More interested in planning my own routes than going with a premade one. Seems as simple as picking an entry point and going from there? Like deciding where to go and which portages to do and where you may want to camp.

Yep. It is that simple.

Not sure what a "premade" route is as opposed to what you would like to do, or what exactly you're asking, but you may find Beymer's guide books helpful

Beymer Western Region

Beymer Eastern Region

I mean in regard to an outfitter or guidebook having routes already created and planned that you can use.

You can always check out some of the trip reports and see how different lakes might fit your interests. You don't indicate a primary focus (fishing, mileage, base camping, photography, whatever), but trip reports might indicate which lakes might call to you.

TZ

Thanks TZ

Yep, just pick an entry point and figure out where you want to go from there.....

I don't like premade routes either. I pick an entry point - have done it on drive up - and take a lot of maps and make it up next days direction the night before and usually stick to it. The last two years would impact that if June through August.

Even if you had a "preplanned" route in your head....the weather and open campsites and such may change those plans anyway.

So....do whatever you want. Even your "unique" plans may change when you show up

The useful thing about researching what you might term a "pre-made route" is to just get a sense of particular areas. The great part of the BWCA is there are so many options. I like to read about other people's trips, but I have never followed one exactly. And even after I plan a route, I tend to change it on the fly when I am actually on it. I use a SPOT to update family on where I am so I don't feel the need to stick to my original itinerary.

Lately, I have been just picking a different entry point every trip and then studying maps to plan out lakes and areas I haven't seen yet. Then I use maps or websites to test out different possibilities for length of travel each day. Have fun!

In the earlier years we would drive up and take what we could get.
The best part of the BWCA was the freedom to decide as we went where we were going. Our lives were so planned out by work and other demands the freedom was refreshing.

Carl

Planning can be not only wise, but fun. Another voice for I do not want someone else to plan my trip, planning is an opportunity to imagine and relive.
Once the holidays are over I will pick 2-5 entry points and start reading trip reports and checking comments about campsites and portages along potential routes. This site has so many resources! In past years (might be different now) when I get a slowdown I check which EP's have permits and off I go. Once on the water all plans become guidelines and I have rerouted part way into a trip more than once.

Sometimes I miss the days where we would just go and not know what we were getting into. There is no bad choice really, unless you want to fish for a species that isn’t in the lake you’re camping on. MN dnr lake finder can solve that problem.

Have fun!

While you might not think it with all the different options available for a trip, I doubt that you will be the first (or the last) to follow a particular "route" through the BW. I would not worry about that. Your trip will be unique in so many other ways. Campsites chosen, weather, water levels, animals encountered, plants encountered, fishing success, portage encounters, bugs, birds, wolves, bear, etc.

I have found that it is not so much the "route" as the little things that make the trip unique. Follow someone else's route, string a couple of pre-made routes together, it will make no difference. Be there, in the moment, and let the experience take you along. No one else will have that exact same experience.

Our biggest issue with this year's Algonquin Provincial Park trip was the Park's requirement that we list each night's destination lake. Fighting wind? Tough. Got extra time and energy? Tough. We much prefer the freedom of movement in the BWCA and Quetico, but both were closed due to wildfire.

TZ

dmar: "More interested in planning my own routes than going with a premade one. Seems as simple as picking an entry point and going from there? Like deciding where to go and which portages to do and where you may want to camp."

Aren't all routes "premade" on a basic level in that you're going to go more or less where there is water?

ScottL: "

dmar: "More interested in planning my own routes than going with a premade one. Seems as simple as picking an entry point and going from there? Like deciding where to go and which portages to do and where you may want to camp."

Aren't all routes "premade" on a basic level in that you're going to go more or less where there is water?"

I suppose. I'm specifically talking about using a track that is already planned for a certain number of days. I know you can get these through outfitters or just by looking around online. As a beginner, I'm most interested in just picking an entry point and looking at what lakes I might want to go see, where I want to camp, which portages I would want to do, etc.

dmar: "

ScottL: "

dmar: "More interested in planning my own routes than going with a premade one. Seems as simple as picking an entry point and going from there? Like deciding where to go and which portages to do and where you may want to camp."

Aren't all routes "premade" on a basic level in that you're going to go more or less where there is water?"

I suppose. I'm specifically talking about using a track that is already planned for a certain number of days. I know you can get these through outfitters or just by looking around online. As a beginner, I'm most interested in just picking an entry point and looking at what lakes I might want to go see, where I want to camp, which portages I would want to do, etc."

Planning your route is a big part of the fun. Be sure to involve all your tripping partners to be sure everyone has a chance for input... a group meeting is also a good excuse for team bonding and beer drinking(?)

dmar - just avoid entry points that are dead ends. You might also figure if you can/want to shuttle. Pick an entry and an exit point and make up route between them as you go.

I made my living planning - buildings and their use - in detail - and last thing I want to do for leisure time is plan. YMMV

Yes, you can plan your own route. I've planned many of my routes myself. Some of them have worked well, some not so well. They have gotten better as I have gained experience and have a more realistic idea of travel speed and weather variables. A guide book may say a route is 5 days, but that may be 4 days easy for some or 6 days hard for others.

TrailZen: "Our biggest issue with this year's Algonquin Provincial Park trip was the Park's requirement that we list each night's destination lake. Fighting wind? Tough. Got extra time and energy? Tough. We much prefer the freedom of movement in the BWCA and Quetico, but both were closed due to wildfire.


TZ"

Destination system is what makes beautiful parks like Algonquin or Killarney dull. Well, TZ, I enjoyed your report - and you were just 3 hours away from Temagami. That area is bigger than Algonquin, more wild and its reservation system doesn't require being on schedule (though one has to specify and pay for the number of nights if traveling through Temagami provincial parks).

Hammertime: "Sometimes I miss the days where we would just go and not know what we were getting into. There is no bad choice really, unless you want to fish for a species that isn’t in the lake you’re camping on. MN dnr lake finder can solve that problem.

Have fun!"

The trips I took in the 80’s were like this. I was a beginner and didn’t use an outfitter for those first 4 trips. There was barely any information and all I had was a Robert Beymer book. I did follow routes in that book but combined them to make my own loops.

What was cool was the sense of adventure. No phone, no electronics except for my 35mm camera. There were no campsite reviews unless an outfitter marked your map. So basically I never knew what the camps would be like and remember the thrill of seeing the site from the water and then exploring it. I think today we lose a lot of the adventure by knowing too many details.

My suggestion for you is try a trip without all the information. Don’t read campsite and portage reviews. Get a map and that’s it. Let it be spontaneous. I’m not sure any of us would be disciplined enough to stay away from reviews and recommendations with the ease of access these days. But it sure would make for an adventurous trip.