BWCA Poplar to Meeds to... ? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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kirkfish
member (31)member
  
05/29/2016 02:21PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Thanks for the early August trip suggestions. We have decided to go in from Poplar- never been in the Gunflint region. We were hoping for EP 47, but no luck, so we will portage in from Poplar to Meeds.

We'll have 6 nights- planning to base the majority of the time- Gaskin looks to be an excellent option if available, just beyond the busier Caribou and Horseshoe, and seemingly quite reachable the first day. If we get a good site, we may just stay there. Looking then for day trips, fishing and swimming- family of 5 with good experience.

Further thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!

 
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05/29/2016 03:32PM  
Took my sons and a couple of friends in through Meeds in 2014. You can go west, but those portages are a little tougher (Swallow etc) or you can go back east to Caribou. Just remember, if the Lizz quota was full, you'll be in the same area that all those people will be in. Couple different options once you get to Horseshoe....down to Vista, SW to Gaskin, or west through Allen and Henson.
Here is the route we did just for some info. In this report, I mention going west to Long Island and the back east through Banadad and Rush, eventually looping back to Poplar. That may also be an option if you have 6 nights.
05/30/2016 10:56PM  
Go SW.
HOrseshoe and Moose are great of course, but Gaskin is finer.
shinythings
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
05/30/2016 11:55PM  
Just got back from that area with a group of 5. Caribou and Horseshoe were pretty much full with basecampers all weekend and very busy. The only sites opened were either very small, sloped, or very inadequate for more than 2 people. We stayed one night at a 5 star site (camp site # 634) on Gaskin Lake. This site would definitely work for your group as it's big, open and tucked in a bay with islands around it.

Another thing I just wanted to note is we couldn't find the portage from Pillsbery Lake up to Swallow Lake. Looked around along the shoreline as well as walked up into some possible trails for about 30 minutes and still couldn't find it so we just gave up went east to Allen Lake. There was another group sitting at the camp site next to where the portage was supposed to be and they too didn't find it. You may be able to find it coming down from Swallow into Pillsbery Lake though. We told our outfitter about it so hopefully they will inform the forest ranger station.
kirkfish
member (31)member
  
05/31/2016 08:28PM  
Thanks for the thoughts thus far!
05/31/2016 08:34PM  
The portage is there, and obvious when you see it. But, it's a couple hundred yards further east, in the bay.
Pillsbery portage
05/31/2016 08:51PM  
Also, there are some campsite locations missing on some maps for Gaskin. When portaging in from Horseshoe, there are 3 sites on the left/eastern side. First one is on the long, skinny island, 2nd is on the big "spearhead" peninsula, 3rd is just across the mouth of the big bay from the 2nd. Also, the far SW site (#636), on the peninsula, burned in 2011 and I'm not sure if they reopened it.
tarnkt
distinguished member (366)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/01/2016 03:58PM  
You might consider staying on Meeds if basecamping is the goal. Only three campsites and long portages to get in there so it feels much more secluded than a typical entry point lake.

Last time we were in that area we had planned on doing multiple camps but the fishing was so good on Meeds we never left.......
jfinn
distinguished member (256)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/04/2016 11:07PM  
Or push to Omega and open many more day trip options?

Great site on the point.

Gaskin has a great site on the East-ish, island I believe. Too late season for any fishing when I was there, but I think there was a nice jumping-off rock right outside of the very large site.

As mentioned, Horseshoe and Caribou will be busy.


John
gerridm
member (12)member
  
06/05/2016 01:42PM  
Made this trip in Aug of 2014 also.
Portage from Poplar to Meeds kicked our butts right out of the gate. That year it had a large number of fallen trees that we literally had to hand things over to proceed. Took our party of 6 several hours to complete.

Stayed at the east island site on Meeds(nice)for the night. Continued on to Swallow, Pillsbury, Henson and Gaskin a couple days later. Gaskin is worth it if you push on. Most of the sites on the smaller lakes would do in a pinch but nothing enjoyable. This area was very quiet with few travelers, and no one staying at any of the sites. Gaskin had a few people on it but spread out enough that it was quiet. Fishing was good. Campsite #634 was one of the nicest I have ever stayed at. Plenty of room for a large group. Big moose skull at base of tree in camp area.

Came out through Horseshoe, Caribou and Liz to finish off the trip. As stated above, very busy.
kirkfish
member (31)member
  
06/07/2016 09:34AM  
Thanks again, all- looks like a variety of options await
 
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