Hello Everyone,

This summer I spent a week on Brule Lake followed by a week on Seagull Lake. My craft is not a canoe, but a 14' (rowing) Dory. Though made of Kevlar it's still too heavy at ~80 pounds to portage so I'm limited to spending my trip on a single lake, one that has an entry point at the BWCAW boundary that I can drive to. I want to return to the area in 2024 and am looking for recommendations for lakes meeting the criteria of; large enough to merit at least a week long trip and accessible without the necessity of a portage. Avoiding powerboats whenever possible, regardless of displacement, is a bonus.

Please be kind and spare me the 'just get a canoe' remarks. I did a traditional BW canoe trip in 2005 and as a boy spent a great deal of time in our family's aluminum canoe. I very much enjoy canoes, but this Dory is the right boat for me for a couple of reasons; 1) I don't trust my large dog in a canoe, 2) I want to use this boat for rougher waters in which I wouldn't feel safe in a canoe. Before going to Brule Lake I spent a week touring the Apostle Islands and never felt in danger. I hope too this next summer to visit some of the Canadian parks on the north shore of Lake Superior for more coastal boating.

I'm grateful for your recommendations.

Expanding your request, have you thought about Voyageurs NP just west of the BWCAW? Giant lakes! Also motorboats but by staying outside the buoyed navigation channels you can pretty much avoid them. You can put in at public landings on Rainy, Kabatogama, or Sand Point Lake, and unlimited exploration. Camping reservation system needs to be used.

The obvious one is enter Moose and use the mechanical portage into Basswood. Some motors on Basswood but you can get into bays and such away from them.

Likewise enter Crane Lake and head toward LLC. 2 mechanical portages but a lot of no motor big lake. Even if you just got to Loon it would offer a lot. Don't know if they will "tow" a dory into LLC or not.

Check out Snowbank and Lake One. Both waters edge landings and some room to explore, though not like Basswood or LLC.

Hockhocking: "Expanding your request, have you thought about Voyageurs NP just west of the BWCAW? Giant lakes! Also motorboats but by staying outside the buoyed navigation channels you can pretty much avoid them. You can put in at public landings on Rainy, Kabatogama, or Sand Point Lake, and unlimited exploration. Camping reservation system needs to be used."

Thank you for this recommendation. I actually squeezed in a short trip to Kabetogama at the end of September and will return to Voyageurs probably next Autumn. I had reservations to go from Kab Lake into Namakan but after four nights was a little worn out by the weather so I quit early. I found the boat traffic tolerable. There were no pleasure boaters, only high speed fishing boats and not very many. The lake was peaceful by evening.

billconner: "The obvious one is enter Moose and use the mechanical portage into Basswood. Some motors on Basswood but you can get into bays and such away from them.
Likewise enter Crane Lake and head toward LLC. 2 mechanical portages but a lot of no motor big lake. Even if you just got to Loon it would offer a lot. Don't know if they will "tow" a dory into LLC or not.
Check out Snowbank and Lake One. Both waters edge landings and some room to explore, though not like Basswood or LLC."

Excellent, thank you! I'll break out the maps and investigate these. I'll probably have follow-up questions. "LLC" threw me for a moment. After a quick look at the USFS map I see this must be Lac La Croix. Thanks again, Jim

You should also read the laws, that rowing is illegal in the BWCAW.

I am curious if you had any contact with US Forest Service people (Wilderness Rangers) on Brule or Seagull and what they said about rowing. I have long wished to do a rowing trip on some of the big lakes, but BWCA regulations state that rowing is not allowed I guess because the fulcrum is attached to the boat and that somehow makes it "mechanical"( remember the 6 simple machines? lever and fulcrum is one). I think this regulation is dumb, but it is what it is. One ranger told me that I could use oars on a motorized lake , but I'd have to do it on a motor permit, not a paddle permit.

The maze of islands on the north shore of Lake Superior has very little motor traffic. Probably more seas kayakers and sailboats.

The north channel islands on Lake Huron the same.

Crane Lake to Lac la Croix is busy with motors, but has two mechanical portages that you could use. On the US side motor traffic ends at Snow Bay, so the BWCA part of LLC is great.

Saganaga. I never looked at the rules for rowing vs. paddling, but Saganaga SW of American Point is a motor area, and at least one ranger has told someone you can row on a motor lake with a motor permit (see above).

Five of my six BWCA trips have involved Saganaga in some way, and I love the lake. Come with your navigational skills.

1lookout: "You should also read the laws, that rowing is illegal in the BWCAW."

Not for starting an argument, I just want clarity for folks on the forum. As discussed prior in this forum explaining how traditional row boats are allowed (and this is outlined on the entry point signs.) The rules kick in for mechanical advantages like pulleys/peddles/cranks and so on so a sailboat or a peddle kayak would be not allowed but a row boat would. They are self selecting, however, as I can't imagine many places I would enjoy portaging one.

1lookout: "You should also read the laws, that rowing is illegal in the BWCAW."

I wondered how long it would take for this misguided comment to arise. See this post on this very same website:

https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=778389&forumID=15&confID=1

I see you made the same comment in 2014 after WhiteWolf's post made it very clear, along with a USFS source cited, that rowboats are permitted without exception in the BWCAW.

From the Field Operations Guide: "Row Boats
Although considered mechanical, an exception for row boats in the BWCAW has been made. According to the BWCAW Management Plan, "Watercraft with types of rowing devices that were in regular use , prior to the 1978 BWCAW Act, are
permitted."

Additionally, as I took out on Brule Lake this July a USFS law enforcement ranger was present for nearly 20 minutes. He was there to warn people of approaching severe weather. My boat and its oars were in plain sight. He checked the permit of a party about to launch so clearly he was still in an enforcement mode. He said nothing about my rowboat.

I don't want to engage in a flame war so I won't comment further on the legality of row boats in the BWCAW. I'm confident that they're permitted. The Boundary Waters area is an extraordinary place and I play by the rules; no kayak cart (otherwise I would portage) and no single use containers other than medication, repellent, etc.

Please see my response to '1Lookout' above regarding the legality of rowboats in the BWCAW.

Thank you for your information about the islands on the north shore of Lake Superior. As I continue my research I may reach out to you with further questions. I can't find anywhere near the same level of information for the north shore as I found for the Apostles.

Once again I'll demonstrate my weak knowledge of the area. What is 'mechanical portage'? I assume that means boaters are permitted to use wheeled hand-propelled carts. Is that the case?

Saganaga is an excellent recommendation, thank you. I've seen many such recommendations for that lake. Its size suits me well and its entry points (55 & 55A) are already familiar to me.

VermontDory, thanks for sharing your experience with rowboats.

VermontDory: "...My craft is not a canoe, but a 14' (rowing) Dory..."

I'm just curious what you have. Post a picture when you get a chance. --Phil

bobbernumber3: "

VermontDory: "...My craft is not a canoe, but a 14' (rowing) Dory..."

I'm just curious what you have. Post a picture when you get a chance. --Phil
"

Phil, I thought I had posted a photo with my original post. I must have done it incorrectly. Here's another try.

My boat was built by Adirondack Guide Boats in Ferrisburgh, VT. They make several models. I chose the Dory for its stability since its beam (and unfortunately its weight) is greater than their other models.

I'm unable to post links here since I'm a new participant on this website. It won't take much searching, however, if you want to find the builder's website.

VermontDory: "Once again I'll demonstrate my weak knowledge of the area. What is 'mechanical portage'? I assume that means boaters are permitted to use wheeled hand-propelled carts. Is that the case?"

The two mechanical portages between Loon River and Lac LaCroix are like railroads, where you pay a small fee to have them haul your boat over, while you and your dog walk along the trail. Loon - LacLaCroix portages

Your Dory looks really nice!

I had no idea such a thing existed. I just watched two YouTube videos of the Loon Lake railroad portage. Thank you for bringing this to my attention and thank you as well 'BillConner' for his mention of these options. This opens up several interesting possibilities and is exactly the sort of insider knowledge I hoped to benefit from by posting on this forum. Cheers, -Jim

The "mechanical portage" from moose to basswood is a truck and trailer I believe, not a cart on rails with a winch like into and out of Loon. I think those three are it, all that are left.

I think of some plastic containers as single use, but those are allowed. Glass containers - single.or multiple these - are not. I guess just single use metal are not allow, because canteens and flasks and such are.

The rules are difficult because I dividual rangers and USFS employees interpret or spin them differently. I have emails from two claiming to be SNF information officers, and they are 180 degrees apart. (It was on permits, and starting and ending in BWCA, with a stretch in Quetico.)

And a lot of the USFS interpretations seem to be in hardcopy only, not electronic and not on the Internet.

So good luck.

VermontDory: " "

Nice! I like it. And I bet someone would portage that!

billconner: " I have emails from two claiming to be SNF information officers, and they are 180 degrees apart. (It was on permits, and starting and ending in BWCA, with a stretch in Quetico.)
And a lot of the USFS interpretations seem to be in hardcopy only, not electronic and not on the Internet.
So good luck."

What are the rules about hopping back and forth wthe BW and The Q?
I’m working on a trip report and don’t want to confess to any wrong doing . At least online.

My issue was does your permit to enter tht BWCA remain valid if you enter Quetico and the renter BWCA from Quetico. After receiving conflicting answers, I convinced it's OK to renter BWCA on same permit. You have "not left the wilderness". But some here and some rangers may not agree, and for the same itenary would say a EP 72 From Canada is required for re-entry. (Some have said that's not permitted, that EP 72 is only if your trip begins in Canada.)

Bill, thanks for the clarification about the Moose to Basswood portage. I found a photo of it in a 2011 post along with your photos of Beatty portage. I now have a better understanding of the options. -Jim

I think back on how loose we were about the border. I remember entering at Saganaga on a BWCA permit, paddling to Canadian Custom then camping on the US side of Sag the first night, going to Cache Bay for an entry at Knife and AGAIN camping on the US side of Knife, before finally getting into Quetico at Basswood for a 12 day round trip back to Cache Bay. Pretty sure we camped on the US side of Sag the last night. It was before RABC would allow a back and forth trip.

I would say going to Quetico from BWCA and back would be covered by your first BWCA permit. Also, in many cases you are exiting the same day you re-enter as at Prairie Portage or Cache Bay

BonzSF: "

VermontDory: " "

Nice! I like it. And I bet someone would portage that!"

The boat builder does make a yoke to fit the boat. I'm sure there are those up to the task, but I'm neither big enough or young enough to pull it off. Getting it on and off the roof rack is challenge enough.

Come on, man! 80 pounds?! It's not about strength, it's about judo or something.
Actually, just kidding, I'd go mechanical as well. Have fun!
AN aside: the 2 portages from Fall into Basswood are the other portages that allow wheels.

Thank you for the reminder of these other portages. My USFS Superior NF map is getting well marked up as a result of this thread.

"AN aside: the 2 portages from Fall into Basswood are the other portages that allow wheels."



If you're willing to wheel that rowboat across the portages from Fall to Basswood, I'd highly recommend that route! Because wheels are allowed, the portages are relatively smooth and not too long with both of them under 100 rods.

I was just there in September and found Pipestone Bay on Basswood to be beautiful with abundant campsites. While there are motors on this route, I did not find them to be very intrusive with Pipestone's big size. You could even just go to Newton for an alternative to the lakes you've been on. Only two campsites on the lake but Newton's smaller size can help guard against big waves in a stiff breeze. For no portages at all stick to the BWCA portion of Fall Lake where there are several campsites to choose from as well.

"AN aside: the 2 portages from Fall into Basswood are the other portages that allow wheels. If you're willing to wheel that rowboat across the portages from Fall to Basswood, I'd highly recommend that route! Because wheels are allowed, the portages are relatively smooth and not too long with both of them under 100 rods. "
____________
Thank you for this. At the moment I'm working only with the small scale USFS map. Later, as I build my 2024 trip plans I'll buy better scale maps. In the meantime, I have a couple of clarifying questions. So, the first portage is from Fall Lake into Newton Lake around Newton Falls, correct? The second is around Pipestone Falls from Newton into Pipestone Bay (Basswood Lake), correct? Once into Basswood, can I row from the northern end of the lake where motors are permitted further north to where they no longer are permitted? From what I can see, it's open water with no portage up to Harrison Island, United States Point, etc.
Any thoughts on that area? It seems like it would be a very interesting area to explore. -Jim

If you do go to Basswood Lake, be sure to go to Basswood Falls - spectacular! I did a trip some years back where we started on Moose Lake, portaged through several lakes, and ended up on Basswood Lake. Spent several days base-camped and then exited via the two portages (wheels allowed) back to Fall Lake. Basswood Lake is huge, and each big section (pipefish bay, Jackfish Bay, etc) is like its own lake. The wheels portages reminded me of gravel driveways.

I have thought of a Basswood circum-navigation trip, all paddle, and carry some "luxuries" I don't usually. Both the US and Canadian sides offer a lot of interesting opportunities. The negative is big water and some motorized areas, but neither bother me. One of my favorite long trips brought us to North Bay a couple of days early so paddled the long ways to PP. Nobody else in that area in early August.

A nice trip, if you arrange a shuttle, would be to put in at Fall Lake, do the two portages that allow wheels into Pipestone Bay and then into the main body of Basswood. From there you could row all the way to the eastern end of Basswood and take Prarie Portage to Sucker then to Newfound and out on Moose.

WHendrix: "A nice trip, if you arrange a shuttle, would be to put in at Fall Lake, do the two portages that allow wheels into Pipestone Bay and then into the main body of Basswood. From there you could row all the way to the eastern end of Basswood and take Prarie Portage to Sucker then to Newfound and out on Moose."

Thanks for the suggestion. A loop is always much preferred to an out and back which is often what I'm limited to. Do you know of companies in the area that provide shuttles?

Hockhocking: "If you do go to Basswood Lake, be sure to go to Basswood Falls - spectacular!"

Looking at my map and from what I can find online, I see there's a 'Basswood Falls' and a 'Lower Basswood Falls'. Can I assume you're recommending 'Basswood Falls' since 'LBF' requires a portage to reach? In other words, is 'BF' worth the detour? Thank you!

(upper) Basswood Falls is worth the stop.