Hi All,

I'm looking for Lake/Entry Point suggestions for a good sized group (Currently at least 6, potentially more), ideally going in near Tofte, though really open to any suggestions assuming there is decent outfitter availability to rent Canoes. Most of the people in the group will be in hammocks, with a couple of 1.5 person tents.
Experience in the BWCA:
1) Stay at Crescent Lake Campground in 2021 (BWCA Closed for wildfires) - Mostly successful and honestly it was a good thing the BWCA proper was closed because we later determined that we were NOT prepared/had the wrong gear for a true BWCA trip (Mainly heavy fiberglass canoes)
2) Attempt to do the Cherokee Loop in 2022 per Sawbill Outfitter's suggested routes - Did not complete, got rained on and gear was soaked on the first night as we were unable to get a proper campsite set up in the dark (set out too late). Ended up finishing out the trip at the outfitter's campground.
3) Second attempt at Cherokee Loop in 2023 - Did not complete, not prepared for the mosquitoes in June and bad gear for portaging (Buddy wouldn't give up on the idea of taking his Kayak, and intended on using it to haul his gear as well.)
4) Stay at Sawbill Campground and do day trips. Completed the suggested Alton day trip route, but due to incoming weather we were not able to explore the "Viking Dolman" as planned. Generally, it was a successful trip despite the rain, though a couple of people learned the hard way that tents need to be seam sealed out of the box. Also learned that my pup needs a bit more training before she can join in the canoe (or I need to find the right canoe).

For this year, we are targeting a trip up to the BWCA at the end of August, and would like to plan a trip that has a max of 2 portages, and would have a good lake for fishing, swimming, and would have some day trip potential. Basically, the plan is to find a campsite and just base camp for a few days, before returning. One potential idea is to enter at Brule and go to Cherokee from there, but the one portage sounds like it may be a bit much for young kids.

Have you thought about going in at Kawishiwi Lake EP 37, which is near Tofte and Sawbill Outfitters? You could camp right on Kawishiwi Lake or paddle to Square Lake or Kawasachong Lake with minimal portaging, just a couple of beaver dams to get around/over. I don’t know how the fishing is there but it is a nice area and easily accessed. Also smaller water than Bruce, which can be challenging if windy.

Welcome to bwca.com!

Maybe look at the Homer Lake EP.

Did Juno, Aurora can carry a canoe now?

Unless you specifically let us know differently, your group does not have enough canoeing experience to be on Brule in anything but a calm day. Personally, I don't plan to start on Brule because a windy day can scuttle a hard earned permit/trip start.

I like the idea of the Kawishiwi Lake (Entry 37) start. Maps show more "portages" than there really are due to beaver action along this route. There may be a beaver dam pull overs between Kawishiwi and Square Lakes. The first portage off Square Lake can be avoided by a beaver dam pull over. The second one on the maps doesn't exist. There is another very short (2 rd.) portage required at a beaver dam just a few hundred yards from Kawasachong Lake. From Kawasachong there are only the two portages shown on the map to Lake Polly.
This a busy lake with a good number of nice campsites. Shortly after leaving Kawishiwi Lake you will enter the far eastern portion of the Pagami Creek Fire area. There may not be much for hammock hang on Kawasachong Lake (maybe the far eastern campsite?). That's why I am pointing you toward Lake Polly. Lake Polly has good fishing. Chances for day trips to Koma/Malberg Lakes to the north or Hazel Lake to the East.

Baker Lake (Entry 39) is another of my favorite spots to start in the BW. Portages are short and flat. You can get to Kelly Lake in two very short portages. Jack Lake is another short portage away also. This is the Temperance River Watershed. I love the long narrow lake with beautiful hills on both sides. Fishing is pretty good. Chances for day trips to Burnt and South Temperance Lakes. Stop and visit the abandoned gold mine just south of Jack Lake. Another option would be to have the Sawbill Outfitters shuttle you to Baker Lake and you close the loop back to Sawbill Lake through the Fire Lakes. Couple portages a day or every other day.

Two portages off Sawbill Lake (Entry 38):
East - Smoke, Burnt, and Flame Lakes (The Fire Lakes). It doesn't get much better than these three lakes. Very nice campsites, good fishing. Day trips east to Kelly/Jack Lakes. West back to Sawbill, Kelso and Alton Lakes.

West - Beth Lake. This option is as weather/wind dependent as Brule. Alton Lake should not be underestimated in the wind. Beth Lake is a beautiful, clear water, lake. It hosts a nice supply of smaller bass. Campsites are large with big pines for hammocks. It has a nice rock for cliff jumping at the east end. This is a well known destination and campsites can be full up.

There is one more you should strongly consider. This is up the Gunflint Trail so it will require a little more travel time.
Lizz Lake (Entry 47) (Rockwood Outiftter is right on where you start on Poplar Lake). This will require 3 portages to Horseshoe Lake (This is a busy area and you may need to go past Horseshoe to Gaskin Lake.). Horseshoe Lake is moose central in the BW. I have seen moose 2 of the 3 times we have been there. The paddle across Poplar Lake is mostly protected by islands. There is a Lizz Lake. There is a dock on Lizz Lake to start your portage to Caribou Lake. Take some time to explore pretty Caribou Lake (or come back later on a day trip). Horse shoe has some nice campsites. Again, they tend to fill up early. Day trip to Winchell Lake (looks small but wind out of the wrong direction can bring large waves.) to climb the path to the top of the cliffs. Find the waterfall on the south shore and climb to the top. There are paths on the sides.

RE: Equipment failures. Many of us learned by renting quality equipment from an outfitter before going out and finding our own. Your reliance on large numbers of hammock hangs seems to be a weak point in your plan this time. How many nights have your party spent in the hammocks? Maybe backtrack and rent some equipment and add just a couple hammocks? With room for the hammock-ers to join in a tent if needs be.

I hope you find the trip you are looking for.

Man the people here are really on top of their stuff, all the good suggestions were taken already! I'll add EP64 East Bearskin to Alder (Johnson Falls day trip!) and EP 66 Crocodile River (Solitude).
I also try to avoid Brule, even with an experienced group. Bad entry-day weather on Brule wrecks many trips.
Kawishiwi is a great EP but the trip to Polly is probably more difficult than you'd like to do with all of your gear. I exited polly-kawishiwi on a hot sunny day at the end of August last summer, in top form at the end of a 10 day solo and it was brutal for only being a ~9 mile day. There's very little shade in the pagami creek fire area, there's a lot of beaver dams and if you're like me you'll take a wrong turn between Square and Kawashachong *every time*.

Hi Michwall,

Thanks for the detailed response. Thinking on it, you are probably right that the group as a whole (and I'm including myself in this) may not be "up to snuff" for Brule. I was thinking maybe get to Cherokee through Brule, however every report and route plan I have seen makes the portage between Brule and Sitka sound really bad. Going to Cherokee from Sawbill may also be a bit ambitious.

The Baker Lake entry sounds like it might be a good plan, especially with an old gold mine to check out. I think my buddy's kids would get a kick out of that. Alternating paddle days and leisure days might be doable to paddle back to Sawbill, or maybe just enter at Baker and find a spot on Temperance and then exit back out through Baker. Either way, I've got a couple of options from the same entry point...

We've actually done hammocks quite a bit, just primarily at the hike in/primitive camp sites. I have a Tensa4 setup for mine, so I can actually set up with no trees, this is just not a super light package compared to being able to hang on trees. I have a couple of different tents, but I haven't been able to find an "ultralight" tent set up that I've been able to get comfortable in. If Hammocks are truly going to pose an issue, I may bring my ultralight 1 person tent and tough it out. For primitive camping, I've seldom found an issue finding a place to hang, but this doesn't always mean intended campsites, so it does sometimes take some hunting...

Silenus: "Hi Michwall,


Thanks for the detailed response. Thinking on it, you are probably right that the group as a whole (and I'm including myself in this) may not be "up to snuff" for Brule. I was thinking maybe get to Cherokee through Brule, however every report and route plan I have seen makes the portage between Brule and Sitka sound really bad. Going to Cherokee from Sawbill may also be a bit ambitious.


The Baker Lake entry sounds like it might be a good plan, especially with an old gold mine to check out. I think my buddy's kids would get a kick out of that. Alternating paddle days and leisure days might be doable to paddle back to Sawbill, or maybe just enter at Baker and find a spot on Temperance and then exit back out through Baker. Either way, I've got a couple of options from the same entry point...


We've actually done hammocks quite a bit, just primarily at the hike in/primitive camp sites. I have a Tensa4 setup for mine, so I can actually set up with no trees, this is just not a super light package compared to being able to hang on trees. I have a couple of different tents, but I haven't been able to find an "ultralight" tent set up that I've been able to get comfortable in. If Hammocks are truly going to pose an issue, I may bring my ultralight 1 person tent and tough it out. For primitive camping, I've seldom found an issue finding a place to hang, but this doesn't always mean intended campsites, so it does sometimes take some hunting...
"

The portage(s) to be aware of are from North Temperance to Cherokee. North Temperance to Sitka has some ups and downs. It will cause some elevation of heart rate. The portage from Sitka to Cherokee has no flat spots at all. You are going either up or down all the time. It is not long as portages go, but the constant up and down will test your aerobic capacity.

The route to Cherokee from Sawbill is very water level/beaver dam dependent. Sometimes you can do it comfortably, other times there is a lot more portaging through mud. Sawbill Outfitters would be able to let you know the current status of that route. It is a slog and there are no places to pull up short. If you really want to get on Cherokee, I think your best bet would be to come in from the north. Try Entry 50 - Cross Bay Lake. It's a longish day to Long Island Lake. But there are campsites along the way (Cross Bay, Rib, and Karl Lakes have campsites on them). You can base camp on Long Island Lake and day trip to Gordon, Cherokee, Frost, etc. Portages are more plentiful, but none are very long or difficult. The south shore of the far east side of Long Island Lake has recovering burn, but I don't think it impacts many campsites.

Regarding the Temperance Lakes: As you have noted, South Temperance is not far from Brule Lake Entry and it only has 5 campsites on it. It gets a lot of pressure from both the south and east. It can easily get full. Don't be surprised, if you trip there to camp, that you will have to go on to North Temperance to find a campsite.

It sounds like you have good experience with hammocks. However, It is just another limiting factor in campsite choices and places you can choose to go. E.g. South Temperance Lake has experienced a couple of blowdowns and a prescribed burn. As a result, there are a couple of campsites there that may not work for your party. I have tried to steer you away from spots like that in my suggestions above. (or at least warned you about them e.g. Kawasachong Lake.).

Thanks again for the great information. Based on what you have suggested so far, I'm kind of keying in on getting to Burnt Lake for a lake to camp on, and deciding if we enter/exit at Sawbill or enter at Baker and paddle back to Sawbill. Looks like Baker to Burnt has 4 portage, but 2 are very short, and Sawbill would be 2 either way.

Baker is a good choice. Used to be a quiet area but the word is out about easy entry, good fishing and potential for moose sightings. I have been on Kelly lake when most of all campsites were taken. There are 2 sites on Jack but only one is good. There is also a site on weird lake that could work for a night. Getting to Temperance is a long day but doable with an early start. Probably plan b or c though.

Sites on temperance are nice but the one in the NW corner will by far be the quietest.

Trip report if u r interested...

Baker to Temperance

Little Indian Souix North (EP 14) has two portages to get to Upper Pawness and one more (two options) to get to Lower Pawness. My wife and have twice taken student groups (9 of us total each time - mostly 6th and 7th graders) to Lower Pawness. Very doable in about 4 hours with paddlers of limited experience and not able to pack in a large load. We stayed at Voyageur North Outfitters the night before and rented two kevlar canoes (I have my royalex that I bring too) so we have three canoes total. Entry point is a bit of a drive but our goal was to keep portages to a minimum and avoid big water. Both were very successful trips and both had varying weather conditions each trip. Remember, you can only go as fast and as far and the most limited people in your group. I had hoped to get to Shell with the first group but adjusted as we paddled and settled on Lower Pawness. For year two, Lower Pawness was the goal. Students caught fish each time so that was a positive too. Trip to Devil's Cascade was a great day trip.

Also you can easily get to the numbered lakes with little portaging. It is bigger water once you get there but have taken our kids there and it's a fairly easy trip if the weather cooperates.

Will echo Baker Lake option. Went to Kelly a few years ago when we had an injury that limited our mobility. Was a very easy trip. But very enjoyable!

I agree with numbered lakes. When my kids were small, this was one our go to destinations. The Pagami fire went through here, but they managed to protect most the campsites. The south end of Lake 3 is less busy and in southeast corner there is a nice point campsite that isn't on some maps and escaped the fire. It's marked on this website with a green dot rather than red.
Another nice option is staying at Kawishiwi Lodge in the bunkhouse. Super easy to load the canoes and also shorten the trip by about a mile.

Silenus: "Thanks again for the great information. Based on what you have suggested so far, I'm kind of keying in on getting to Burnt Lake for a lake to camp on, and deciding if we enter/exit at Sawbill or enter at Baker and paddle back to Sawbill. Looks like Baker to Burnt has 4 portage, but 2 are very short, and Sawbill would be 2 either way. "

I've done a trip each year with one of my daughters starting when they were each 5, (they are 18 and 16 now) alternating from year to year which one goes with me for some one on one time in the bwca while the other one gets one on one time with mom. Small water, no killer portages, and a decent chance for a walleye dinner have been the main criteria for their trips. I let the girls help plan the trips.

My younger daughter says her favorite trip so far was Sawbill to Smoke when she was 7 and she'd like to go back sometime. It's easy to get to and we had our walleye dinner. Our campsite was out of the way so we didn't see any of the through traffic to/from Burnt so if felt very secluded for not being very far from the EP.

Baker to Jack is the only trip that both of them have done and it is my favorite location for a trip with kids. My 5 year old is doing his first father/son trip with me this year and one of his first couple of trips with be out of Baker. Easy portages, small water, both girls had good fishing on Kelly and Jack, and on the trip with my older daughter we saw moose on 3 different lakes and saw them every day. My younger daughter didn't get to see any though on her trip.

I think this would be a great area for your group.

Ashigan lake has a lot to offer & may be a good fit.

Not to be feisty, but assume you are aware of the limit of nine on a campsite and in a group. Your 6+ is a bit imprecise. Also be aware that the larger the group, the more difficult it is to find a campsite to fit them. Remember once running into a college group of 15 plus that camped strung out on the Basswood Falls portage without a RABC permit. What made it worse was they were blocking the trail with tents and other gear which made it more interesting than navigating over rocks and roots.

OldGuide2: "Not to be feisty, but assume you are aware of the limit of nine on a campsite and in a group. Your 6+ is a bit imprecise. Also be aware that the larger the group, the more difficult it is to find a campsite to fit them. Remember once running into a college group of 15 plus that camped strung out on the Basswood Falls portage without a RABC permit. What made it worse was they were blocking the trail with tents and other gear which made it more interesting than navigating over rocks and roots. "

No worries. I wrote it that way as 6 is the "confirmed" number. I've been trying to impress upon my buddy that the larger the group, the tougher the time we will have finding a comfortable campsite. The very few that I have seen would have difficulty comfortably fitting more than 4 or 5. At the moment, I still hold the opinion that for groups larger than 6, it is better to base camp at a prepared campsite and do day trips vs trying to get into the wilderness area for camping.

Right now the plan is to go in at Sawbill, and camp on Smoke, Burnt, or Flame depending on campsite availability. I think Burnt would be the best location as it would be more central for day trips to the abandoned mine off Jack, and it looks like fishing may be better on Burnt, but we may end up grabbing a site off Smoke and needing to do 3 portages to go check out the mine and/or portage to another lake for fishing. One portage deep might be the best plan for camping...then we'd just have day packs to worry about for day trips.

I'd like to get some fishing in, as well has find some "exciting" things for the kiddos se they aren't bored either. I think the destination of the mine for a day trip plan will help some of that. It's hard to say to be honest.

I like the "nothing but nature" feel of getting out to the wilderness area, especially living in the metro area of MN where there is always some level of "industrial noise" going on. To be honest, if I had a bit more confidence in my own abailities, I'd consider a solo trip. As it is, I wouldn't be opposed to finding someone who wouldn't mind a "Tag a long" to this end.

Thanks for not taking my comment too badly. Sounds like you have a plan and a good route. Have a great trip and post your trip report so we can see how it went.

"
I like the "nothing but nature" feel of getting out to the wilderness area, especially living in the metro area of MN where there is always some level of "industrial noise" going on. To be honest, if I had a bit more confidence in my own abailities, I'd consider a solo trip. As it is, I wouldn't be opposed to finding someone who wouldn't mind a "Tag a long" to this end.
"

If you would like to discuss the "tag along" idea, you can email me.

Quoting from the original message: " Most of the people in the group will be in hammocks, with a couple of 1.5 person tents. :

Most of the sites I have camped at have only one or at most, two places for hammocks to be hung. If "most" of the people in the group will be in hammocks, their hammocks will be laying on the ground as there won't be enough trees available for hanging them. Some sites do not even have enough open space for 2 tents. You might be traveling a long time to find a site for hanging 4 or 5 hammocks.