Hello

This summer I plan on spending a lot of time exploring rivers and lakes in northern Minnesota. I also want to plan 2 or 3 trips into the BWCA. I have not camped up there before and would really like some sugestions of where I should go or where I shouldn't go. Things that I like on a trip are rivers with rapids, cliffs, rock formations and I love islands to camp on. I will be kayking also. Any help planning my trip would be appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Jon

Anywhere in the BWCA you will find what you are looking for. Check out the info on this site. THere is lots of good info here, enjoy!

Kayaking-hmmm. I have seen people bring in kayaks, but the portages are tough with a kayak and the gear. In all my trips I have only seen a handful brave enough to try it. It may save you a portage or two that you can run where canoes can't, but a 1/2 mile portage with a kayak looks like a lot of work.

For your first trip to be able to see everything you want I would try Moose River EP 16. You will get river, some rapids you can run that canoes could not, tall cliffs on Lac La Croix, Indian Pictographs on Lac La Croix and some beautiful scenery. Only one long portage-the 160 rod first one and after that they are all pretty short.

Another option would be Lake 1 into numbered lakes. Few portages, but little river travel, no real cliffs but great scenery.

Like BWCA 129 said. Any entry is great-pick one or see what is available and come back and ask opinions. There are a few I would avoid with a kayak-like Angleworm with a 640 rod first portage-not sure you would want to do that with a kayak.

Kayaking is tough, but can be done. I went on a trip 2 summers ago and had a kayak. The portages are tough, but w/more than 1 person, it can be done. Just a few more portages.... much easier paddling though. Just cuts thru the water!

Jon-Is this a solo trip or will you be travelling with others?

Like Tom said kayak travel is probably easier with more than one person in a group. Most times I have seen kayakers it was with an odd numbered party like 5 people. 4 were in 2 tandem canoes and one solo person in a kayak. To portage two people would grab packs on their back and each grab an end of the kayak and carry it across that way.

I have seen solo only kayakers also-but both of the ones I met and chatted with base camped and explored on day trips for scenery and fishing with little gear during the day-everything else was back at base camp. Maybe consider that option.

Jon,

Bog has it exactly right. It will be much easier if you are the 'odd' person in a group of canoes and a kayak. Or at least one canoe in the group.

A lot also depends on portages, length of trip and how much gear the kayak will have to carry.