I am planning a trip into BWCA, third week of August. Me, Wife, boys, 8 and 7. Friend, his wife and their boys, 9 and 7. Two canoes, either MN 3 or SR 18'6". We want a safe trip that maximizes fun for the kids. Next priorities (for dad and mom) would be isolation (balanced against reasonable . . . i.e. minimal? portages), then fishing.

I am interested in EP and route recommendations. Five day trip, likely from ELY (unless someone thinks other options are better, after flying into Twin Cities). I was thinking that avoiding big lakes (wind) and any river with a current would be good.

No strong feelings about a loop vs. base camp, but want to maximize the priorities above. Those of you with kids may have better ideas about what reasonable portage is for kids; we have plenty of hiking experience, but the kids have no real packing experience. We will be doing preliminary canoe trips this spring, but only over-nighters. Adults have varied canoe experience, kids have no prior canoe experience.

Recommendations so far have included Lake One, base camping with day trips vs. short loop. Someone recommended Fall Lake to Mudro, but I am a little concerned about rivers and portages. Moose Lake entry and some route that included Ensign? Let me know if any of these are not good.

Any recommendations appreciated.

Those are all good recommendations. Others would be Hog Creek to Perent Lake, Snowbank to Dissapointment (Snowbank is big but you're only on it for a short while). I think the Lake one may fit your bill the best though. See if you can make it to Lake Three or Four. The further you get in, the better. The portages are all very short and easy. If you can make it all the way to Insula, which may be tough on the little guys, you'll find a beautiful lake with dozens of islands and campsites, and great fishing. The final portage into Insula is a bit longer then the rest but not too much trouble.

I brought my 8 yo son to the BWCA for his first trip last summer. We went in Fall Lake and base camped on the top of Pipestone Bay. It was an easy trip in, great fishing and the kids liked it, but it's not isolated and there are motor boats allowed to about the point where Pipestone and Jackfish Bays come together.

This summer (June), we'll likely go into Lake One and see how far he can go.

Hog Creek is great as well. I have been tripping with Canyon since he was four, he is eight now and Hog is a favorite. Larch to Clove is a very short easy trip and the second campsite on Clove has a great sandy beach.

Island River EP 34, Isabella Lake EP 35, Hog Creek EP 36, Kawishiwi Lake EP 37, Homer Lake EP 40, Cross Bay EP 50, South Hegman Lake EP 77.

All will get you in to BWCA on relatively small water, with some optional day trips once settled.

If you consider Snowbank, it can whip up fierce winds quickly - don't opt for shortcuts, take the most protected route (says she who rode 3' whitecaps once without intending to and had to act calm in front of two kiddos). Snowbank gets over 100' deep in spots. Agree the lakes beyond there are suitable for kids, but seem heavily traveled.