I have a trip scheduled with a long portage to the entry point. I was thinking of carrying my canoe up to the EP and stashing it off the trail for the night. I would then enter the next day at my official time. saving me a double carry at the start of my trip.

I'm not sure where exactly the BWCA officially begins at this EP. If I have a day use permit does this make it Ok or does leaving the canoe equate to camping ?

Here is what the rules from the official "Planning Guide" say:

Storing Watercraft
• Only watercraft and equipment used in
connection with your current visit may
be stored and left unattended.
• All equipment
and personal
property must
be carried out
with you at the
end of each trip.

In most places that I have been, the border of the BWCAW is marked by at least a small sign, even if it is along a portage trail. Ultimately, you should know whether or not you are in or out of the BWCAW in order to avoid falling afoul of several rules.

I believe that your equipment is an extension of you (and your permit). If you can't legally stay within the BW borders then neither can your equipment.

Stashing in the Superior National Forest is a different thing. I have heard several people say that they stash bicycles to ride between entry points.

Let's see what others think.

I’ve dropped and locked a canoe up with a cable lock at EP 25 overnight a few feet from the trail. Then in the morning I’ve come back, unlocked it, put the lock in the car and went on my way. I’ve also hid a canoe 200 ft in the woods (no lock) at an EP as well the night before entry.

I’ve seen outfitters drop canoes at several EPs and drive off the night before or early in the morning. And I’ve seen people drop their outfitter's canoe at the EP and then leave despite no outfitter present.

I've seen outfitter canoes sitting next to the trail at EP parking lots for multiple days before being picked up. Including lots within the BWCA itself. That doesn't seem fundamentally different than your idea. I guess I personally wouldn't have a problem with you doing that, but I'm sure others may disagree.

Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up.

I've done that, carried down the night before and hidden canoe out of sight. Makes the trip down in the morning with just a pack and rods much more enjoyable.

I do think an effort should be made to keep canoe out of sight to not interfere with the sights on anyone else's trip. I interpret the rule as being to keep people from stashing a canoe on a lake and leaving it for months / years for convenience.

iCallitMaize: "Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up."

This makes me chuckle and maybe I’m missing something, but how do those people get out to the outfitter canoe left on an island???

Maybe it's the new ultimate challenge - immersive waterproof testing of ALL your gear as you swim to the island! Anything that makes over dry gets a 5 star rating!

I’ve done something similar to this. For example, Stuart River is a 460 rod opening portage. You don’t technically enter the BWCA until 1/3 of the way down the portage trail. I have left my canoe and paddles off the trail in the woods just outside of the “BWCA” signage and gone back to sleep in the car. That way I save myself about a 1/2 mile of carrying the next morning. I know some people that would just do what you’re asking and walk the canoe all the way into the BWCA and leave it, but I’m too much of a rule follower.

Tony

THEGrandRapids: "

iCallitMaize: "Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up."

This makes me chuckle and maybe I’m missing something, but how do those people get out to the outfitter canoe left on an island??? "

I understand the supplies(non-food items). Not sure how the canoe scenario works out. A couple of years ago, we ran by the outfitter and notified them that one of their canoes was stashed on island X. They knew about it and I didn’t ask more.

You can leave your canoe stashed just outside of the line but not inside.

I regularly do this at a couple EP lakes. Bring the canoe down the night before, so I only have to single portage my pack in the morning. Never had a problem with it. My canoes were never within the official BWCA boundary line. As long as they're out of the way, and not left unattended within the boundaries of the BWCA, I don't see much of a problem with it.

Mike

As Michwall2 wrote:

Storing Watercraft
• Only watercraft and equipment used in
connection with your current visit may
be stored and left unattended.

The spirit of the law is that it would be illegal.

It is also illegal to roll through a stop sign at 3AM on a quiet road.

With that, you have to get caught first committing this rather benign crime.

Lastly, it's easier to stay out of trouble than it is to try and talk yourself out of it.

Tom

THEGrandRapids: "

iCallitMaize: "Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up."

This makes me chuckle and maybe I’m missing something, but how do those people get out to the outfitter canoe left on an island??? "

Is that a part of people getting towed in? The outfitter drops gear off when they have time, like early morning or the night before, possibly when picking up another crew, then has less work to do during peak hours...

That seems to skirt the rules a bit too much in my opinion.

Leaving a canoe somewhere unnoticeable is a lot lighter shade of gray than the above in my opinion. If you are doing it outside the boundary, I don't even think it is against any rules anymore.

A1t2o: "

THEGrandRapids: "

iCallitMaize: "Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up."

This makes me chuckle and maybe I’m missing something, but how do those people get out to the outfitter canoe left on an island??? "

Is that a part of people getting towed in? The outfitter drops gear off when they have time, like early morning or the night before, possibly when picking up another crew, then has less work to do during peak hours...


That seems to skirt the rules a bit too much in my opinion.


Leaving a canoe somewhere unnoticeable is a lot lighter shade of gray than the above in my opinion. If you are doing it outside the boundary, I don't even think it is against any rules anymore."

Yes, this is what they are doing. I've seen this multiple times at Lincoln Island on Basswood for example. Unscrupulous outfitters.

THEGrandRapids: "

iCallitMaize: "Not a validation but I have seen outfitter canoes and supplies on islands left for pick-up."

This makes me chuckle and maybe I’m missing something, but how do those people get out to the outfitter canoe left on an island??? "

Thats what popped in my head right away .

been awhile , but have seen canoe's stashed in the woods on some brook trout lakes. Guessing they were locals ?

I think the spirit of the law should be don’t be a d**g and you’ll be ok. Kinda like the golden rule with a twist. I would def lock it up with a cable, a lotta d**gs out there haha.