Boundary Waters, MN

“Hey is anyone familiar with the Boundary Waters area in MN?

I've always wanted to go to this place. Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Also, anyone interested in actually goin on such a trip?”

“I am interested in a trip.”

“cool...I designate you to help dig for info then :) lol”

“dang chili, whats that smell coming off your shoe? Stepped right into it, didn't you? :)”

“Hiking or paddling?”

“I'd be interested in a paddle trip”

“ok, cool, I can get info...


nigal is the king of Boundary Waters, I will just refer to him”

“Spent lots of summers up there as a kid. My family is from Duluth, MN and my grandfather had a cabin near Ely, MN. I really need to get back some day. It's on my life list.

Take Nimblefoot along. He can kill some dinner for you with his truck.
last edited: 1/11/08 7:44:52 AM”

“been there plenty, planning an eight day trip in late May early june”

“awesome...people know the area! I was wanted to make it a paddling trip...assuming I could rent a kayack or something when I got up there.”

“Simer is also very familiar with the area, having lived in Ely and hiked the Boundary Waters extensively. Paddling is a little more iffy for permits, hiking no problem. Same with camp sites.”

“I went to school in Ely, spent many summers growing up in the BW. I would suggest a backpacking trip(this is a backpacking forum after all) Canoeing is often crowded, you have to work to avoid the crowds(off season, low travelled areas) backpacking is a solitude experience in the BW.

If you are set on a paddle trip, you'll need a canoe - (it is a canoe area) a kayak is not made to portage, or at least is generally not very easy - though people do use them on occasion.

That said, I may be interested in a trip, depending on time of year. I may also be planning a backpacking trip up there over a spring weekend.”

“thanks for the info. I was DRYING to paddle...but I suppose I can be flexible esp. as seein I've not been in a canoe in uh...well since summer camp. lol.

that said, surely I could get some paddling in if I make it all the way from VA to MN...surely....lol.
last edited: 1/11/08 8:46:54 AM”

“The last time I did a paddle trip there was early July 1980.

There's a nice picture of me diving into a lake there on Phil's Photo Page under Tom Terrific(my alter ego).”

“Geez Creek Dancer, where haven't you lived?”

“I didn't realize that Nimble had made my post for me 2 minutes before me.”

“He never sleeps”

“Geez Creek Dancer, where haven't you lived?”
MarkO

LOL, we moved around a lot and I've visted many places in between. My dad was in the foreign service. But here's the list of where I have lived in order:

Minnesota
American Samoa
Maryland
Brazil
Virginia
Turkey
Rome
Virginia
Seattle
Virginia”

“Hmmm, guess I have not yet posted photos from the trip my friend dryfoot and I took up there over Labor Day weekend. He's been up there a lot.

If you're canoeing, you need to then make yet another decision. Most people go up there and like to paddle, paddle, paddle... maybe go 10-20 miles a day to a new campsite.

I was ready for a "vegging" vacation, so we only went two lakes in and set up a camp where we stayed two nights before going to a second camp the night before we exited (and that camp would have been the first one found when people come into that lake).

We went in at South Hegmann, Entry Pt. #77, north of Ely. Went from S. Hegmann to N. Hegmann and up into Little Bass Lake - which we had all to ourselves Thurs, Fri, and Sat of Labor Day weekend.

We did check out all the campsites on that lake. It was laid-back fun... putzing around the edges of the lake, exploring every little nook... fishing... kicking back and reading a book... being able to watch a moose swim a mile or so up the main channel (that, my friends, was freaking amazing!)... seeing a pair of what I now think were mink running along a shore, making a ton of noise with their big feet...

When we left Little Bass, we went back up into North Hegmann to see the rock art, then backtracked into South Hegmann before making camp our last night.

Then we bummed in Ely a bit and also visited the Soudan Underground Mine (and state park) on the way back.

Will post whenever I get photos up.... It was fun!”

“Dang Creek Dancer, you and Johnny Cash have been everywhere, man!

I did an eight-night trip there in 1974 and a five-night trip in 1980.

I don't remember having permits.

It must have gotten way more popular since then.

Both times I went up the Gunflint Trail(frost heaved road on a motorcycle was quite a ride!) to Gunflint Outfitters to rent canoes.
We set out on Gunflint Lake(of all places) and navigated to Lake Saganaga and beyond.

Both times I camped on Horseshoe Island.
last edited: 1/11/08 9:42:59 AM”

“Thanks Lizs. Now I am homesick...”

“I think I got you beat, CD.

Childhood was:

Wisconsin
Minnesota
Michigan
Iowa
California
Minnesota (again)
Wisconsin (again)

So called adulthood:

California
Japan
California
Vietnam
Vietnam (2nd time)
Washington D.C.
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Connecticut
Michigan
Ohio
California
Alaska
Oklahoma
Connecticut
Florida
Virginia
Wisconsin

I'm currently in my 6th Wisconsin residence in the not quite 6 years since I've returned. I'm hoping it's my last:)”

“The Boundary Waters Area was my home away from home back in the sixtys and early seventies. I had a heavy, but sturdy canoe which could carry a lot of beer.

For information I suggest using the search routine on this site, Google, the National Park Service and Sawbill Canoe Outfitters.. Plenty of information is available.”

“Good grief Nimblefoot! You sure do get kicked out of town a lot.

NS - my dad says that he didn't have a car growing up in Duluth, but he did have an old boat and a fat girlfriend that he kept around for ballast.”

“have kevlar will travel :-)”

“I am kicking around a trip up into Quetico Provincial Park next year, probably late July early August. This year is full for me.”

“Boundary Water permits are now available on-line. The trips there are wonderful. If you want to see some backpackers having a great time paddling the Boundary Waters:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/slideshow/560769233ljuAak;jsessionid=abcMagfqz0gS7h4uIlQDr

http://outdoors.webshots.com/slideshow/554310580tnTncR

http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee281/prosecutor104/250%20mile%20Boundary%20Waters%20Canoe%20Trip/?albumview=slideshow”

“Marko,
Can't see the picture but more like this:

http://bellcanoe.com/products/default.asp?page=product&id=588&catid=193

But black.
Hope that worked”

“yay this sounds fun. Liz, I like the idea of putzing....but I do gotta see the place since I've never been that far...west before....so some paddling/whatever will be called for.”

“Our other option would have found us doing probably at least 15 miles every day. I'd need to look at a map, but we could have come out at something like Muddy Lake(??) with a short vehicle shuttle. Just seemed like too much work, plus little in the way of contingency for a bad weather day, since we were only there from a morning start on Thursday to potentially Monday. We came out early, thinking bad weather might be coming... and, well, I wanted to see that mine! Love mines and going underground.”

“http://www.imsplus.com/images/Kevlar_Helmet.jpg

Dang, you got a bullet-proof canoe!
last edited: 1/11/08 1:07:46 PM”

“Hey, Mouth-O, post your BWCAW skin shot here! :-) Put your money... err, young nekkid butt... where your mouth is (so to speak)!!!

LOL!”

“You can get all the info you need at:

http://www.bwca.com/

They have forums to ask all kinds of questions, online maps complete with points of interest, hot fishing holes and trip reports.

I've been there six or seven times now. Crooked and Iron Lakes are great and you can set up two or three loops routes in and out.”

“I was in the BWCA a few years ago on a 6 day paddling trip and was actually kind of disappointed in the place.

I'll take Utah, Colorado, or Big Bend any day over Minnesota.”

“I have the opposite of Owl's experience, almost. But first, I'm sorry, Owl, if you did not have a wonderful time in the Boundary Waters. I suspect that it rained a lot or else, that you experienced one of their forest fires. I know that you met the State Bird, the giant, hungry mosquito! I do respect your feelings and your right to express them. Everyone is entitled to their personal likes and dislikes and their right to express them. However, have you experienced any other locations or events in Minnesota for your blanket statement encompassing the entire State?

I have been in the Boundary Waters numerous times and every trip has been great. I'll take the Boundary Waters and Minnesota any day over Utah or Colorado! At least that is my choice from many places that I have experienced in Utah and Colorade and in the world. I have lived for years in Minnesota. The Boundary Waters remain my top choice in the world.

However, all my life I have tried to make the best of my opportunities and to experience as much as possible, wherever I have been located. Although now far removed, my heart continues to reside in Minnesota, the North Woods of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Best wishes on all your future trips.”

“ns:

Actually, the weather was great during our trip. The mosquitos were large but not too aggressive however I'd never experienced black flies that could bite through wool socks until the BWCA trip.

After a day or so of flatwater paddling the rocky shorelines and tea-colored water all seemed the same on the various lakes.

I never felt very secluded as one could usually see smoke from various campsites around the lakes. I also felt like we were in a competition for the better campsites on the lakes as a lot of folks would set up camp aroung 2-3 PM and then fish where our party typically paddled later in the day.

I expected to see a lot of wildlife but was disappointed there also. I've seen more critters on a weekend trip on the Buffalo River here in Arkansas than I did in a whole week in the BWCA.

I've heard a lot of good things about the BWCA so maybe I missed something or was out of sync with the place. Maybe Quetico would have been more to my liking.

It's also probable that I'm just more of a river kayaking, desert, mountain, canyon, type of guy instead of a Walleye fishing lake canoe type person.

I didn't mean to dis the whole state, I meant "Minnesota" as in my experience therewith. I'm Lutheran, have a number of relatives in Minnesota and "The News From Lake Woebegon" is my favorite part of "A Prairie Home Companion" so I have a substantial bias in trying to like the place.

It's all good.
last edited: 1/12/08 12:13:43 PM”

“Owl - Again, I'm sorry that your experience was not better. I guess it has changed considerably since I used to go there. They did not have this permit reservation system back then. But people did try to travel early and to secure a decent campsite early in the afternoon even back then. However, there were not as many people frequenting the area. However, campsites were pretty well spaced out to povide privacy. Also, I used to see plenty of wildlife.

Perhaps routing and time of the year now makes a significant difference. I noticed that motors are no longer permitted on Sawbill Lake. One used to able to motor in one to three lakes and then hide and lock their motor in the woods. At times I used a 3.5 hp on a side mount on the canoe. You make it sound like even the mosquitos are not as fierce these days.

I would still like to get up there at least one more time in my lifetime. Thanks for your polite response. Parts of my other post were only there to pull your leg a little. I understood your meanings about Minnesota, etc. Tonight is "Lake Wobegon." I'll be looking for you.
last edited: 1/12/08 1:30:05 PM”

“Owl, it's okay to say Minnesota sucks...cuz it does. I understand your experience with paddling there and that's why I hike the BWCA. Totally different experience. I spent 3-4 days and nights there a few years ago, never encountered another human and saw only one small scrap of paper on the trail. The BWCA would have been a great place but, by definition, being in Minnesota, it too must suck, lol.”

“Shove it yeah cheese headed wanker! LOL!

The landscape does tend to all meld together Owl. I have found the best time to go is in mid to late September. No bugs, fewer people and fall colors. The trick to getting away from the crowds is to choose a route with a couple good hard portages. Once you get passed a few long ones you lose the crowds. Surprisingly the Superior National Forest is just as nice and practically deserted because everyone goes for the BWCA.”

“Try the Canadian side--Quetico. Went in through Ely, MN ONCE. Several times in through Stanton Harbor on the Canadian side. Much better!”

“Again... my suggestion would be to go backpacking there.

(maybe I should stop saying that, I do not want it to become as popular of a destination for backpacking and be as crowded as it is for canoeing.)”

“"I have found the best time to go is in mid to late September. No bugs, fewer people and fall colors. The trick to getting away from the crowds is to choose a route with a couple good hard portages. Once you get passed a few long ones you lose the crowds"

I will ditto what Nigal said above.”

“I think the BWCA is one of the best places to go because of the variety of trips you can do. I try to get there from 1 to 3 times a year either on a solo trip, scout trip or trip with friends. There is such a variety of trips you can take from small streams to large lakes. As it has been mentioned all you need to do to get away from the crowds is just get in past a long portage to get away from the "day tripping/party people". You may still meet other canoes but it will be just in passing or at a portage. Anyone that has done at least a 200+ rod portage to get away from the crowds are respectful of the solitude so you will never hear them although you may get a glimpse of their canoe. I prefer to go from mid July through mid-August. The black flies are done and the daytime mosquitoes are usually thin by then, but the weather is still warm with the longer days for relaxing. Plus the permits are easier to get in mid August (fall sports have started for HS). I also try to pick a time when there will be a full moon in case of the urge for a nightime paddle.
But you should decide on what type of trip you want to take in the near future to get a permit; relaxing, lake traveling, rivers with rapids, fishing or combinations of all the above. Many of the entry points fill up for the popular entry days in February but you can usually find something to meet your needs in early March if you can move your entry date around.”

“Hey DryFoot, thanks for the info. I like the idea of lake travelling as you put it...”

“Just talked to my dad. He is leaving tomorrow for a winter camping trip to the Boundary Waters with a few of his outdoorsy friends. It's due to be -35F while they're there. My little sister is going to join the trip; it will be at least her first winter camping experience and maybe even her first camping experience that doesn't involve a music festival and beer. I cannot wait for their TR!”

“Oh, this ought to be good. How old is your sister, and how "sheltered" is she?”

“Baby sis is 25. She isn't exactly sheltered, but I wouldn't say she has a natural ease in the wild yet. But she is enthusiastic.”

“-35? Uhhh...I'll just stay in Virginia thanks. lol.”

“Not 35. 25.”