I've just arranged time for my second solo trip this fall, 8 days, September 5-12 (the weekend leading into Labor Day, and the rest of Labor Day week), and am looking for some route ideas.

My first trip was LIS North (EP 14). I'm open to nearly anything, but have a few preferences that I'll favor, if possible:

1) Unique places/scenery - things that stand out from the rest of the BWCA

2) Move daily, with one or two layover/wind days

3) "Killer" portages kept to a minimum - I don't want to be doing one mile portages every day, but one or two across the duration of the trip would not be out of the question. Multiple shorter portages in a day is certainly fine.

4) Preferably BWCA side, but could go into Q if it helps to meet other preferences (see No. 1).

My goal would be to have all food and gear in a single #3 Duluth pack, or in a 60L barrel, and I'll rent a 16' Souris River solo. That should allow me to single-portage everything, except on the longest ones where I will enjoy the walk. I plan to use my hammock and fly (no tent), a penny alcohol stove, and limited provisions (a secondary goal of the trip is to lose another 10-15 lbs.). I will fish, but it's not a primary purpose for the trip.

You are going to have trouble finding open permits for the 5th. I would act fast. My suggestion is Cross Bay down to Long Island lake. You can decide if you want to make an out and back or an exit somewhere else like Baker lake. Good luck and have a great trip.

Yeah, if you could get Cross River EP, you'd have a tough trip to TUscarora but then you could do a nice big loop out to Little Sag and beyond and exit at Round Lake near your car at Cross River EP. Or you could go down to Long Island and to Frost River. Or do a loop down to Brule/Cherokee, etc. Lots of options from there.

Like SevenofNine said, you should decide soon since quite a few entries are unavailable.

Cross Bay could work well for you in several different ways. I entered there a few years ago and went down to Long Island, then looped around to the east (there are several options) and exited at Poplar Lake. I stayed at Rockwood's bunkhouse before entry and had Mike shuttle me to the entry, then I just paddled across Poplar to Rockwood.

You could also go to Tuscarora, then loop south or west or even north. I am planning something along those lines this fall.

Kawishiwi and/or Sawbill also offer plenty of options. Last fall we went in Kawishiwi to Little Sag to Sawbill.

My last three trip reports cover Cross Bay and Kawishiwi entries and might give you some ideas.

quote SevenofNine: "You are going to have trouble finding open permits for the 5th. I would act fast. My suggestion is Cross Bay down to Long Island lake. You can decide if you want to make an out and back or an exit somewhere else like Baker lake. Good luck and have a great trip."

I can change my entry date, if necessary, either pushing it up to the 4th or pushing it out a week later, if necessary.

Most of the lakes mentioned are in areas I have not paddled before. I'll pull out the old map book to look at those routes. Thanks.