Canoe Trip Length: 3-5 Days
Permit Required: Saganaga Lake (BWCAW) entry permit
The Red Rock Canoe Route a great option if you’re not a big fan of canoeing very far, but still want to enjoy the boundary waters experience. Or maybe you want to go on a family trip with younger children that won’t be able to paddle their weight. This trip will be right up your alley. A base camp will afford you more time out fishing, exploring, moose viewing, etc. And you will still be able to come back each evening to a camp that’s already set up.
Route Map
Camp Site Map
A base camp can be done on any lake you choose, but we chose Red Rock Canoe Route because it has day trip opportunities and we can motor you across Saganaga Lake, right to the portage where there are campsites less than a mile away. And we’ll pick you up from the same spot when you tell us you want to come home. This lake offers some great walleye, smallmouth and northern fishing, especially near the islands in the middle of the lake and the many rock points and shallow bays. Moose are also often seen in the evening on this lake in the shallow bays, so keep an eye out for them.
Many people utilize a base camp because it promotes relaxation and just kicking back and enjoying the vacation. There aren’t a whole lot of things better than waking up early to watch the sun rise across the lake while sipping a cup of coffee knowing that you don’t have to pack up your camp to move to a different site each day. Taking an afternoon off on a breezy day to sit in the shade and read a good book is an option that many who are on the move everyday don’t get to enjoy. Maybe you’ve got a split ballot on what to do for the day. There’s no reason you can’t have part of your group do one thing while the other half does another. This allows everyone to fulfill their own individual wishes while not disrupting anyone else who has something else in mind.
The nice thing about this type of trip is that you have no obligations to meet. You don’t have to be anywhere at any time and you can make the trip last as long as you want. And no one is stopping you from moving your camp if you get halfway through the trip and you decide you want to move to a different lake. The greatest thing about a base camp is that it affords you every opportunity to take full advantage of the precious time you have available to spend in the boundary waters.
So invite the family; no one said you have to paddle and portage everyday. A trip into this wilderness can be all about camping and relaxing if you so desire. Throw your itineraries away and be spontaneous. Take the moments as they come and do what you please. This type of trip is for young and old alike and we’ll even portage your canoe.
Still trying to decide which route? Check out more Quetico-Boundary Waters canoe routes. Learn about BWCA Permits.
