Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Can we go wrong?
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QuietWaters |
August 2016 Posts |
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Markley |
I posted on here five years ago when my wife and I were trying to plan a trip and recall getting a lot of useful feedback. Unfortunately, I can't figure out a way to find my old posts... so here we go again. My wife and I are considering taking a trip in the Sept-Oct time frame and thinking of doing a 3-day/2-night trip (open to extending if that is recommended). I understand that available permits will limit where to launch, but we are wide open as to where that will be. Is it possible to go wrong in the BWCA? I will say that if there is one thing we are looking for is to see as few people as possible, if that is possible in this new flood of COVID-induced outdoor adventurers:). Any suggestions as to any areas to focus on would be greatly appreciated. The more solitude and scenic the better! I understand that the solitude part may require a longer trip, but would like to hear your thoughts. Thanks in advance! |
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cowdoc |
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cyclones30 |
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billconner |
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TreeBear |
With 2-3 days, the first question is what is your primary goal for yourselves? The scenery is a given, but if your idea of scenery involves huge rock faces and clear water maybe East of the Gunflint is right for you. There's also some nice opportunities for some of that off of Little Indian Sioux North. If your primary goal is to get a good trip without lots of portaging, find one of the big lake routes. Trout/Basswood/Brule or many of the options east of the gunflint will have what you want (though East Gunflint introduces some tough portaging in between long paddles.) The other big paddle options of Seagull and Sag are both still closed. Do you want to see a lot of different lakes and are willing to portage for the variety? Nina Moose/Little Indian Sioux North/ any of the Poplar EPs will get you that. Do you want a classic "easier" route that still gives a wide grasp of the "BW experience" Lake One, Gabbro, Moose, Lizz, or E Bearskin can get you there. If you want solitude well, you're in luck. Late september and into october make that goal easier. In the heart of summer, one gets solitude by going where others don't want to either because of tough access, tough travel, or tough portaging (LIS South, the stuff west of Crab/Cummings, Slim, Angleworm, the Lima Grade (Ram,Bower Trout, Morgan)) and so on. Depending on the weather, you may even get solitude at some of the busier entry points as the season winds down but I feel like the BW closure has pushed some people back a little later than usual. Anyways, that wasn't all-inclusive, but it's a start. Truly I believe you can have an incredible trip from ANY BW entry point if you go into it with the correct mentality. Yes, you can go wrong, but the wrong is totally in our perceptions of the trips we take and make for better stories afterward! Best of luck. This is my favorite time of year for canoe trips. PS: I just read your old post. I don't know if the goals still stand, but I should make a brief footnote. For fishing, people definitely have their preferences and getting off the motorized routes helps, but honestly there are fish to be found just about anywhere. For wildlife, it's hit or miss. The majority of my guided trips saw moose this year, but that's no guarantee. I have always counted wildlife as one of those special bonuses that you cannot count for but really make a trip special. |
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HayRiverDrifter |
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Michwall2 |
Far West - Little Indian Sioux North (#14) would be a great spot. I would stay on the smaller lakes to avoid wind problems in the fall. Head to the Pauness Lakes and turn east to Shell, Little Shell or Lynx Lake. There are some nice day trips or hiking trails in the area. OR if you can get a shuttle, Put in at LIS North and take out at Moose River (#16). For an end to end. 3 days/2 night should be perfect for that route. Far East - Gunflint Trail - Entry #47 - Lizz & Swamp Lake - Nice little loop would be - Poplar, Lizz, Caribou, Horseshoe or Gaskin. Take a day trip to Winchell to climb the trail to the top of the cliffs and find the waterfall on the south shore. Or day trip to Vista looking for moose. Beware the wind on these long narrow lakes. Especially Winchell. Hope you have a great trip. |
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Markley |
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chessie |
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Captn Tony |
Came out on Thursday and it was a zoo. More people then on the Upper Iowa on a weekend! |
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Markley |
Michwall2: "I will point you far west and far east. Thanks for the suggestions..this is what we ended up selecting!! Can't wait to get up there and explore. |
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mjmkjun |
Suggest Mudro Restricted entry. The first three portages are ankle turners but beyond that it's pretty, fishing decent, and lots of quiet options for campsites. (...but maybe not on Fourtown Lake) within a day of paddling. Do a counterclockwise loop to Moosecamp lake and follow Moosecamp River back to Fourtown. Start your trip Monday thru Thursday to avoid weekend warriors. Everything is changed now, as you mentioned. So I think no matter where you go there will be fellow trippers but not in such abundant numbers. Note: Children back to classrooms affect numbers--excepting weekends. I think some people have discovered a wonderful way to enjoy their vacations but I feel many will go back to whatever they favored prior to the pandemic. (Airline Travel/Cruises/Concerts etc.) |
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boonie |
Reserve a permit for a Crab Lake entry. Just do it now - if you cancel at least 2 days before entry date, you'll lose the $6 fee. Take the tow across Burntside Lake. Portage to Crab Lake. It's about 1 1/4 miles one way, but not difficult - easy landings, good trail. Once there you have options to continue on or for daytrips - you can go SW to Clark, Saca, Boulder, Lunetta, etc. Or you can head to Cummings, Korb, Silaca, Coxey. The weather in northern MN can be highly variable as you move further into Sept/Oct., so you need to be aware and prepared for it. Days become considerably shorter. Bugs will mostly be gone by then. You can email me for more particulars if you want. |
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Spartan2 |
However, to answer your question, No. I don't think you can go wrong with any entry point as long as you are willing to go with the flow. I would always suggest (I am like a broken record on here) that you plan for at least four nights because then if the weather is bad for a couple days you still have a chance of trip-redemption. Also, since I am not a fan of base-camping, I would suggest planning on two to three campsites in those four nights. Personally, I cannot imagine traveling hundreds of miles for a three-day trip; we also live a ways away from the canoe country, but not as far as you. Don't know if you took the advice given in 2016 about renting a tandem kevlar canoe, but it was good advice. Plan for all sorts of weather, especially in September and October. We have been up there when it was freezing cold in September, and our Celebration trip in early September of '09 was six days of warm sunshine and clear skies. Our only October trip started in warm sunshine and ended in snow, with ten beautiful days in between. By late September/early October the days are very short and stopping early at the campsite, even if it isn't crowded, is still a good plan. Take layers to wear, wool socks (including a designated pair for sleeping) and good rain gear. We always found our Woolrich heavy-weight wool shirt jackets indispensable in the shoulder seasons, but I know many people prefer fleece. Whatever you decide to do, have a great time and post a trip report so that we can enjoy your experience, too. |
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bhouse46 |
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Markley |
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