I posted this on the Trip Planning forum, but it kind of seems to me that many respondents missed the point that we're traveling with a little one. Any ideas for me, seasoned parents?

My original post:

Got any ideas for me? I've already been up Little Indian Sioux to Shell. I've been considering Kawishiwi River triangle area, but am concerned about lots of traffic with people avoiding the burn area but still putting in at Lake One and going west instead.

It must be out of Ely because we have a gift certificate to VNO that we are using for our SR 18.5 rental. ;-)

Addendum to original post: what do you all think of a tow up Moose and then paddling on Knife? Our older daughter would love to see the Isle of Pines/Dorothy Molter's homesite.

Nojobro, I haven't been to Knife but I talked to a young couple once that works with the Rangers each summer and they think Knife is the most beautiful lake around the Ely entry points.

I really think the perfect trip for you would be your first choice from Lake One into the river but I totally understand your concerns about campsites. Entering at South Kawishiwi #32 would be a good trip with kids also but you still could run into the campsite problem even though you're farther away from the Lake One EP.

I'm still considering Isabella with my daughter this summer. It sounds like some campsites still have trees but it's a big chance to take. Daytrip into the Isabella River for fire damage observations and Perent river for pretty green.

Moose River #16 and basing on Nina Moose would be a nice trip with your kids and still give you lots of daytripping options.

Mudro to a base on Tin Can Mike would also be nice w/ kids and give you daytripping options. I would love to take a trip w/ kids to either Moose River or Mudro but I can't plan the trip far enough in advance to get a permit for either of those e.p.

I think someone suggested Slim #6 in your other thread and it sounds like a beautiful lake. 2 things keeping me from taking my kiddo there is it sounds like people had trouble finding sites there last year and the fishing doesn't sound too promising. Fishing is huge on by daughter's agenda, not sure about yours. I still have an urge to go there though.

Most of the "kid trips" on my list are along the Sawbill Trail and Gunflint but obviously that doesn't help you w/ your VNO certificate.

Good Luck deciding.

Are you thinking of base camping or doing an easy loop? If basecamping, you could also consider big moose lake. I haven't been there (yet); but I've heard that campsites are somewhat easy to get and the fishing is pretty decent. It might be an option.

I'll be taking my kids in for their first overnight trip next summer. I have thought about doing a tow in on either sag or sea gull to get further in; but since it's their first trip and I don't know how it's going to go for them, we're going to stay close enough to the entry point so that we can leave early if we need to (illness, injury, or bad weather) without having to wait for a tow. If your kids are seasoned veterans, that may not be an issue.

pad and I (Pre-kids) did take a tow up Moose Lake, however we were dropped off at Splash Lake and we stayed on Ensign and Ashigan. This is one area that I am considering taking the pillows this year. Very easy access into Ensign-lots of camp sights to choose from. Ensign was part of the blow down area, but we didn’t really mind. (We were there shortly after the blow down, so I’m guessing it has grown up some since we were there.) We have not been to Knife.

We have also been up the Moose River #16. (Again, pre kids) We went up to Lac La Croix and into Iron Lake. Although this was one of our favorite trips, I will not be taking the boys until they are older. Also in regards to base camping on Nina Moose Lake; we stayed on that lake one night on the way out and the water was absolutely disgusting & Smelly. I also think that day trips from that lake would be limited with your little girl. Nina-Moose is pretty small and the portages into the surrounding lakes I feel would be a bit much for a little one- at least that’s how I feel about it with our boys.

Sorry I don’t have any better suggestions, but we too are looking for other options with our boys as well.

sleepnbag, thanks for the info on NinaMoose. I'll cross that one off the list.

the one time I was on nina moose, it didn't even look good for swimming.

Snowbank (around the south protected end) to Parent / Disappointment and beyond?

Slim if you don't want to cover many lakes.

LIS again, but go to Loon?

Island River / Isabella and see the burn area?

Drive a little more and hit Hog Creek or Kawishiwi Lake?

Thanks for the info. We are definitely doing the Knife Lake thing this year as the older one got really excited about going to Dorothy's islands, and her previous enthusiasm for the trip was just above nil, so if it interests her, it's good. But I will have a little one for a while yet, so it's all good. ;-)