Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Where to go for a week non BWCA?
|
Author | Message Text | ||
portagerunner |
WanderingWoodsmanMN: "Jackfish: "You mentioned Isle Royale. I strongly recommend going there sometime, whether it’s now or some other time. I would second Jackfish's suggestion, especially if you haven't been there. Isle Royale is a favorite of mine and I've never had an issue dealing with crowds there. You have a variety of travel and trip options as well. You could take the ferry out of Grand Portage or the seaplane out of Grand Marais. A canoe trip on Isle Royale is possible, too. Just takes a little more planning and added expense to ferry the extra weight. I'd recommend booking sooner than later though to make sure you can get a spot on your choice of transport. Whichever wilderness you end up in, enjoy! |
||
A1t2o |
It was a bit of driving between different streams, a bit of hiking up and down the streams, and a lot of casting. We stayed at Beaver Creek Valley State Park just outside of Caledonia. I only spent 2 nights at the campground and it felt way too short. As in, I was just getting used to fly fishing by the time the trip was done, so I think you could spend far more time than I did. We did also take a break from fishing to go frisbee golfing in La Crosse, there are a lot of hiking trails, and the largest cave system in MN in Forestville, so there is plenty of other things to do in the area. The campsite was cheap, but if you are willing to spend just a little more, you can rent from a wide variety of places on Airbnb, or similar apps. Small 1 room cabins with a picnic table and fire pit for a kitchen, and no running water are $50-80 a night. Basically camping without a ton of other people and a roof with heat at night, for early spring trips. |
||
Michwall2 |
|
||
bobbernumber3 |
|
||
WanderingWoodsmanMN |
Has anyone else had this experience or was I just there at a weird time? Is Sylvania pretty accessible with normal canoe shoes/shorts/pants? Portages pretty normal like BWCA or even more wild/tame? |
||
Barca |
It looks to be a bit over 9 hours from Minneapolis, which is likely the edge of your range, but I cannot recommend it highly enough. Only one trip, but it's everything I love about the BWCA, just more.... or less. More solitude, wildlife easily seen, fishing, ect. Less people (way less). We started/ended at Leano Lake, couple hour drive SW of Red Lake, ON. Saw a total of 8 people in a weeks trip. Can't wait to go back. |
||
bottomtothetap |
When our 2021 BWCA trip got cancelled because of the wildfires Sylvania was a great stand-in on a last-minute pivot. Not quite the same and a bit more "tame" than the BWCA for sure but still a great canoeing option and we had so much fun that I went back again the very next year. Sylvania wilderness trip |
||
bobbernumber3 |
|
||
WanderingWoodsmanMN |
I have the luxury of having to take roughly a week's worth of Vacation time from work before the end of June, likely solo. I already have 2 BWCA trips planned in that time so I am thinking of trying somewhere else- open to any and all suggestions! Voyageurs? Isle Royale backpacking? Somewhere I have never heard of within a reasonable driving distance? Fire away with ideas, thanks!! |
||
boundarywatersguy57 |
If interested I made a detailed waterproof map. North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) goes from ND to VT and many great areas to section hike it. I’ve also made maps showing this trail. MyrmelMaps.com |
||
Jefflynn06 |
Portages are short. Otherwise, they didn't feel much different from the BWCA except that a couple were hard to spot at first. Campsites are usually tucked away from the water. Some are reservable and some are are not. Knowing we'd be coming up late on one of the trips, having a campsite reserved was nice as we weren't hunting one down as dark approached. Fishing in mid-late June was amazing!!! Stepdad and one of my buddies the next year said it was the best fishing they've every experienced. All barbless but the bluegills were hitting on about 75-80% of every cast. Bugs were as good/bad as the BWCA. Could hear cars in the distance at one of the campsites as you are never far from a road. A few motorized boats on Crooked Lake. Know that some people motor to a campsite on Crooked with a canoe in tow, then day trip to the other lakes. Not a lot of canoe traffic on the inner lakes either trip. Definitely not the BWCA but a wilderness getaway that fit our desires for the outdoors. Packed and approached it the same as I do BWCA trips and thoroughly enjoyed both trips. |
||
4keys |
Have you tried hiking the Porqupine Mountains? Or paddled the Bruce River? The Namekagan river is scenic, and I believe you can camp on its shores. |
||
woodsandwater |
|
||
analyzer |
It's hard for me to remember, but I think we did Trego to Riverside. It was very peaceful. Didn't hardly see anyone, and had a couple very nice campsites. They're all first come first serve. Alot of the water was about 6 inches deep in early August, not all that fishable. I'm not sure I'd bother getting a wisconsin license, but there were a few pools that were deeper. The water is very clear. We saw quite a few red horse, some big sturgeon, a few muskie in the 10lb range. Just a handful of small mouth. As the water was shallow, we drug bottom a bit. I wouldn't take a good kevlar. We just used our aluminum canoe. Kayak might be a better way to go. I enjoyed it though, and would do it again, but I might try May or Early june when the water is a bit higher, and maybe easier to find the smallies. I think next time I'll go riverside to Taylors falls. |
||
WanderingWoodsmanMN |
4keys: "Lucky you “having” to take a week of vacation! What would you consider driving distance? 3-4 hours? From what nearest big city? Hah, indeed that sure is a difficult problem to have to take vacation eh?! Pretty awesome. I would consider driving distance a days drive from north of the Cities area, so maybe up to 8-9 hours(ish). I have not done the Porcupine Mountains but have heard of them, will do some research on that area. And nope, never done Bruce River or Namekagon although every time I drive to northern WI I see the signs and want to paddle it. Great suggestions, thank you! |
||
WanderingWoodsmanMN |
woodsandwater: "Wherever you go probably less people that time of year but definitely be prepared for the onslaught of Black Flies and Mosquitoes!" Yes indeed, that is why I was thinking more towards late April or May to avoid them. In past years I have went out in BWCA early June and got eaten alive by both! I now normally schedule my trips on shoulder seasons. I will be up in BWCA for trout opener and then again for Memorial Weekend (both in May) where the bugs are not an issue. Good thought though! |
||
Jackfish |
I’ve been there three times and consider it an equal outdoors experience to a wilderness canoe trip. Let me know if I can be of any help with some direction or planning info. |
||
WanderingWoodsmanMN |
Jackfish: "You mentioned Isle Royale. I strongly recommend going there sometime, whether it’s now or some other time. It has been on the list for some time now, perhaps this is the opportunity to make it happen. Especially with the early spring, maybe this would be a good time to head there in May or early June? I generally try to avoid crowds and stay off the beaten path (especially with a solo trip), so any tips would be appreciated! Feel free to email me directly if that works better, thanks! |
||
analyzer |
Again though, water levels this year, I would think will be brutal. |
||
Frenchy19 |
|