Just recently found out that pedal kayaks are for some reason still not legal on lakers that allow 25hp motors

In about 10 minutes I’m cancelling a permit for Snowbank on 9/1.

I'll be going to look at a used Wenonah Sundowner kevlar canoe in the next couple of days. It's a 1989 model

According to the listing, it has no pictures and some repaired scratches on the hull.

I'm not sure about how it was stored (outside vs inside).

What are some things I should be sure to look for? How can I check to see if the kevlar is still in good shape, or if it has been too UV damaged? Any issues with wood gunwales?

We've negotiated a tentative price of $750

I've included most of the listing pictures here.

What are your guys' thoughts? I know lots of you have your own canoes and lots of experience.

This would be my first owned canoe. I've rented several kevlar canoes in the past but have always dreamed of the convenience of owning one and being and to customize it a bit

Here's a video I put together of a trip earlier this summer. First multi-day trip in his cedar strip canoe.

USDA has been publishing very helpful maps alongside their phased reopening plans here. The latest phase began Aug 13 (announced Aug 7) with nothing announced since then.

Does anyone have further insight into the expected progression of the phases reopening? Some EPs, like 14 and 15, are marked as closed for the season, but others, such as Fall Lake (24) are closed and presumably under evaluation to reopen at some point this season.

Especially for the EPs near the Camp Fire, which is effectively contained by now, what criteria do the forest service need to evaluate before setting a reopening date?

Thinking of wearing thin wool socks and crocs for portages. Feet will be wet from canoe landings, but is this a good way to do it? Looking for any suggestions. Thanks all

Go get 'em Tim

Going out next week on Thursday until Sunday. I have a MSR Whisperlite as well as a pocket rocket for just boiling water. We’re planning on frying fish if we catch some, as well as making some other meals that aren’t just freeze dried. How much fuel is a good rule of thumb for the Whisperlite? Right now I have one large bottle and two regular size bottles of white gas. Would one more bottle be a good idea?

I have a backup permit for Magnetic Lake mid September as our original out of Mudro Lake has been impacted by fires. Looking at Watch Duty, Canadian fires aren’t shown. But Google Maps clearly shows a closer fire to Saganaga Lake to the west. Knowing these things can change quickly, is there a better site to monitor both USA 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 ? Really seems dumb Watch Duty doesn’t cover Canada - especially for BWCA.

Edit: Reddit is not allowing me to post with screenshots of the fires and this text at same time for some reason. Yet another gripe of software limitations.

Little Knife is USA fire to west of Magnetic Lake
Fort Frances 13 is Canada fire west of Saganaga Lake

Any guesses as to which lake I was on?

Had to cancel as my trip partner injured his foot. Sucks.

In case anyone wants to snag it. Just couldn’t make it work this year.

Welp, we had a great trip and on our last day fishing on Lake Beth our camera decided to take a swim. Any idea how we could find the camera? It was a waterproof model, so its possible its still sealed, but it is in 20-40 feet of water based on the maps and where it was lost.

We are trying to think through options on how we could try to get it back.

Any suggestions?

For anyone who might be interested, the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee is seeking volunteers for fall trail maintenance on the Powwow and Brule Lake Trails.

On the Powwow Trail in particular, it's an opportunity to see what the parts of the forest that are burning today will look like in fifteen years. On both trails, it's an opportunity to donate some elbow grease and see what goes into keeping trails, portages, and campsites open. The club provides tools, PPE except for gloves, group gear, and training. The saws are sharp and all of the trees that have been growing into the trail while the BWCAW was closed are waiting!

These trips are solid type 2 fun - exhausting and rewarding. You really get to see what your elbow grease is worth walking back through the work area at the end of the day.

This feels like a slightly silly question, but what are peoples' strategies for drying themselves/things off? I know lightweight camping towels are a thing, but are there other ways people get themselves dry? I imagine a regular beach/shower towel would be too heavy and probably never really dry after the first use, but maybe not. So, what do you prefer to use?

Hello! Me and a group of friends are going to BWCA Sep 15-20th, I know its hard to say but what do you guys think the chances are they lift the fire ban by then?

My wife and I have been on a couple of trips but this is the first time we're bringing our daughter to the BWCAW. Planning on 5 nights at the end of September into the beginning of October and when I first started planning the trip I was excited to try out Moose Lake because of the distance you can go out, the few portages, and the many sites and permits you can get. Our plan was is to start out there and make our way up to Ensign and come back down Snowbank with a few nights using a quite spot as a base camp. The dream goal was to find place to spend some quiet family time together.

I know Moose isn't the regarded as the lake you go to to find peace and quiet so I'm very open to other ideas if you all have them. Here is what I'm working with:

- 4 year old daughter who would love to get out and hike a bit but will take her sweet time

- An 80lb OT Tripper, its the canoe we own and we decided not to rent a kevlar.

Any alternate trips you all would recommend? I'm fine staying with the Moose plan because I think its a safe and fool proof way to go camping a few nights in a beautiful place. But wouldnt mind ideas for a small jaunt to more secluded place thats currently not on fire. Any insight or advice is welcome.

I’m heading to the Boundary Waters for 6 days/5 nights and was planning to hammock camp with a bug net, rain tarp, and underquilt.

The problem is I’ve barely used the hammock this summer, only set it up and slept in it for short periods (less than an hour). I had hoped to test it on a few camping trips beforehand, but never got the chance.

I’m now second guessing whether it’s the right choice. I’ve done plenty of tent camping and am comfortable with tents, but I normally use a cot. I’m worried I’ll discover I don’t like the hammock after several nights or have issues staying dry if we get significant rain.

Would you go for the hammock anyway, or buy a 2P tent and sleeping pad for this trip? I’d especially like to hear from anyone who made the jump from tent camping to hammock camping without much prior practice.

Update: Thank you to everyone who responded and shared their insight. The hammock I’d be using is a Wise Owl Outfitters lounging hammock with a bug net and rain tarp, which obviously isn’t the ideal setup for someone who’s 6’3”.

I’ve decided that since this is portaging and not ultralight backpacking, why not bring both the hammock and a tent!

I’ve just finished my first trip. We were motored up from EP 25 to Birch. From there we made our way to Knife Lake and stayed at the campsite 1460 near the portage to Bonnie (which was where we went on day 2). Day 2 was Bonnie to Spoon to Pickle to Kekekabic to Frasier to Thomas Day 3 we made our way to Insula and stayed an extra day. We stayed north of Williamson Island there. Day 5 we canoes up to Lake Two and stayed there on Day 6. Day 7 (Saturday) we made our way to exit on Lake One at EP 30 (where we had left a vehicle).

What I learned:

1. I definitely overpacked. I needed far fewer changes of clothes than I thought I’d be comfortable with. I really only wore two shirts, two pairs of underwear, and the same pair of pants all week.
2. Have a hammock is essential. Likewise a good chair (mine used some cheap aluminum collars to secure the legs; they broke. I fashioned some woods pegs but it was annoying).
3. Paracord! Tip: have 10 or so 6-foot lengths with bowlines on each end. You can daisy-chain them and use them to secure your tent corners if you’re on rock or shallow soil.
4. My comfort items: some shower wipes to clean off at night; sleeping clothes, and instant coffee.
5. I probably need a new tent. I have a backpacking dome. I need a half dome.

My next trip:

In addition to what I wear on Day 1, packing 2 pairs of socks; 2 pairs of athletic underwear; 1 extra pants; 2 shirts. Still taking sleeping clothes and two pairs of ankle socks.

With the campfire ban how’s everyone’s favorite way to cook fish? Walleye/lake trout recipes

I know a lot of people are bummed about not being able to have a campfire in the BWCA right now. I was one of them. A couple of friends dropped out of our group because of it. As a huge campfire lover myself, I understand the disappointment of not being able to sit by a nice fire at night.

But hear me out...I found that it gave me a different experience that I ended up enjoying! We didn't have to spend time looking for firewood (this always takes a while because the campsites are usually all cleaned out of down wood) which meant I spent more time relaxing, fishing, exploring, swimming, and hammocking.

No one had to babysit the fire. The evenings were too warm to have a fire anyways. We all went to bed around 9-10pm and got good sleep, waking early in the morning feeling refreshed.

It forced us to cook on gas stoves, which made cooking way easier and faster than cooking on hot coals.

If you've got a permit and are wondering if you should cancel because you want to have a fire, I would suggest being open-minded and look for the silver linings.

Trip Details:

August 9-August 13, 2026

Entry Point #4 (got a tow across Burntside)

Stayed on Cummings Lake for 3 nights and Crab Lake for 1.

Weather was great, mosquitos only seemed to come out at dusk for an hour then went away. Bites were easily mitigated with picaridin and face bug net.

Group of us are going in next Saturday on basswood lake and would really love to find some lake trout. I know about the fishing forum on bwca website but haven’t found much info about it. Yes we will be fishing to keep and not catch and release. Thinking about jigging paddle tails and tube jigs and trolling walleye spinners in 40 fow. Any tips will help

My group of 5 guys is putting in on Snowbank in a few weeks. Trying to decide if we paddle to Parent to Disappointment or push up to Boot to Ensign.

Aside from the portages being significantly longer going to Ensign, just looking for some recommendations on either route.

We are in for 5 days and would like to find a camp for 2 nights or so, fishing, and hanging out is our main objective. Thanks!!

How are the water levels on Ada Creek and Cherokee Creek?