I'm looking for a few suggestions for our trip this year. It will probably be just me and the husband. We have our timeframe planned. It's earlier than I would ideally like but this year I think it is our only chance. May 8th or 9th through the 15th or 16th. This will be my 4th trip to the BW. So far we have only entered from Ely. Lake One a couple of times and last year Angleworm. The only real stipulations are that the water will be navigable and we will be able to hang our hammocks because I don't plan on sleeping on the cold hard ground this year. Portage length or difficulty don't really matter. In the past we have base camped and then taken day trips. We are really up for anything though and a loop would be fine. Hammocks are easy to pack up and move. We don't want to be in a hurry though, not really looking to make paddling all day our objective. Sight-seeing and hanging around camp and hopefully some fishing mixed in. Thanks for any ideas.

Well, it is very early, and I am not an expert about how the ice goes out in the smaller lakes versus the larger ones. But I would suggest one of my favorite loops.

Why not try going off the Gunflint? Enter at Poplar Lake (Lizz Lake entry) and go to Caribou, Vista, etc. Or can also go Meeds, Omega, Gaskin. I don't have a map in front of me, but that whole area has small lakes and wonderful scenery. Usually has moose. We don't fish, so I can't speak about the fishing.

Another option is to go in at Clearwater (Stay at the beautiful Clearwater Lodge in one of their B&B rooms the night before and have a hearty breakfast in the historic lodge dining room before your trip), go to Caribou (a different Caribou, by the way), then over to Pine, take a side trip to Johnson Falls, back to Caribou and take side trip to Moon and Deer, then the other Caribou Portage back to Clearwater. It is fun to climb the palisades on Clearwater Lake, too, if you are a hiker/climber.

Thanks for the quick reply. We briefly talked about going Gunflint way. The husband did take a trip one other year and went that way, I think to big Sag. I know we won't go there but I will take a look at the Meeds route. That was one area that I actually considered when just quickly perusing some of the maps. The B&B sounds like a fantastic idea as well.

If you start out at Poplar/Lizz, one idea is to stay the night before (or after) at Poplar Creek Guest House B & B. Look it up on line. They have a beautiful room with a big double whirlpool tub. Also, Barb cooks a breakfast the next morning that simply cannot be described! It is about four courses and so delicious I am almost drooling on my keyboard and it has been several years since we have stayed there.

It is a pricey night's stay, but especially after a trip I love a bathtub to soak away the grime and soothe my tired muscles. Especially in the cooler weather. We stayed there one night after an October trip that ended in a snowy day's paddle, and it was Heaven!

From Poplar Creek's dock you can paddle from Little Ollie Lake with just a tiny lift-over right into Poplar Lake and then over to the portage to Lizz. We started our 22-day trip from Poplar, so it is a very special place for me.

This is just a woman's perspective. I love canoe-trips, but I also love a comfortable night before and after. :-) Of course I am much older than you, too.

I have done the Poplar to Meeds, down to Gaskin, and back up through a few lakes to Caribou and out Lizz. Its a fairly easy 4 day trip. We actually have done it 4 times now. We rarely see anyone outside of Caribou and Lizz. That first 300+ portage to Meeds is a better way to start a trip than to end it!

Entry point 50 Cross bay lake to Long Island Lake. Day trips to Cherokee Lake and Frost Lake And lakes to the east of Long Island.You could also do a loop through the Frost River.

Entry point 51 Missing Link Lake to Tuscarora, Crooked and Gillis. Multiple options for day trips or continue to loop through Bat to Brant Lake, which is entry point 52.

tony

quote Spartan2: "This is just a woman's perspective. I love canoe-trips, but I also love a comfortable night before and after. :-) Of course I am much older than you, too."

I, too, love the comfortable night's sleep in a real bed, especially at the end of the trip. I never sleep well the night before the start of a trip - just too excited!

Thanks again, everyone, for the ideas for a trip this year. I'm taking a closer look at some maps now.

I noticed you want to also do some fishing on your trip. I just wanted to point out that the fishing opener is not till 12 may.

tony

quote Tony: "I noticed you want to also do some fishing on your trip. I just wanted to point out that the fishing opener is not till 12 may.


tony"

We saw that on a calendar that we have for Minnesota. We would be able to get our licenses prior to our put-in, wouldn't we? We don't have a problem waiting a few days to attempt some fresh fish dinners.

quote knitsocks77: "

quote Tony: "I noticed you want to also do some fishing on your trip. I just wanted to point out that the fishing opener is not till 12 may.



tony"

We saw that on a calendar that we have for Minnesota. We would be able to get our licenses prior to our put-in, wouldn't we? We don't have a problem waiting a few days to attempt some fresh fish dinners. "

You can buy a license at any time. Crappies, perch and sunfish remain open for angling year-round. Stream trout in streams opens in mid April, but you will need a trout stamp to fish for them.

quote gutmon: "

quote knitsocks77: "

quote Tony: "I noticed you want to also do some fishing on your trip. I just wanted to point out that the fishing opener is not till 12 may.



tony"

We saw that on a calendar that we have for Minnesota. We would be able to get our licenses prior to our put-in, wouldn't we? We don't have a problem waiting a few days to attempt some fresh fish dinners. "

You can buy a license at any time. Crappies, perch and sunfish remain open for angling year-round. Stream trout in streams opens in mid April, but you will need a trout stamp to fish for them."

Very good, thank you! That was what we were thinking (hoping).

Wherever you go, and whether you catch fish or not, have a great trip!

quote knitsocks77: "

quote gutmon: "

quote knitsocks77: "

quote Tony: "I noticed you want to also do some fishing on your trip. I just wanted to point out that the fishing opener is not till 12 may.




tony"

We saw that on a calendar that we have for Minnesota. We would be able to get our licenses prior to our put-in, wouldn't we? We don't have a problem waiting a few days to attempt some fresh fish dinners. "

You can buy a license at any time. Crappies, perch and sunfish remain open for angling year-round. Stream trout in streams opens in mid April, but you will need a trout stamp to fish for them."

Very good, thank you! That was what we were thinking (hoping). "

If you are looking at border lakes, check out the fishing regulations on them. Some species (such as northerns and bass) are open year round on most of them.

We decided on Meeds Lake and will go from there. Now, please tell me that we'll be able to use our hammocks. :) If not, I guess I've slept on the ground before so it won't kill me to do it again.

You should be good w/ the hammocks. My wife and I loved that area. Have a great trip.