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BeEzY

10/21/2009 01:45AM

What are some good routes that are about 4 or 5 days long and you can see some of the more remote spots of the bwca with not many portages? Any help would be greatful. I have some route books but havent seemed to find one I like.

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canoe212

10/21/2009 05:32AM

"remote spots of the bwca with not many portages" Not sure that is possible. One or the other of those is going to have to be sacrificed. IMO

If you can earn it, why did He die?

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Cedarboy

10/21/2009 07:03AM

Agree with canoe212, if you want to get remote you will have to work for it(portage). Thats part of the attraction of canoe country to me.
CB

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walleye_hunter

10/21/2009 07:52AM

There are a lot of small lakes in the BW that offer plenty of solitude but they are usually dead ends. An example is Wonder lake off of Alton. Alton and most of the surrounding lakes are a circus but when I walked the portage into Wonder this summer it is hardly used. I'm sure it is someone's secret pike lake but not many people go in there. To find the remote pockets just plan an easy route that allows you some chances to explore lakes that are not on canoe routes.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:18

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fisher

10/21/2009 08:16AM

it wasn't until my third trip that i realized, i must learn to enjoy the portages to avoid crowds. now i love'em. i dont even consider avoiding a long portage. i believe you are going to have to do the same. enjoy!

im the guy the forest service warned you about

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keithcatfish

10/21/2009 09:57AM

Fisher is right on. If you want solitude, portage, portage and portage some more. I also plan my trips to have at least 1 long portage. Long portages scare people off.

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snakecharmer

10/21/2009 12:35PM

I've experienced some pockets of solitude in the BW in the Spring. But they required more than a little portaging and then veering off of a main route. Summer is tougher. If you plan your trip in the off-season, you will find solitude much more easily. Just a thought.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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nojobro

10/21/2009 01:09PM

There is a loop of 4-5 lakes off of Bald Eagle Lake that are more seldom used. Turtle/Clearwater/Pietro/Gull/Camdre. The problem is that part of this area burned in '06 and so some campsites are closed or not at all desirable. I think all of Pietro is burned, half of Turtle, half of Clearwater (though all four campsites there are fine) and the north part of Gull. But definitely fewer people. One or two harder portages (but not terrible) will get you there, off of Bald Eagle.

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moose plums

10/21/2009 01:28PM

long and frequent portages usually take you to the most solitude.

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

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Kevlar

10/21/2009 07:56PM

Get into the interior a bit by using the main routes, and then veer off into a side route or dead end...Wilder, beyond Lake Three and Horseshoe, is one. In low water, you might not be able to get thru from Hudson. Look at the lakes north of Fourtown, especially those not on the route to Crooked. Look at the northeast end of Lac la Croix, at least several miles north of Tiger Bay. I would avoid NE Lac la Croix due to the very busy seaplane base and the Indian village. Look at the small lakes between Knife and South Arm of Knife. Consider going into the Quetico...

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Kevlar

10/22/2009 09:07PM

Correctioon on my comment above. I meant to say avoid NW Lac la Croix in the area of the floatplane base. Interesting area to paddle through, but to stay overnight, it loses a lot of the quiet and solitude you paddled out here for.

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Mort

10/23/2009 07:50AM

Take a look at the Adams & Boulder Lake area. No way around it though, whether you come over from Lake 1, or up from Kawishiwi Lake, there's going to be portages to traverse. My advice: don't let longer portages psych you out. You'll feel pumped for having conquered them.

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nolahlm

10/23/2009 03:05PM

Something I have found is that if you are closer to Ely you will see a lot more people.

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bentshaft

10/23/2009 03:49PM

Not sure if by remote you mean a long way from the entry point or areas where you can find more solitude? It is possible to find relative solitude not far off of busy routes. As stated above look for small lakes off the main routes or even remote bays or the far end of lakes that get a lot of thru traffic. This summer in the middle of July we spent two nights on Ashigan lake. One night we had the lake to ourselves and and had no canoes on our end of the lake at any time. Ashigan sets right next to busy Ensign lake and close to Disappointment and Ima. Lots of traffic through both protages on the far east end of the lake but not many venture to the west side. There are many areas like this, but to truly see the remote parts will involve more portages.

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Dbldppr1250

10/24/2009 06:52PM

bentshaft, did you catch any fish on Ashigan?

Walking School Bus

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bentshaft

10/26/2009 03:35PM

Caught both Northerns and Smallies on Ashigan. Went over the portage to ensign and caught a few walleyes and pike.

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