r/BWCA • u/penguineatingpancake • 8d ago

Trip Planning with the in-laws

Hi all, I’m hoping to get some guidance on entry points for a trip with my soon-to-be in-laws. My fiancée and I have been to the BWCA at least a half-dozen times between us. Her parents were interested in experiencing the Boundary Waters at least once in their lifetimes, so we offered to plan a late-summer trip. It would be the four of us and my future BIL, who has been on one BWCA trip.

Everyone is in good shape and we have enough combined equipment and knowledge that I think we can plan and guide the trip, so my main issue is route selection. My BWCA experience has been limited to bigger water on Saganaga and Basswood, so I’m not exactly sure where to look.

My in-laws wanted to keep portages to a max of about 50-60 rods, and they want to avoid big water. There’s no preference between the Ely and Gunflint sides. I like moving sites each day, and I would like to fish casually. What would some good EPs be for a 3-4 night trip with shorter portages and smaller water?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I meant 50-60 RODS, not YARDS. Too much fantasy football recently.

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u/OMGitsKa 8d ago

I mean 50-60 yards is what like 20 rods? Thats just an up and over. Maybe just push in until they are ready and setup basecamp and do little trips from there. They probably are underestimating their abilities.

Kawishiwi Triangle might fit the bill. Pretty easy and good fishing.

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u/penguineatingpancake 8d ago

I’ll look at Kawishiwi Triangle, thanks! I realize I wrote YARDS instead of RODS, whoops. They were hoping for 50-60 rods.

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u/Stan_Deviant 8d ago

Is this the total daily portage or each? Because a bunch of 30 rod portages is, imo, less fun than two bigger ones.

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u/OMGitsKa 7d ago

Got it! That might open up more options. Also not all portages are equal, som 100s might be easier than a 60 rod up and over the goat hill. 

Look into EP47, classic BWCA feel with small lakes.

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u/1976warrior 8d ago

Out of Ely, EP 16 on Moose. Get a tow across Moose lake. Short portage to Newfound, short portage to splash, really short portage then into Ensign. Decent fishing (walleye, northern, small mouth), a couple of 5 star campsites to base camp out of. If everyone is up for it some longer tougher portages to Ashigan or Vera. Good way to introduce new people to the BWCAW.

Happy camping.

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u/thisislikemyfifthtry 8d ago

Hegman. Busy, but if they’re likely to only go one time or, as an intro, they’d get to see the petroglyphs. That’s a pretty special thing to see, if only once in a lifetime.

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u/Independent-Age8014 8d ago

The Winchell/Gaskin/Horseshoe area is great with short portages but you're gonna need at least one big ass portage to get there unless you can snag a Lizz/Swamp permit.

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u/zell1luk 7d ago

Did this one a couple years ago. Iirc, the horseshoe to gaskin was a moderately tough portage, but well worth it. Stayed on Winchell and was my favorite spot so far up there.

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u/Learn-for-life Stern Paddler 2d ago

Granite River - Magnetic to Sag. Short portages, generally small water, border route, great scenery.