At the very least, the following list of essentials will help keep your next Boundary Waters canoe trip from turning into an epic debacle. With luck, it will help make your trip an enjoyable adventure.
Planning ahead is the essence of a successful trip. For starters, don’t get on the water without route maps and the required backcountry permit.
Most users prefer to paddle a canoe in the BWCA, as they load better with bulky packs and are easier to portage than kayaks. Almost any style bag can work for gear but it might mean two trips at each portage. Canoe packs ride below your shoulders, allowing space for your canoe overhead, which can cut down on travel time. Don’t forget to line your bags with garbage bag or waterproof liners.
Once you’ve pushed away from shore, you’ll need a paddle to actually move. Bring a spare just in case your trusty bent-shaft splits on a rock. Always wear a PFD.
Sturdy footwear with toe protection will help protect you while portaging. (The combination of a heavy load, sharp rocks and uneven terrain is unforgiving if you stumble.) Bring a second pair of shoes for camp for a comfy change of pace.
Delicious meals and the Boundary Waters have a way of enhancing each other. For food, think light and dry, though not necessarily for everything. The sharper the cheese the longer it will last, and it’s worth every ounce. Put some time into your menu—the menu make a difference. Remember cookware and utensils.
Water treatment options include a purifier, tablets or a small vial of bleach. Matches and a lighter will get the stove going for dinner, and later spark the campfire. A foldable saw is an easy and safe way to trim dead and down wood. A 50-foot length of rope will give you a way to string your food pack up from a sturdy tree, keeping fragrant temptations out of reach of Yogi Bear.
Plan for rain even if there’s none in the forecast. Bring a tarp with p-cord tied along the edges; you can set it up for some freedom around camp despite the downpour. Rain pants and jacket will give you dry freedom beyond the tarp. A brimmed hat keeps rain out of your eyes and blocks sun from baking your head. You may want extra layers for warmth or a bug shirt for sanity, depending upon the season.
Crawling into bed, you’ll probably want some kind of shelter. Choose a season-appropriate sleeping bag. Also pack a sleeping pad for insulation and extra cushioning from roots and rocks. For a minimalist approach, your camp chair, unfolded, can double as your sleeping pad. Pack a travel pillow or jerry-rig one by stuffing extra clothes into a fleece pullover.
A headlamp or good flashlight is a must for nighttime.
Something that should be at the top of the list is toilet paper in a dry bag. (Forget it once and you never will again.) Stash a bottle of hand sanitizer for hygiene.
Other items not to be overlooked include sunscreen, bug spray, bug hat if you expect severe swarms, camera, water bottle, and first aid kit. Bring a multi-tool, too; it will be handier than you think.
If figuring out where to go or what to bring seems too daunting a task, consider going with a local outfitter or guide. Reputable ones with years of experience are located near most put-ins, including Ely and both the Sawbill and Gunflint Trails. They’ll ease you into your BWCA adventure and give you the know-how for the next one.
A seasoned paddling guide, Lucas Will is the director of activities and recreation at Lutsen Resort. Last summer he circumnavigated Lake Superior in a kayak.
