[I apologize if anyone receives this twice. I submitted it a few days ago and didn't receive it in the postings--not sure what happened] Hi, I'm contemplating a kayak trip in BWCA or Voyageurs in the fall (September). I'm looking at the larger lakes where a kayak may be more suitable than a canoe. Has anyone on the list been there and have any recommendations? Thanks in advance, Steve M *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Steve, I've contemplated BWCAW kayak trips many times. The number of portages typically makes this less than inviting. I tried mapping some routes and got the portages down to 3 or 4. Those routes might work. I believe the routes used Saganaga and the Knife Lake chain. Last Sept 3 of us did VNP for a week - last week in Sept. We had some nasty weather - wind, rain, cold temps which is the gamble this time of year. We felt we were one week early for fall colors. We thought the first week of Oct might be a better bet. We would see a power boat or two each day - nothing bothersome at all. The lodge at the falls closes the end of Sept - so if that is on your list you might have to go in Sept. It WAS nice half-way through the week to get a hot meal in a restaurant, use the hot running water, etc. Could take showers there for $2. Lake water is cold - but not so cold that we didn't clean up in it - but it was a quick clean-up!! The park superintendent is a kayaker. She was happy to talk about options and areas within VNP - so you might talk to her directly. I recall that she suggested going to the Canadian side of Rainy - NE corner if I recall. There are chains of islands there that would make for nice paddling. Fishermen tend not to range that far from the boat landings so she thought that would offer more solitude. Canadian side requires overnight permits to camp on crown land. There are no developed campsites on the crown lands. The campsites within the park are nice - bear boxes at most, tent pads, etc etc. One thing that caught us a bit off guard was the development within VNP. People owned private cabins within the park (mainly between visitor center and lodge) and these remain in private hands. So you will paddle along and all of a sudden there is a cabin...with a dock, flagpole, typical summer cabin stuff in the yard. A bit disconcerting if you think you are heading into 'wilderness'! :o) Also, these cabins have electricity/phone - so occasionally you'll be in some quiet back bay and there on the shoreline will be a green utility box up in the woods. Again, not what you expect to see. A beautiful area though. If you do VNP, plan to include some time for hiking - some very nice trails that lead to inland lakes. For some good info you might try: Wade Watson at Voyageurs Adventures (one of our guys used a rental boat from him) - we picked his brain repeatedly! http://www.voyageursadventures.com/ The Inland Sea Kayakers website has a couple of trip reports with a few pics: http://www.isk.canoe-kayak.org/photos.html If you have some specifics about VNP that you have questions on you can contact me back channel - I have some pics I can email you if you are curious about getting a glimpse of the area. Keith *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I haven't paddled the Boundary Waters since my honeymoon nearly ten years ago, mostly because of a bad back that limits portaging. But even 15 years ago the only way to find an unoccupied campsite during popular times of year was to cross several portages -- the longer the better. So I've never kayaked the Boundary Waters. If I did, I would choose either early May or October, and I would choose Saganaga, Lake One, or the Moose Lake chain, none of which require portaging, if you don't want to go far. If you take two or three short portages on the numbered lakes chain, though, you can go as far as Hudson Lake. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've done a solo kayak to Boundary Waters out of Ely. What worked for me was to base camp and then do day trips. That way you don't have to deal with all the gear on every portage. There are very few trips of any length on the US side on Boundary Waters where you don't portage several times a day. With two people empty kayaks can be moved rapidly over most of the portages. I have been to Boundary Waters Several times in canoes and canoes outnumber kayaks at least 20 to 1. There are very few lakes in BWCA where a canoe is uncomfortable, except when storms move through or the afternoon winds are quite a bit higher than normal. I haven't paddled Voyageurs, but understand it offers the potential of fewer portages. It is also reportedly much less crowded. You may also want to consider the Apostle Islands a few hours east in Lake Superior off the Wisconsin coast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- When logic and proportion Have fallen softly dead, Remember what the dormouse said: "Feed your head. Feed your head. Feed your head" -WhiteRabbit *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
For fall colours, the American side might be a little prettier due to a higher proportion of broad leafed trees, but the Canadian side has fewer people. A few years ago there were some severe winds that brought down a lot of trees, with more damage on the American side than on the Canadian side, particularly due west of the Gunflint Trail trailhead. Drop me a line if yo want to go for a paddle on Superior while you are up this way. Cheers, Richard Culpeper Thunder Bay 807-625-6341 On Wed, 12 May 2004 20:38:01 -0400 Steve McBride <drsm_at_direcway.com> wrote: >I'm contemplating a kayak trip in BWCA or Voyageurs in the fall (September). >I'm looking at the larger lakes where a kayak may be more suitable than a >canoe. Has anyone on the list been there and have any recommendations? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've paddled up in Voyageurs a couple times and have done several canoe trips in the BWCA. I would advise against the BWCA with a kayak unless you really feel like portaging. While there are several larger lakes, these are generally motorized lakes and so will be busier than the quieter lakes. I also feel that part of the BWCA "experience" is the portaging and the small empty lakes 10 portages in. While you can get some great portage rigs for kayaks, don't forget you have to load and unload that boat - over and over again. VNP offers some great paddling and has more of that big water experience. Which is great, unless the weather is rough and you really get that big water experience. Rainy Lake is huge so when the wind is blowing you can get some big waves. While there is boat traffic, it tends to be either small fishing boats or huge houseboats. I've even paddled there on 4th of July weekend and haven't had too much trouble finding a camping space. Plus, there are plenty of sites where water is shallow enough that a kayak or canoe is going to be the only thing to get to them. There are also some great hikes in Voyageurs. You can plan your trip so that you can get a few good half-day or day hikes in which I'd highly recommend. Bring a bug shirt (http://www.bugshirt.com is a great brand) or plenty of bug dope. While September isn't peak bug season, unless you get a good freeze they are going to be out. If you'd like some more specific routes let me know and I can mail you some maps. -Patrick At 8:38 PM -0400 5/12/04, Steve McBride wrote: > >Hi, > >I'm contemplating a kayak trip in BWCA or Voyageurs in the fall (September). >I'm looking at the larger lakes where a kayak may be more suitable than a >canoe. Has anyone on the list been there and have any recommendations? > >Thanks in advance, > >Steve M *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
First, thanks for all the great responses. I had narrowed my decision down to VNP, and all your answers confirmed that decision. I think if I ever choose to go to BWCA, it will be in a canoe. Keith, it sounds like we might be in the area you were in last year and at about the same time. I was looking at the last two weeks of September, and tentatively looking at doing two trips in Namakan Lake--one to Kettle Falls and another along the south shore to the narrows where there are supposed to be some pictographs. Where are the Wolf Pack Islands? I will definitely take you up on the GPS waypoints. Please send them my way. The sandy beaches sound nice, although rocky ones don't bother me too much (we paddle Feathercrafts). Richard, thanks for the invitation. I'm still early in the planning, but if a trip to Thunder Bay fits, we might consider it. Patrick's comments about Rainy Lake intrigue me, too. Which portions do you recommend? A couple of people mentioned hiking, which is alway good in my book. Where are the good trails? Thanks again for the info, Steve M *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I kayaked and camped in Voyageurs the week before Memorial Day the last two years. It was on the chilly side but otherwise fine, no crowds and exceptional birdwatching. I've been checking this webcam of Rainy Lake for the past couple of weeks and the only sign of life has been two ducks that stopped by one day: http://rainylakeonestop.com/lakecam.html This year we've decided to go south instead of north. Would be interested in any comments on flat-water kayaking (or kayak-sailing) in Arkansas, esp. Bull Shoals, Norwalk, and Beaver Lakes, and Big Lake (by Blytheville). Jan A. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bob, Thanks for your lead on Voyageurs Adventures. I agree with your "boats without bulkheads" theory. We paddle Feathercraft folders, so it works quite well. I do a fair amount of backpacking and pack quite light. I can literally stash my pack behind my seat in my boat--very convenient. But with this planned trip, we will probably not do any portages, making kayaks the clear boat of choice. Hope you make it up there too. Steve M *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:37 PDT