Hello everyone! My name is Dan and I am new to the group

My girlfriend and I had a last minute cancellation with a different trip we were supposed to do in September. However we still have the time off from work so I figured this is my opportunity to make a trip I’ve been meaning to do for a while happen, a backcountry canoe trip in the boundary waters.


I’m looking for a 4-5 day trip recommendation that I can plan from one of the still available launch sites. I don’t mind doing some portages and would love to cover some decent miles in those days.

But because this is kind of last minute a lot of the permits have already been booked out.

I’ve done some of my own research and have some sites im favoring but I figured I would ask people with experience for advice.


Here are my available options


20-angleworm lake.

I know this one has a long initial portage. However if I could plan a solid multi day trip out of here I would not mind doing it


7-from big lake

Have not done too much research here but first impression says a lot of long portages if I wanted to make a long multi day trip here


36- hog creek

?I was favoring this one because it looked like a fun trip to Isabella and potentially even further, but I found some reports in this group saying it wasn’t their favorite paddle. Would still be willing to give it a try


Slim lake


Trout lake


Ram lake


Little vermillion lake


If I start a day later and bring it down to a 4 day trip I also add these spots as a option


Moose river south


North fowl lake


Crab lake and Cummings lake


Saganaga lake


Let me know what you guys think and thanks for your time!

Well, it looks like OP is going to open in certain areas. Even if things improve more, I doubt some of your options will open due to their close proximity to the recent burn areas. I'm thinking you may be down to limited options. Hog Creek, Ram and North Fowl. If by chance it opens, I would take the Crab/Cummings and include the loop of little lakes like Battle and Phantom etc. Gorgeous little paddle/portage in Sept.
I just came out Ram on 7/3....nice lakes but the Misquah-Little Trout portage is NOT FUN and portage landings along the route are very rocky. Hog Creek is kind of an in/out trip. Never done North Fowl but it could open you up to bigger lakes along the border and the hills should be pretty in sept although many are long east to west and Sept wind can be an issue.

I can only comment on the Hog Creek option. You mentioned going thru to Isabella. This is a very remote and lightly travelled section with 13 portages. It is beautiful and you feel quite accomplished upon arriving Isabella. Consider checking water levels before committing to this route. With the dry conditions you may have challenges on the Perent River. I went thru in June and it was still ok, but water levels were marginal in spots. I also recommend studying the portage notes on this site and marking your map accordingly. They aren’t the easiest to find at times, especially in the middle section. But, if you do your homework, you’ll save yourself some time hunting for landings. Depending on your timing, you may consider camping on Perent lake the first night and making your second day a “portage day”. If you end up choosing this route, I’d be curious about the conditions you experienced! Enjoy the journey! Trip report EP 36 to EP 37 June 2026

First, Sign up for the entry point alert system here on BWCA.com. You will surprised at what entry points might come available soon. I get alerts every day.

From the entries you listed -

#70 North Fowl - Put in at Little John Lake and make your way to John Lake nd turn right onto the Royal River. From there make you way to Royal Lake and more Royal River to the Fowl Lakes. We were able to get to Moose Lake our first night. We only went to Mountain Lake the next day. It was a beautiful paddle and we had a lot of wind. We found a great campsite and stayed there 2 nights. The fourth day we turned south into Clearwater Lake and turned eastward to stay on the Pine Lakes for a night. Then out to McFarland and Little John Lakes. GReat Trip. Just know that the Canadian side is not park here. You will see motor boats and hear vehicular traffic.

I didn't think that Saganaga was open?

Other permits to look for -

#38 Sawbill Lake or #39 Baker Lake - Do the Cherokee Lake Loop. If you have 5 days, add a day trip to Frost Lake from Cherokee Lake.

#37 Kawishiwi Lake - Lady Lakes Chain. Get Sawbill Outfitters to shuttle you to Kawishiwi Lake and work your way back to Sawbill by going north to Lake Polly, then east through Hazel Lake, Phoebe Lake, Beth Lake, Alton Lake. This is a great 4 day trip. 5 days can be done by stopping for a day of fishing or exploring.

Go one way from either #50 Cross Bay or #51 Missing Link TO either #47 Lizz Lake or #49 Skipper Lake (Either way works east to west or west to east.)

Hope you find a trip you like.

If you are feeling motivated and want to see some mostly overlooked backcountry try Trout Lake EP. Get a tow across Vermilion to save time and big water paddling.

If weather is calm paddle north on Trout to Pine Creek. If it is windy take the portage to Pine.

Either way the route I'm thinking of takes you down Pine Creek to Chad and Buck. Take a site on one or the other on night 1. Both have nice sites and a real backcountry feel.

Day 2-4 you can choose from 2 paths. Take the long portage out of Buck to Cummings which is beautiful with lots of cool campsites. Or take a more remote route through Western, Glenmore, Schlamn, Lunetta, Hassel, Saca and end up in Crab for the last night before exiting at EP4.

Campsites in this section are generally not used much so you will have complete solitude but not the 5 star accommodations of the Cummings route.

Crab is a beautiful lake with nice sites for your last day. You will have a long carry to the exit and you would also need to arrange a ride to get your vehicle. If you fish, there are largemouth in Chad, walleyes in Buck, Western and Glenmore, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing in Cummings.