both. It's a great time of year because the people are few and the bugs are even fewer.


Certian fish species the season is closed (Lake Trout). The weather - we've been rain/snow/wind bound for four days stuck in one campsite. The wind can really pick up and the rain is harder to deal with when it's 32/33 degrees out. Be prepared for 80 degrees and for 20 degrees and you can experiance both in one trip."

Launched at 82° on Sept. 30 and came out in snow flurries less than a week later in 2021.

Pretty much what everybody else said about bugs and weather. Also the fishing in October can be excellent.

Biggest issue would be entry points and portages in sheltered parts of the lake can freeze up. Would make for tough times, especially if it happened while you’re already in the BWCA. Also keep in mind, October tends to be a windy month, and with no leaves on the trees, there’s little to no protection, even close to shore.

I’ve been up there in late October with temps in the 80’s. And I’ve also been up there in early October, where small lakes were completely frozen over with enough ice to safely walk on.

Sent you a PM with tips on weather resources.

I've done an annual October paddle for the past 11 years, so not as much time as some folks. I have had some frost and snow, but never ice on the lakes in the past 11.

To answer your question on pros and cons (my opinion)

Pros: Very few people (yet I have seen more and more the past few years. No bugs. I am able to hammock camp without any bug net!, Completely different scenery... different colors and ambiance. Quiet....I've noticed significantly fewer loud groups, portage hogs, and general yahoos. Also complete freedom to enter where and when you would like. Its also nice to do a loop and with the fewer basecampers at EP lakes I am never worried about finding a campsite near the EP on my last night in.

Cons: less daylight, it seems windier than other times of the year, and variable weather. Plus fewer loons and other songbird sounds.

October has become my 2nd favorite trip of the year. My favorite is still the week BEFORE the fishing opener in May for all the reasons above, plus its the first trip after a long winter. :)

I love traveling the boundary waters in October. The fall colors can be spectacular and there are less people. Mid to late October you get the beauty of the Tamaracks-plus the added bonus of Grouse hunting. As people have already stated, you have less daylight and less predictable weather. If you plan on an October trip, plan a route that can be amended. Plan a simple trip where you can get out if the weather turns.

I agree with what others have already pointed out for both the pros and the cons.

That said, I want to call more attention to the autumn winds. The last 8 years I've been up there in the fall, and more often than not, my group has been stuck in camp for several days over the course of a trip due to high winds. It's not just 15-20 mph winds, I've regularly seen 25-40 mph. These high winds can be extremely dangerous for anyone on the water, but especially for people who may only paddle a few times a year.