We are planning our first BWCA trip. We are experienced backpackers and rafters. Look for route suggestions for a 6-7 day trip out of Sawbill area. Fishing and scenery! 3-6 members in the party.

I have enjoyed reading all the info on this forum and look forward to some helpful responses.

Cheers,
Starr family

First, your backpacking experience will stand you in good for most of the trip, but not for everything. E.g. Navigation on some bigger island studded lakes. Staying found in this situation is a new skill to practice.

Also, your backpacking packs will work for most of the trip. Likely they are too tall to use if you are carrying both a pack and a canoe. You might rent a couple of canoe packs to work into your gear choices.

Routes:

Check out the routes at Sawbill.com: Sawbill Canoe Outfitters

I have been over most of these routes at one time or another.

Both the Little Saganaga East and West routes are the ones I would recommend to you. The only thing about these routes is they might leave less time for fishing than you might like. The Little Saganaga West route can be modified to fix this by getting a shuttle from Sawbill Outfitters to the Kawishiwi Lake entry. It is one long day out to Malberg Lake and another long day to little Sag. From Little Sag it is a long day to Mesaba Lake and another long day from Mesaba out to Sawbill. That would leave 3 days to spend as you wish on layovers or shortened travel days to get more fishing time in.

Another modification you can make is to the Lady Lakes Chain. E.g.
Entry 37 Kawishiwi Lake (Shuttle from Sawbill to Kawishiwi Lake entry)
Day 1 - Kawishiwi to Malberg Lake
Day 2 - Layover - Day Trip to Fishdance Lake for fishing and to see Pictographs.
Day 3 - Layover - Fish Malberg or day trip to Boze/Frond along the Louse River.
Day 4 - Malberg Lake back south to Lake Polly and turn east to Hazel Lake. (Lady Lakes chain)
Day 5 - Hazel Lake to Phoebe or Grace Lake - Fish Poebe Lake
Day 6 - Layover on Phoebe/Grace Lake to fish Phoebe/Grace Lake.
Day 7 - Out to Sawbill Lake entry.

Another advantage of this route is that it would keep you on smaller lakes while you practice your canoeing skills. The one exception is Alton Lake.

Another route you could modify is the Cherokee Loop. E.g.
I like this loop going counter clockwise.
Day 1 - Sawbill to Burnt Lake - Short travel day. Get some fishing in.
Day 2 - Burnt Lake to Jack/Weird Lake. Some good walleye fishing here and chance to see moose.
Day 3 - Jack/Weird to South/North Temperance Lake. South Temperance is an island studded beauty of a lake. It has only 5 campsites and is easy to reach from Brule Lake. You may need to go to North Temperance for the night.
Day 4 - Layover - Fish South Temperance
Day 5 - South/North Temperance to Cherokee Lake - Beautiful scenery and wonderful campsites
Day 6 - Day trip to Frost Lake - Golden sand beaches and better than average chances to see moose.
Day 7 - Out to Sawbill Lake.

Again, mostly smaller lakes except for Cherokee and some parts of Sawbill Lakes to help you gain canoeing comfort.

Hope these ideas help. Have a great trip.

Welcome, Starr!

Here is an initial suggestion:
1) Travel up to Cherokee - spend a few days fishing and visiting surrounding lakes.
2) Travel down to South Temperance for two nights - depending on what type of fish you'd like to catch there are several options nearby
3) Travel down to Jack or Kelly for a night
4) Go to Sawbill through Burnt.

Just over 30 miles of route. Lots of different fishing options. A couple of difficult but very beautiful portages. Plenty to see.

Will you be using an outfitter or do you have your own gear?

Enjoy the planning process and be prepared to be hooked! :)

I have no connection to Sawbill Outfitters, but have you considered their 6-day routes on Sawbill's route suggestions

Why the Sawbill area? Seems like more options and routes from the Gunflint Trail.