I am looking for some information on the MBWCA

[jbehun]

I would like to plan a trip to the boundary waters next year. Does anyone have any suggestions on starting out? Should I go with an outfitter? I have plenty of experience camping and paddling. Is it easy to get a permit? I am looking to do a five day trip. Are maps available to plan out a trip for five days? Thanks for any advice. Joe

[NickoftheWoods]

it's easy if you have some basic experience. This is a good resource too. http://www.paddleplanner.com/. Are you going solo or with a group? There are maps available online for purchase too. After determining how many days, you want to consider how much portaging and traveling you want to do. Do you want to travel on big lakes 200+ feet deep or fish smaller creaks and rivers? One of the best resources is just asking what routs others have used for 5 day trips. Check out Midwest Backpackers facebook page. Lots of folks on there (here as well) are very familiar with the BWCA.

[Campdavid]

Check out Gunflint Lodge or Bearskin Lodge. They both offer outfitted trips. My experiences have been great. They pretty much handle everything for you.

You'll get instructions and route suggestions that meet your wants, needs, abilities, schedule, etc. (things like "we want good fishing" "we want shorter portages" "we want to see wildlife"). They get the permits for you and supply detailed maps.

There is a drop off/pick up point for whatever lake you choose to launch from which you will really appreciate at the end of the week....trust me.

In my experience the outfitter supplies everything you need (except personal items...they will provide a list) but you of course can bring your own favorite items too. I brought my own hammock, sleeping bag etc. Oh but.....bring a good saw! The ones supplied are notoriously dull and that really stinks!

If you are on the east side (where I typically go) there is absolutely positively no cell service. None, nada, zip. You have no way to communicate to the outside world short of a sat phone or Spot It type device. The isolation sounds cool and it is but....it is rather sobering when you realize you are a good six or seven hours of strenuous travel from the nearest phone. Just saying.

Check out Amazon travel sometimes the outfitters offer deals.

Whatever questions you have I am happy to try to answer just shoot me a PM.

[carrick]

Check out sawbill. They have camping on site and you would be able to launch from there.

[heywoodja]

I would start with reading the BWCA forums http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction...rence&confid=1



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[obxh2o]

I would start with reading the BWCA forums http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction...rence&confid=1
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I fully agree.

[Redoleary]

I've been there a couple of times and never felt the need for an outfitter. We just rented a canoe so I didn't have to drive there with one on the car but the rest is easily done by yourself. IIRC the only thing you have to arrange is the entry point and date, after that you may go wherever you want. You can do a lot of route planning from VOYAGEUR MAPS website and as others have said BWCA.com is a great resource.

[alifeoutdoors]

I agree you don't really need an outfitter unless you're needing to rent gear. However once you pick your route it's always wise to call the closest outfitter or two and see if they have any local info about your path. For example, beavers change things up here quite regularly and ways of travel can change. I generally go in at Sawbill because I know the area very well, have had my own canoe and tripping rig for years but I will still always check in with Sawbill Outfitters to see if anything has changed on the route I've selected. One year I was headed back to a fairly remote area I go to quite often and found out a couple of beaver dams had blown out and was recommended to go a different way around. Saved me a lot of hassle.

[Shug]

You should do some Google searching first to get some thoughts and peruse some routes and places. All permit info is out there too.
And yes....BWCA.com os a great place to get it all.
Shug

[Freakin Farmer]

I'd concur with the recommendations above, bwca.com is a great resource. It is really hard to make a silver bullet recommendation on where to go. There are many great spots to put in and explore. Personally, I really like the Sawbill area. Not only is the outfitter very well stocked, you have a good handful of directions you can set off in from a single entry point, a few loop type trips can be made from there, a couple bigger lakes are within easy distance, and the portages around that area are all fairly easy.