Blog Archives
When should we make a reservation?
As soon as you know the starting date of your canoe trip! There are a limited number of permits available, and they are confirmed on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Early reservations are especially important for groups, due to the fact that your group may be large enough to require more than one Permit. Because of…
How should we go about planning a route?
That’s one of the reasons we’re here for you! There are not many lakes in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park that we have not camped on or paddled. To plan the most enjoyable trip for you, we need to know some of your expectations and preferences: we need to know whether you prefer to…
How many miles can we expect to cover in a day?
If you are “on the water” by 9 AM and travel until about 3 PM, with a short break for lunch, you should cover about ten to twelve miles. This would include three or four portages.
When is the weather the best?
We have good camping weather during all three summer months, with July being the warmest month. Also, the last two weeks of May and the first two or three weeks of September are usually quite nice ~ no insects and very few people! We usually experience our first frost around mid-September.
Can we drink the water without treating it?
The U.S. Forest Service recommends treating, filtering, or boiling your drinking water to eliminate the possibility of contracting the giardia parasite. Our experience, however, indicates that more than 90% of the visitors to the canoe country simply drink the water right out of the lakes and suffer absolutely no ill effects from doing so. We…
You also mentioned wolves?
The timber wolf is, without question, the most maligned animal in North America. Years ago, before they were added to the Endangered Species list, they were hunted almost to extinction. The Boundary Waters is home to approximately 1,500 wolves, who live and hunt in packs. Contrary to myth and popular belief, the wolf poses no…
You mentioned bears?
The North American black bear is truly one of the most maligned animals in the wilderness. A bear is capable of causing bodily injury, but the North American black bear should not be equated with bears such as the Grizzly or the Polar Bear. The black bear is a relatively docile animal, but he will…
Where will we see the most wildlife?
You will see more wildlife on the less traveled routes, but this doesn’t mean you have to take a long trip. Our native wildlife includes deer, moose, black bear, otter, mink, beaver, bald eagles, and osprey, as well as the timber wolf. Wolves are extremely shy creatures and try to avoid people, but you may…
When are the insects the worst?
Unfortunately, fish and insects tend to bite at the same time. We usually see our first insects around the beginning of June, and they remain with us throughout the summer until our first frost (about mid-September). However, there are relatively few insects in the woods after the first week of July.
Where are we going to see the fewest people?
You will experience greater solitude in Quetico Park because there are substantially fewer permits available for Quetico than for the Boundary Waters. Also, you will see fewer people on the tougher routes.