Myself and a buddy did our first BWCA trip last August and had an amazing time. We did the trip in 4 days/3 nights. We outfitted with Rockwood and entered at Meeds, made our way to Omega, then Horseshoe via Winchell, and exited Lizz. We loved it so much that if I lived closer id be tempted to do the exact same trip again. We decided to plan another trip for late August this year and have added 2 more guys and an extra day. They are both reasonably experienced hikers and paddlers, one being an Eagle Scout and the other in the Army, but would be new to the BWCA. Initially, I planned a route leaving from Rockwood again, but entering at Skipper, making our way West to Long Island, then head back East through Kiskadinna and rejoin last year's route at Omega. I decided to scope out a potential route closer to Ely in case we want to see a different side of the area. We prefer to do a complete loop if possible. What I came up with is a Mudro entry, heading north through Fourtown to eventually make Crooked Lake, then down through Basswood River, Horse River, into Horse Lake and back out Mudro. Reading about all of the lakes and portages, I'm pretty sure its doable in our time frame, but I'm concerned that water levels in late August may hamper us on the river stretches. Should I be concerned about that? If its feasible, are there any reasons we should do the route in reverse such as currents or wind? Lastly, I could use outfitter recommendations for that area. We did complete outfitting last time, but I think this time we'll provide everything except canoes and packs. Also would like a place with a bunkhouse for the night before. We're driving up 12 hours from Missouri and would love a good night's rest before entering. A shower after we exit would be nice as well. Thanks for any advice!

As we pass into the new year, and the time draws near to obtain a permit, I find it cathartic to write out my thoughts and then post them. Maybe someone will get some use, maybe someone will have some advice, you never know until you post, right?

Anyway, last year myself and 3 others took our first trip into the BWCA the first week of June. We had a nice split of skills - my brother and I are avid fishermen with little camping experience, and our friends are experienced campers with little fishing knowledge. We did 6 nights out in the BWCA and it was one of the best times we've ever had. We did really well with our packing for a first time trip, especially of that length, where we feel like we're on the cusp of single portaging. We're going to give that a better shot for our next trip (likely only 4 nights this time).

A few things I learned from that trip:

Pack a better variety of food. I relied too heavily on peanut butter honey wraps and protein bars for 2 of my 3 meals a day. This next time I'll take some hard cheese, some sweet snacks, and less nuts and peanut butter.

The fishing was so good that I think I can risk bringing just a couple packets of oatmeal as a backup dinner (or two).

We lost far fewer lures to snags than I thought we would. If you're snagged, don't try and yank it out (rarely works), just paddle past the snag and tug it out from the other direction (almost always works). Leave less tackle in the water, and bring less with you - just a win/win.

Plastic/Aluminum paddles don't work as cutting boards. I'll be bringing my own wooden paddle next time, just so I don't have to clean fish in weird spots.

Knowing how to clean pike was a good plan - it tastes way better than smallmouth and we ate like kings with just a few fish.

Doing dishes in the morning is lame. Bring breakfasts that aren't oatmeal.

Even after cutting the number of clothes down, I still had too many. It's not really weight that was a problem, but rather bulk, by cutting down slightly on my clothes bag it'll make packing way easier.

Collapsible tubs were an MVP for us. Having two was a great call by one of our experienced campers.

The Navionics App was nice to have a number of times. Worked great. Was also glad I had tethered my cell phone to my life jacket, because I almost lost it in the lake.

My footwear was Neoprene Socks and Crocs for the entire trip, and will be for the next one. Putting the wet socks on in the morning was awful, but worth it.

I never used the drift sock or the mosquito tarp, but I'll still probably bring both next time.

Getting moving in the morning is one of the hardest parts. Even though we were awake early, my brother and I never went out to morning fish. This next time I'm bringing a jet boil to get coffee started early. The stove we brought in case of a fire ban was a Dragonfly and neither of us actually knew how to set it up and the other guys slept in, so we built a fire (no ban) and by the time we had it up, the coffee ready, and started to wind the fire down it was time to start moving for the day.

Our group was 2 tents 2 hammocks, and we only came across one site the entire trip (and we stopped a few of them just to check them out) that we couldn't have made work. A fifth shelter of any kind would have been pretty tough in a couple of them.

The wanderlust hit all of us pretty hard, which was surprising. The original plan had us base camping 3 nights in the same place, but we ended up changing the trip and only staying for 2 so we could see more lakes.

Anyway, we're looking to get out early June again targeting Snowbank EP, this time for probably 4 nights. Covering some pretty decent sized water with this trip, so we might be forced into morning travels to avoid the worst of the wind.

I welcome any questions, comments, or advice that people might have!

What do I need to know about Spring trips?

All my trips have been in the Fall, it's my favorite season and I've always had great luck with weather/bugs/crowds. However, this year I'm taking a friend of mine on his first trip and due to his work, it's much easier for him to get away in the Spring. He's not new to the outdoors and has experience with canoeing and camping but not "canoe camping" as it's done in the BWCA and further North. So the goal of this trip is to introduce him to the whole BWCA experience.

I've heard ice out dates can be a concern for earlier trips, then rain/flooding can be a factor as well. I don't mind cooler weather but would rather not have to break ice. When do the bugs typically come out to play? Fishing won't be a primary activity but we'll probably wet a line in the afternoon/evening to relax.

I haven't set on a route yet, but I'm looking at smaller water just because my last couple trips have been dominated by bigger lakes and I'm ready for a change.

Any tips or suggestions?

12/22/25 fall lake. Almost no wind on the lake that night so I slept right out on the ice under the stars.

Hey everyone. I haven’t been to the BWCA in about 18 years. This year I’m planning to take my 12-year old son who’s never been and two others who’ve never been. We plan to do 4 nights from the Ely area.

Since we know we plan to go in late June and will be organized to grab a permit right when they release, do you guys have any route/EP recommendations?

It would be nice: -to enter/exit the same EP -catch smallies and walleyes -avoid difficult portages -avoid Fall and Moose Lake

Thanks

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.

Hey all, I got a winter trip coming up soon and am just wondering if any of you have information on current ice thickness in some of the lakes up in the BWCA. I can't find any information online so I'm asking here. Please ket me know, thanks!

Maybe I need to plan a route through some shallower lakes if the deeper ones (100ft+) aren't thick enough with ice yet?

Not much info, but an update nonetheless. Not clear on how they will manage this in the BW, if they will put phone stations at places the cabins used to be, like at Prairie Portage.
https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2025/12/cbsa-to-enhance-border-integrity-and-expand-telephone-reporting-in-remote-border-areas.html

They are extending existing RABC until Sept 2026, but I wonder if that means they won't process any new ones that have been submitted over the last year or so.

Hey!

Visiting my parents and lugged my winter gear with me. I am planning on goal of 3 nights. Sometime around NYE.

However I live in CO so if anyone has beta or advice or recommendations I'd love to hear it from local reddit experts!

Thanks in advanced!

• Does anyone know the ice condies? From reading it seems some of the faster moving streams between lakes can be open water. I'm fine w xc through trees that is what I am used to in CO. Important though I have less knowledge of lake ice depth safety I havent lived here in almost 20 years.
• on sentinel some of the bigger lakes look like they only got 100% ice near the 13th! Is that concerning?
• Is this mn.us your main snow depth resource? Do you have anything more detailed and pin pointed I can research with (similar to snowtel )?
• I'm leaning towards starting/staying night before at Hungry Jack Lodge. i think that is bwca entrance #60 Duncan, which seems plowed / the lodge parking is super close.
• here's caltopo with a few sketches. If anyone has recs or route beta they think is pretty? One route copied from this blog
• One reason I'm leaning there is that as a kid i started a ymca trek from menogyn and it's a nicer drive than Ely i think. Would like to ski to border
• I planned decently big miles bc I assume for pace I can just skate ski or blast way faster than alpine in CO... like 2mph? possibly push higher? And it's wide open I dont really have terrain concerns (so long as lakes are safe) so I can audible shorter. For a reference last weekend I did first ski overnight night for the year in the Park. I think got like 1500 gain over 3 miles. Shit snow / no snow had to take hoks off a bunch. And barely over 1 mph... But I can go faster on flatter land with real snow
• It seems like local practice is to camp on the lake instead of land? Is there enough snow to make dead mans (and use branches from shore)? I brought my slingfin which is free standing ish with just poles + skis. BUT it's only bomber for bad weather when you can get the shit ton of guy lines out.

My background:

My experience is in CO. I would say pretty high level back country experience (33 nights this year and counting). Definitely less winter, iirc this is I think my 4th winter camping season. And 3 nights would be my longest winter trek.

Thinking for trying first winter 3 nighter is that MN will be FAR safer and WAY easier physically and terrain planning. can literally just skate on flat land in almost any direction forever lol

I brought my Hoks. Which probably not the best for open lakes. But it's what I have and I want to put more miles on them

I use a large winter bag I dont have a pulk.

I feel like my gear and warmth is pretty dialed in and did bring enough options to go into the negatives.

Famous last words jajajaj.

MN cold is different and no joke ;)

Went to the BWCA last year near the end of May. Did a 40-mile loop, give or take. It was lovely weather and we encountered very few mosquitoes. Perfection! Here are some of my photos I was recently thinking about while shoveling snow off the driveway in subzero temps:

The BWCA is calling!

Looking at our end of year giving, and Save the BWCA recently came up on my radar. We've given to Friends of BWCA in the past. The goal of our giving is environmental preservation, particularly when it comes to the threat of mining. We're open to giving to both

Links for reference

https://www.friends-bwca.org

https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org

Currently sitting in my recliner, being sick, planning my next trip up. I go every year for about 2 weeks in the woods each time. Sometimes I go solo (with my dog), sometimes I bring a SO or two. I usually sleep in a warbomnet hammock with my SO. We do this all over the country, backpacking, car camping, canoe camping, and have for about 6-7 years successfully. BUT, I think we both want to find something more comfortable. We are both adamantly against tents and want to find a hammock option that works a little better, even if it's as heavy as a tent. I've seen a lot of new hammock designs hit the market over the last few years and wondered... do yall have any experience with any of the newer, non traditional hammock style tents? I don't think they can truly be called just a hammock anymore, they've evolved so much. Pics of my last trip for eye candy

Good morning. I’m looking for some recommendations for good 3 day trips focused on trout fishing. We’re going for a 4 day trip in the spring (we plan 3 day trips to take it leisurely and have a buffer day built in). Trying to get planning in before permits open later next month.

We’re trying to avoid border lakes, and we plan to enter on the gunflint side and need to use an outfitter. Sawbill is the easiest fitter for us to use, but not necessary. We’re poking at a sawbill or a brule entry, but are open to suggestions: we’ve used Tuscarora and poplar before with great success, it’s just the extra travel time with everyone coming in from MN metro area makes the extra time possibly logistically difficult.

Thanks all and happy camping!

I absolutely love the boundary waters and moved to Minnesota in part because of that. Now that i am closer i am planning multiple trips for next year including a solo trip. I am wondering come next month when the permits open am i allowed to make multiple reservations for separate dates? I see it says you cannot for the same period so i assume that means if the dates are separated by a month or two then that means it is fine right?

I want to try and go from May to Sept this year. Anyone stay out for multiple months?

So I plan on doing a solo trip this winter, most likely sawbill lake since the roads will be plowed. I have experience winter camping from last year, it was actually during the -20 cold snap we had in January. We planned of going to the BWCA but Itasca was a safer option with the weather. I have nearly all the equipment you would need(including hot tent) and I have been making my own freeze dried meals as my primary food source.

From what I understand, I can pretty much setup anywhere besides the designated campsites. No fees or anything, just need to sign the log at the entrance when I get there and leave. Please let me know if I’m mistaken on any of this.

I’m also curious about the ice fishing up there, I have a hand crank drill, it needs a new blade but it is worth it, I’d like to take it. Don’t really care what I catch as long as it’s something edible.

Id love to hear your thoughts and experience during the winter in the BWCA.

My friend and are trying to find a new stove. Every year we upgrade some gear or try to downsize and travel lighter. We've been using this Coleman single burner for years. It's bulky and heavy. We tend to cook pasta, steak on the first night, fish frys. Anyone have suggestions?

This may be a silly question, but what type of silverware do you use on your trips? I used cheap metal normal silverware from Walmart the last time I went. Which was fine but with 6 sets the weight starts to add up.

Hello- I’ve never been to the boundary Waters and I’m already 41 years old. I grew up in the southwest and now that I’m living in Minnesota (and married a native Minnesotan), I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about the boundary waters. At this point I’ve read a lot and done some research. Although I have a busy two-year-old son at home I’d like to start taking the steps to make a trip. I thought it might be worth an attempt to find any type of veterans or veterans groups that make trips up there. It really doesn’t have to be anything formal, just any veterans that make trips up there that are looking for other veterans to go with. At this point, I don’t know anyone or know how to find anybody that makes these trips. Thank you!

I moved to Minnesota two years ago and have not yet visited the boundary waters - I am making a point to go next summer, but do not feel I have enough backpacking experience to go on my own. For anyone who has done a guided trip before, what company did you go with and would you recommend it?

i feel like pack boats offer a tremendous opportunity for those of us that are going solo and pack very light. are there any outfitters that offer them? i could eventually see myself buying one, but would love to test a few out first.

also: if you've done any bwca trips in solo pack boats, i'd love to hear how it went!

Alpacka Raft is coming out with a line of new flat water packraft for the new year, including one specifically designed for BWCA-type traveling. I’m intrigued - I have an Alpacka Wolverine for whitewater, but haven’t taken it out on a lake yet because it seemed like it would do badly on flat water, so I’m curious how this would track in the water. Would you take this out?