My son and I are planning to take a trip mid September out of ep37. I have never done a trip this late and am looking for suggestions. This is only my second trip to the BWCA. But both my son and I are experienced with canoeing.
1. Are the bugs going to be bad enough to need my thermacell?
2. Are the water levels going to possibly be lower this late so the portages will be dryer?
3. What should we plan on for temps this time of year? So we know how to pack for layering for colder weather.

Thanks for any help!

1. Almost certainly not. There are usually very few to no bugs by then.

2. Maybe. Depending on how dry the late summer/early fall has been, low water can be a problem some places. It's impossible to say for certain at this time so I would recommend calling a local outfitter right before your trip to find out the most accurate Intel on water levels.

3. That's one of the toughest times of year to plan for temperatures. You could see anything from highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s, to highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s. Could even see snow although that's increasingly unlikely with the warming climate. What I do is wait to pack my clothes until the last minute, when I see what the forecast is. Obviously forecasts are not 100% accurate by any means, but if the 7 day forecast is predicting 80s all week you shouldn't see snow. But you do need to be prepared for both colder and warmer weather than what's predicted - especially colder. Definitely take at least a 20° sleeping bag and insulated pad that time of year.

I agree with what's been said.

Assuming mid-September means somewhere between 9/13 and 9/27.

1. No

2. Maybe yes, maybe no - depends on what happens right before you enter.

3. I've done about 25 trips that time of year. I got in the habit of checking of checking record highs and lows. For that time period, they are 88 and 18. Averages are 65-60 and 45-40. The weather is highly variable at that time and can change quickly with 20-25 degree changes. These swings create wind and can be accompanied by rain, freezing rain, sleet, hail, snow which will make it feel colder. Just be prepared for the coldest. And don't forget the days are getting shorter.

EP #37 has a lot of options - where are you headed?

Tripling up on previous comments.

1. We encountered some clouds of mosquitos in specific muddy areas after a week of very warm weather, but most of them were gone. We did have crazy amounts of house flies at some high-use campsites.

2. Watch the water levels throughout the summer. This was a very low snow year so levels could start out low and then it really depends on spring and summer rains.

3. Generally speaking, September weather is an extension of August weather with lower overnight temperatures. You could get a whole week in the 50's, but you're just as likely to see sunny and 70.

Have a great trip. We love September in the BWCA.

Headed to Alice, might stop at malberg on the way in for a night. Thanks for the advice!

With an early start and some hard paddling, Alice can be reached in a day but it is an exhausting day. Stopping in Malberg would break that up or if you are early and still want to go farther there are campsites on River Lake, Amber, and Fishdance. When we were youngsters (in our late 50's) my wife and I went as far as Fishdance after a late start while we waited for the fog to burn off so we could see the lake.

I love fishing on Alice except if it is windy. There are a couple reefs on the east side that are real productive if the wind will allow. There is also a reef near the outlet and a rock that protrudes a couple feet over on the west side that has produced a bunch of walleye for us.

We tried to make it to Alice 16 years ago. Did entry pt 30 on lake one, lots of big open water with wind. Some hard paddling and this was Memorial Day weekend so early. We stopped at and stayed on insula and fished there. It was a great tirp, I figure entry pt 37 will be a good route. I was only 32 back then, now at 48 I will rely on my 19 year old for the heavy lifting. Lol

Agree with earlier responses with the usual watch conditions, pack for the worst and hope for the best. Going in on the 28th, my favorite time of year. Firewood can be harder to find.
Fishdance has pictos and a song by our own MatchOne.

All good advice but I definitely disagree about mosquitoes. USUALLY they are minimal by then but it is weather dependent! Warmth and rain will bring them out, no matter what the calendar may say. I experienced pretty bad mosquitoes in Manitoba the last half of September a few years ago. I’ve even seem them in early October at my cabin in Isabella, 10 miles south of the BW. So the Thermacell and you bug dope of choice are pretty cheap insurance.

Thanks for the info!

A note about Malberg: It has a lot of shoreline and sites are widely scattered if you get there late in the day looking for one.

The last time I was on Alice on my way north to Thomas it was the first of Sept. and the river area was quite buggy. Don't miss the Fishdance pictos.

Thanks for the info!

Can't predict water levels and bugs shouldn't be bad but there's always that odd chance...It took us two out of shape middle aged guys 7 hours to get from Kawishiwi entry to Malberg back in July 2015 on a muggy 85 degree day. Moving steady but not pushing it and double portaging. If you get there early enough it's another 1-1.5 hours to the sites on River Lake and a bit further to the great site on Amber Lake. We loved the southern island site on River and walleye fishing in the area was good. There are lots of nice sites on Malberg.

Here is a trip report from that trip for you to read if you are so inclined, shows what some of the portages and rivers look like(in July)


Malberg trip

It's a great area, hope you have an awesome trip.

Looks like that was a great trip. Thanks for the insight.

I've had September weather up there go from 3 days of 90's to 45 degrees and drizzling in 12 hours.

Thanks, we’ll keep that in mind.

The one interesting anecdote I heard and think about every time I look at shoulder season trips is that you will get hypothermia faster when it is 32 degrees out and 100% humidity than you will at 0 degrees and 100% humidity.

There is the potential for a trip to go south quick if the wrong weather blows through. Less likely that early but still something to be aware of. Having a way to easily start a fire in cold and wet conditions is going to be important. Especially if your hands are getting numb. I'd bring a mylar blanket too. You hear about people calling for rescue when they get cold, wet, and can't start a fire.

Chefjeff: "My son and I are planning to take a trip mid September out of ep37. I have never done a trip this late and am looking for suggestions. This is only my second trip to the BWCA. But both my son and I are experienced with canoeing.
1. Are the bugs going to be bad enough to need my thermacell?
2. Are the water levels going to possibly be lower this late so the portages will be dryer?
3. What should we plan on for temps this time of year? So we know how to pack for layering for colder weather.

Thanks for any help!"

1. Our last Sept trip featured a large rain storm just before we entered. There was a lot of water standing and moving. Temps during the day were in the 80's. The mosquito population grew throughout the duration of the trip. First couple of days were very pleasant, however, by the end of the 4th day we were applying the milder forms of repellent. (lemon/eucalyptus) The point is that the bug situation can change during the trip.

2. Typically, yes there would be less water. That was not our experience last year. There was a lot of moving and standing water after a particularly severe set of storms rolled through. Several portages were eroded, had gullies, and had running water in them. Weather events have been getting more erratic and severe. You need to be prepared for that.

3. As noted, last year temps mid Sept were in the 80's. We also saw those temps the last week of Sept the previous year. I have also seen temps in the low-mid 40's and raining in Sept. Again, the trend is toward the more erratic. Unfortunately that means that you have to plan for and carry enough clothing (and water/wind protection) to deal with the weather in layers, etc.

I hope your trip has enough water, pleasant weather, and few bugs.

Thanks for the info, it will sure be helpful.

Could be a good Large Mouth Bass run off high water in the East portion of The Quetico in Mack Lake? Check out the Powel Lake Connection to Quetico Park from the East Side not many access the Quetico Park from the top East Corner?

A1t2o: "The one interesting anecdote I heard and think about every time I look at shoulder season trips is that you will get hypothermia faster when it is 32 degrees out and 100% humidity than you will at 0 degrees and 100% humidity."

That doesn't make sense to me. What's the explanation for that phenomenon?

NEIowapaddler: "

A1t2o: "The one interesting anecdote I heard and think about every time I look at shoulder season trips is that you will get hypothermia faster when it is 32 degrees out and 100% humidity than you will at 0 degrees and 100% humidity."

That doesn't make sense to me. What's the explanation for that phenomenon?"

Liquid water (especially cold 32 degree water) is far more efficient/effective at transferring heat than dry (cold) snow, so it’s gonna cool you down faster if you get rained on vs getting snowed on by the “dry” snow, even though the snow itself is colder.

ForkyKnifespoon: "Liquid water (especially cold 32 degree water) is far more efficient/effective at transferring heat than dry (cold) snow, so it’s gonna cool you down faster if you get rained on vs getting snowed on by the “dry” snow, even though the snow itself is colder. "

I guess I misunderstood. I was thinking about if the person got wet. Obviously if you are soaked you'd get hypothermia a lot faster at zero degrees than at 32. But I understand what you're saying about snow vs rain.

NEIowapaddler: "

ForkyKnifespoon: "Liquid water (especially cold 32 degree water) is far more efficient/effective at transferring heat than dry (cold) snow, so it’s gonna cool you down faster if you get rained on vs getting snowed on by the “dry” snow, even though the snow itself is colder. "

I guess I misunderstood. I was thinking about if the person got wet. Obviously if you are soaked you'd get hypothermia a lot faster at zero degrees than at 32. But I understand what you're saying about snow vs rain. "

The part that gets you is that you have a much harder time getting and staying dry at 32 degrees. At 0, your body heat can warm the air next to your skin enough to enable evaporation, but at 32 degrees there is less of a difference between skin and air temps, and the air is holding much more water, so evaporation is far slower. Even if it isn't raining, it's easier to get and stay wet just from sweat.

Chefjeff: "My son and I are planning to take a trip mid September out of ep37. I have never done a trip this late and am looking for suggestions. This is only my second trip to the BWCA. But both my son and I are experienced with canoeing.
1. Are the bugs going to be bad enough to need my thermacell?
2. Are the water levels going to possibly be lower this late so the portages will be dryer?
3. What should we plan on for temps this time of year? So we know how to pack for layering for colder weather.

Thanks for any help!"

Bugs should be gone, water may be lower than the spring. When I went in mid september highs were low 70's and lows were high 30's or low 40's. It was beautiful. No guarantee it will be that way. I would be prepared for cold weather.

A1t2o: "...at 32 degrees there is less of a difference between skin and air temps, and the air is holding much more water, so evaporation is far slower..."

Faulty logic, I think. So at 70 degrees, even less difference between skin and air, your risk would be even higher?

1. Normally by mid to late August the bugs tend to subside. I entered Wood Lake on September 11th, 2025 and was surprised by how bad the mosquitos were. As long as i was out on the water they left me alone, but day 2 was a constant rain with some thunder which kept me mostly at camp. It was cool enough so I was comfortable in long pants and rain jacket, I even broke out the head net.
2. Every year is different, watching weather reports ahead of time should tell about those conditions.
3. Again checking weather reports will help. I always pack wool underwear top and bottom for those chilly days, that along with a fleece layer and rain gear and I'm good for colder temps. I've also been comfortably swimming in mid-September, and one of those trips was to Alice.