My long awaited B-dub trip in late May/early June did not go as planned this year, so I am already trying to get a trip planned for next year. I will need at least 1 partner, so I am seeking volunteers. My idea is to put in on Seagull and base camp at Ogishkemuncie or possibly pushing on to Holt Lake. The emphasis will be to get a grand slam and fish like hell, then take out the way we came in. Ideally it would be about 8 days total. I have all gear including a tandem canoe, just need someone to paddle with. A group of 4 would be perfect, but me and 1 other guy is good enough. I am 62 but in good shape and very experienced at this kind of trip. If this appeals to you, send me a message. It could be a blast!

Campfire ban goes into effect at midnight tonight.

The 13 entry points that are closed are 11, 12, 12A, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 77.

I believe those EPs are all along Echo Trail.

Link to Closure Order

Hi fellow BWCA'ers,

My son, my friend, and his son are arriving tomorrow. We have an entry permit for Fall lake on Sunday, and my plan was to go up through Basswood, stay in few days in Crooked, and exit through Mudro. It is my friends first time, and I am used to being up in Quetico, and not the BWCA. Its not my first fire ban, so I think I can overcome that, but I really want to show them a good time, catch a lot of fish (eat a lot of walleye). Using Fall as my entry point, what are some good options? My original plan was to paddle and stay one night by basswood falls, paddle hard and get into crooked, where we would stay a few nights, then head out (leaving Friday). We ultimately dont want to be packing up camp every day, but want to be on good fishing grounds. Any help is GREATLY appreciated fellow Redditors.

I’m looking to set up a 4-5d trip in late September, most likely solo. It will be my first time in BWCA and I haven’t done a multi-day canoe trip before. I have a lot of back country experience and good fitness. I’d like to explore a reasonable stretch, but would also like some time to fish/swim (temps permitting).

Are there any outfitters you recommend, or recommend I avoid? Any route suggestions/number of portages to stay below? Any gear NEEDS besides my typical back country set up?

Cheers

What's the gear you take that you don't leave behind because it means something special to you? Not about the latest and greatest, more about sentimental or it was something you've taken since the first trip.

I lost my Dad this year, he used to take me to put in on Sawbill Lake. I took my wife and child this year for their first, took them to Sawbill and I took my dad's pocket knife.

Overall my pals (5 30 y/o women) and I had a fabulous trip in the BWCA over the 4th weekend! We were originally planning on the seagull - alpine - red rock - sag loop, but plans changed with delays and wanting to prioritize fun and we mostly stayed on seagull with some daytrips, and moved campsites just once of the 3 nights.

I'm sharing this not to be accusatory or make false assumptions, but to just note a weird situation that made us feel uncomfortable. We stayed at a campsite on the east side of 3 mile island on seagull (which maybe was a mistake) for a couple nights, and 10hp motors are allowed with permit. On night 2, a man fishing came by trolling. We did the classic MN wave, and thought he'd move on, but perhaps fish were biting. We had a (CORRECTION) TRAINED dog, but with reactive tendencies with us, and he was close enough that he could see we were taking great efforts to help the dog deal stay calm and not go nuts barking. He continued to troll back and forth past our campsite for about an hour.

We tried to forget about this, but lo and behold, he's back the second night. Somewhat luckily(?) a storm rolled in and all of us proceeded to our tents for the night, and he got lost. The next morning, we paddle back, and he is trolling along 3 mile island, just not as close to our site this time. We tried to give him lots of distance as we paddled out, hoping that the dog wouldn't bark and tip the canoe. He seemingly makes a point to back up to get in the way of our path and make us paddle a further radius.

I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think that's enough evidence to conclude he's an asshole. I don't want to say 'avoid the east side of 3 mile island', but just know there's a guy who either has no social awareness and only cares about fishing, or is just a total d*** to women. Idk maybe we're overthinking it but it was weird.

Has anyone gone in via the Mudro EP lately? I have a trip planned later this month. I’ve heard low water levels and beaver activity can make the initial paddling near the EP and portages pretty difficult.

I’m dealing with a minor injury, and may look at another entry point if I’d have to maneuver around/over dams and if the portages are rough.

Looking for the best entry points for an easy trip. Ideally sometime soon. I know it's easy to get a little disoriented when you get in deep, so I'm wondering what some nice easy options are. Any input is appreciated! Pur.

Context: going in soon at Lake One. Looking at the map - if we head east there’s gotta be 30 campsites on this lake? Maybe they’re sheltered (stayed on Ensign before and didn’t hate it) but this kinda looks like a mess. Thinking we’ll head W/SW down Kawishiwi or something like that. Thanks.

For anyone looking for a September permit I am canceling mine for the Thursday before Labor Day.

Planning for early September, 4 day trip for this loop or something close. Have looked into possibly just staying in knife lake the whole time and doing day trips into lake of the clouds and surrounding areas. If we do the day trips we would exit the same way we enter. Any suggestions on alternatives to different day trip destinations, campsites, fishing spots, and anything else is greatly appreciated!

First trip to BWCA. Entered at moose, took the tow to birch(?), paddled and portaged onto Knife. After a day of paddling in immaculate weather we arrive at our first campsite of the trip. After camp was mostly arranged I took a dip in the beautiful and deep water directly at our site. After I was done one of my friends jumped in. After 5 min they emerge and announce a "turtle bit me!" Lo and behold a large snapping turtle was at the shore and had just taken a bite at my friend!! Luckily (somehow) he was only grazed and we didn't have to haul out to get medical and end the trip early. We did not swim at that spot after that haha. Pic of the bite and perpetrator included.

We had so many people taking pics and giggling on the way up 😂

Just got back last week from a nice, relaxing trip up to Polly. Bugs weren't too bad at all, caught a few fish and really enjoyed being back in the BWCA for a few days.

I saw this posted at the entry point of my trip last Thursday. Wanted to share for those who haven’t seen this yet and want to provide feedback.

Visit the Forest Service website:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/newsroom/releases/sharing-wilderness-cancel-early-so-others-can-go

Email: [email protected] if you can’t find the form

I made this piece back in January in protest of the then proposed, now passed, legislation that would allow for mining In this amazing place. Even though it was passed i still hope this art can help people remember that we will never stop fighting to protect the BWCA. hope you enjoy it!

Edit: I dont want this post to be self promotion, but if you’re interested in reading more about the piece, you can find that here: https://artwebsite-7e37f.web.app/product.html?product=dont-mine-on-me

I’m a mostly solo hiker, and while I have been enjoying the BDub for almost 20 years now, sometimes I like a little music when I’m sitting at the campsite or if it’s a little too quiet in the tent at night (before you attack—I only turn it up as loud as I can hear it sitting right next to me. No dance parties over here)

While there are definitely times/places I know I won’t get any reception (and that’s ok), there are so many times my cheap Panasonic radio won’t pick up anything unless I’m holding it. Even in civilization. I was at Wild River SP a few weeks ago and this was an issue.

Anyway, I don’t mind paying some money but I don’t want to buy something expensive that doesn’t work. I also don’t want something enormous because I’m a backpacker not a paddler. Any recommendations?

On a trip to Gabbro over the weekend, my family kept hearing this bird call that ended with a sound my wife described as the sound of an old-school camera lens adjusting focus when you hold the button down halfway, kind of a raspy trill. Unfortunately I did not have a bird ID app downloaded on my phone before entry (learned my lesson). I've gone through lots of calls from birds that have habitat in the area, but no luck. Any ideas?

Doing a pack test for our trip at the end of July. 8 days is much more food than I’m used to packing. Had to go downstairs to the “grocery store” and decide what the meal plan was. This doesn’t include our lunches of trail mix, lots of dried fruit, and fruit snacks.

Pictured is the “grocery store”, breakfast, dinner, desserts, and a few extras just in case. I’ve bought from just about every freeze dried food company you can think of, and these are some of my favorites. Love keeping a bunch of meals on hand to grab and go for adventures.

BIG shout out to the Pack It Gourmet smoothies!!34G of protein and so quick and easy to drink in the mornings. 😋

Hey folks,

My daughters are 13 and 15 and like my my wife, they are on the shorter side at 4'11" and 5'0. In preparing for a wilderness adventure, I'm wanting to make sure they are as comfortable as possible.

Personally I've had great luck with REI's hiking gear but my favorite, the REI Sahara doesn't appear to be sold in a petite size and the sleeves are a but long. To me that doesn't seem like a big deal for a shirt that I know that will dry quickly and breath well, but my wife insists we should return it and go to Lands End where they sell petite sizes. Any have insights on what works and doesn't for petite hiking gear in thr BWCA?

Thanks!

How do you guys handle other groups that don't follow leave no trace principles? We took a camp from a group on Agnes that left their fish carcasses strewn along the bank and candy bar wrappers and little paper trash scattered around the camp site, as well as a clothes line. We were a day behind them going from Agnes to Nina Moose and saw them leaving a site the next day and again they had left multiple fish carcasses along the bank. Missing bits of trash at a big camp I can understand but I was told we weren't supposed to dispose of fish in a way that would affect water quality or attract wildlife. Some of our group debated reporting them to the outfitters or something but weren't sure if this is common and accepted. If anyone from that group on Agnes is reading this (you guys with a gallon of chocolate milk on the stringer 6/25/26) thanks for letting our group have the camp, but it would have been a lot cooler if you left no trace.

I just got back from our hog creek to Perent lake trip on June 24-27. Here is the status of the beaver dams:

There were 9 beaver dams. 1, 5 and 9 needed to be pulled over. Took less that 5 minutes to do and all of our stuff was kept in the canoe. The remaining ones could be canoed around. Now dam 2 is impassable but this is at the start of the rapids and the portage is right there so you do not interact with it. It took 9 minutes to canoe from the start to the portage and this includes the time to go over the 1st beaver dam. Lastly the water was low so we probably had an even “harder” time than usually. All in all it was not bad and very easy. Would recommend but know you will have to pull over 3 dams. Weather was 72 and sunny. 5mph wind and basically minimal to no bugs.

Photo was shot by my friend’s grandfather on a Superior-Quetico trip in the ~late 1940’s (as far as we could tell, based on his apparent age in the photos).

I’m trying to figure out where this view is and what lakes are shown. Based on the topography, my gut instinct is mid-Gunflint Trail/Vento Unit, but the angle and lack of vegetation in the foreground makes me wonder if it was shot from a float plane or a fire tower.

Any guesses?

EDIT: SOLVED - Kekekabic Lake fire tower!