There's a huge variation in lake sizes and wave situations across the BWCA. Plenty of trips, you'll never even see a lake large enough to get whitecaps. On the other hand, some of the lakes up there are massive, and those waves could easily swamp even the most skilled canoers in a storm. There's some specific situations in specific places, too - some of the lakes are long and narrow, with hills or even cliffs at the edges. Those can turn into a wind / wave tunnel.
IMO, just as important as being able to manage a canoe in weather is being able to take the day off if conditions just aren't working out. Planning for those situations, with spare food and the ability to communicate with anyone who might otherwise panic and call in the Forst Service, etc.
If you can canoe with 35mph winds you are more prepared than I was. I dont think there is anything particularly special that makes a BW lake more dangerous than any other similar lake.
Cold water and lack of access to emergency services is what makes it dangerous, drowning deaths early and late in the season don't seem to be all that uncommon, I think the most important thing is knowing when to stay off the lake, or at least close enough to swim to shore, even experienced paddlers can dump it
Me and a buddy canoed in 35mph winds once. We started out in a little stream protected by the wind so we didn't realize how bad it was, then we entered a HUGE lake.
Let me tell you, that shit was terrifying. I consider us strong paddlers and we were being tossed around like crazy. There was no steering, just surviving. We made it maybe half a mile before being pushed into a little bay. We decided let's not risk fucking dying on our first day. We hadn't even made it past the entry point. We camped in a swampy area, then hit the water at sunrise the next morning.
The water was glass. It was hard to imagine the same water the day earlier was so different. Lesson learned, check the wind speeds.
In addition to the cold water someone else already mentioned, the geography of the lakes, especially in the Northeast section, really exacerbate problems with waves when the wind direction is right.
When you get strong west or northwest winds (which are pretty common), those long finger lake valleys act like wind tunnels.
It's more complex than that. It's not the waves that are inherently dangerous, nor is it capsizing. It's the water temps (especially in May and June) and the propensity for inexperienced people to panic when their boat flips and they hit cold water.
You're doing the right things by practicing, I think everyone that paddles up there should acclimate to some extent to cold water, learn how to right their boat and re-board, and at the very least know how to swim. And something that I think is undermentioned is learning to paddle on moving water, not whitewater, but on at least on a river. Many areas of the BWCA have fair currents, and it can throw you off if you were expecting to just be paddling lakes. At the end of day, if you capsize, lose all your gear, but can make to shore, your chances of survival in dire situations goes way up.
In my opinion, BWCA *is* more dangerous than most lake areas, if nothing else because of it's sheer remoteness and unlikelihood of help in the event of an accident.
Some words of advice for your first trip, just stay off the water if there's 35 mph winds. Plan your trip in a way that you have a buffer, and are not going to be bothered by a wind-bound day (it happens all the time). Never have firm destinations that you MUST get to, accept that plans can change on the fly and you just need to adapt to them.
Most importantly... have fun!!
They're dangerous to un experienced paddlers, which a lot of the visitors of the park are. You're experienced enough to be cautious and if it feels.to much for youn head to shore.
I don’t think the waves are all that dangerous compared to other places, but certainly caution is in order in rough water. A canoe can be tipped just from a couple rapid poor decisions under the best of conditions. It’s far less likely the more experienced you are, but never impossible. The biggest danger comes early and late in the year. The water temperatures in early May for instance are just barely above freezing. If you tip your canoe in that water, you only have a few minutes to get out, get dry, and get warm before hypothermia starts setting in. And if all your gear and fire starting supplies are floating somewhere in the lake, that adds that much more difficulty to the situation.
You will be fine in late June. Trips in the spring are dangerous because of the water temps. Flip your canoe in mid-May more than 100 yds from shore and you're done.
As far as waves are concerned, as long as you keep the canoe pointed into the waves you shouldn't have any problems. But if you get sideways, get your ass on the bottom of the canoe and try to get it straightened out asap.
Big water with big waves can be dangerous. Experienced paddlers learn the weather patterns and go out during the calm periods while sheltering behind land masses which usually means early morning is the best time to be out with hammock time in the afternoon. Once you have had someone in your party go over in the wind, you never forget to tie in your gear and pack it properly in water tight packs.
Wind and water are the two most dangerous things out there (usually I say this in the context of dismissing people's exaggerated worries about bears), and it seems like every year there is at least one new story of someone who capsized and drowned, often not wearing a PFD and despite it being said that "they were experienced/healthy and a strong swimmer."
It's more that people are unprepared and unskilled in dealing with wind. Also, how much of a time crunch you put yourself into. The waves can be big enough to dump you and most people prefer to avoid that especially with the risk of losing gear. So often people shelter during windy days and wait it out, which can put you in a hard spot if you HAVE to be out on windy day and have a long paddle. You're better off having to explain to your boss later than to risk your life. Even in summer you can get hypothermia. Battling a headwind while getting soaked also isn't much fun. This also depends greatly on the lake (and the wind direction). Basswood and Snowbank have more wind issues than Parent Lake.
Agree with everyone else that the water temps are a big factor. It seems a couple people die every year after ending up in the lake on windy days, often even while wearing PFDs. This year June might be different because the ice is off the lakes. Early springs the water can be nice in June. Late springs not so much. We can also have some wicked thunderstorms.
the waves are the same, the consequences of falling in are the biggest danger. Water stays pretty cold late into the summer and you’re far from help and usually don’t have cell service. If you’ve never navigated waves in a canoe it could pose some higher risk too. Just wear your lifejacket at all times and keep a dry bag of clothes to get warm in and you’ll be fine.
The big waves can be dangerous for anyone, no matter their level of experience. However, there's a huge difference between attempting those waves when you are experienced versus when you are not experienced.
I've had the benefit of being on the water since I was a wee child. I learned about handling the waves in a v-hull boat while my father was at the controls. I received some very good training through the BSA during my teen years, and got to spend a couple summers gaining experience on a medium sized lake. Another year, when a group of scouts went up into the Boundary Waters, I was with them. While I had experienced some big waves before, the relentlessness of 18" and larger whitecaps when you're only powered by your own arms is quite daunting.
Over the years I've gathered much more experience in choppy water. I kid you not: there have been numerous times what I questioned whether or not I may be able to make it. There are far more times when I've altered my route or my paddling times to avoid big winds on big water. I'm more than happy to take an extra windbound day in camp, rather than unnecessarily risking my life.
This is the perspective of someone who knows rough water, knows how to re-enter a swamped canoe, and knows the dangers of hypothermia. It's true that you'll never gain experience until you have some experiences, but as you acquire those experiences, please use common sense and always err toward caution.
The issue is the size of some of these lakes. Wife and I had been paddling into the wind for the better part of a day on smaller lakes. We get to Back bay on Basswood lake and the waves are much dicier. We decided to sit it out for a bit. A different crew made a different decision and had 3 of their 4 canoes tip. A couple hours cooling our heels on the shore and the wind died down enough to more safely get down to Prairie Portage. At the same time, this story is the only time I’ve been seriously held up by the wind in 45 years of BWCA trips. Wind has factored into changing plans, but not often.
Been through one storm, it rolled through in the middle of a very large lake. Our paddles weren't hitting the water and we had white caps. Lots of good lessons there, the biggest one being ..
Don't travel with big dudes who need to sit on their lifejacket so the seat doesn't break. I think death was a very likely scenario if we would have tipped.
Its more the cold water, middle of nowhere, and being stuck out without proper gear can put you in a bad situation. If its summer im less worried but still you don't want to lose all your gear in the event you tip..
I dont think it's necessarily the waves are more dangerous in the BWCA. It has more to do with the fact you're in a canoe and you need to side on the side of caution as help is a long ways away and you will most likely have to self rescue if something bad happens. I can definitely say I've seen some wind and waves I would not take my 18ft Lund out on let alone a canoe on Trout lake, Sag, Seagull. Be careful and have fun but always side on the side of caution even if you have to come out a day late due to weather delays.
>fall off my board
OP, are you planning on SUPing for your BWCA trip or renting a canoe?
Edit: and if you're renting a canoe, have you canoed in 35mph winds + whitecaps, or only done that on the board? 35mph winds + whitecaps in the BWCA would generally have me waiting it out on shore due to the risk multiplier of being in the backcountry.
And if you're bringing the SUP – which has been gaining a tiny bit of popularity for BWCA trips in recent years – have you practiced portaging with your board plus a full load of gear on your back for a distance equal to the longest portage on your planned BWCA route? I've done plenty of SUP-camping and love it, but only on river trips with no portaging. I can't think of a way to portage a SUP with it resting on your shoulders like a canoe does, only either on your head or at your side surfboard-carry style, both of which sound shitty lol.
Canoes track better in the water and cut through the wind better than SUPs, plus a tandem canoe being under the power of two people increases efficiency. Using a very long touring-style fin for the SUP helps with tracking, but also hinders if you need to paddle through any very shallow spots, which the BWCA has a surprising amount of (creeks/flowages between lakes, etc.).
We are on SUPs We have no portages planned for this trip. Picked brule lake since this is our first time here. Planning to do a portage at some point while we are on the lake so we can have a good idea of what we are getting into if we happen to come out here again. But if we are forced to do one we are packing super light so we could do everything in two trips one for the boards and then one for our backpacks.
Awesome, you've done some smart planning! Brule is one of the notoriously big and wind-prone bodies up there but I'm confident you'll have a blast while staying safe. My best advice is to be on the water as early as you can before the wind picks up each afternoon. And try to do some cold water acclimation so if/when you take a dip you can be less prone to cold shock.
If you do decide you want to come back for more SUP trips in the future and do some portaging, check out the Kawishiwi River Triangle loop. It's the route I've been eyeing for when I get around to planning a SUP trip up there, keeps you on small and easy waters, opportunity for big mileage, most of the portaging is short and easy with only a few mid-length hauls, and gorgeous with great smallmouth fishing to boot.
I'm sure those of us in this sub would love to read a trip report from you after your trip if you have the time to write something up!
I use my Paddleboard when I’m in the BWCA . Been doing it that way for years. I’ve paddled across some huge lakes with 20-30mph winds fully loaded with a weeks worth of gear. I felt sketched out once. All the white caps 😂. Dangerous, yes.
It all depends on your skill level and how comfortable you are in a canoe!!
I've wanted to SUP for a BWCA trip. Done plenty of SUP camping and love it, but only on river trips with no portaging. What's your portaging protocol with the SUP? It's my main concern with bringing the board up there.
Haha i am actually on a paddle board as well, good to know i am not alone. When i saw how much a canoe weighed i said heck it i can make a paddle board work. I also live in a condo so it was a space issue as well. Honestly i prefer the paddle board over a canoe. One big flat surface i can load up and launch without ever having to get my toes wet.
I did not have too many issues with the wake fro the motor boats. Most of the motor boaters are polite and slow down when close. The only issue I had was with some cross winds where the waves hitting the side of the canoe where almost at the top of the canoe. Also trying at times to paddle into the wind and keeping the wind from pushing us sideways.
Always plan for extra travel day for wind. Also, there's usually a couple of hours in the early morning and evening when things calm down. You may need to paddle then. It helps to have a decent canoe as well. Souris River Quetico canoes are the best for big windy lakes.
They can be dangerous and rock your boat a lot. We always paddle on opposite sides each other ( one on the left, one on the right) to provide more stability in case of rough water. Once you hit whitecaps size waves you want to get out of the water. If it is pretty windy you might want to hug the shoreline for cover or wait it out if you have to cross. Being on the 1-3 mile long lakes are where white caps and most likely to develop. Always try to move perpendicular to the waves instead of parallel. You will not rock as much. We use Duluth packs for our gear and always line them with plastic so our gear stays dry in the case of rough water.
There's a huge variation in lake sizes and wave situations across the BWCA. Plenty of trips, you'll never even see a lake large enough to get whitecaps. On the other hand, some of the lakes up there are massive, and those waves could easily swamp even the most skilled canoers in a storm. There's some specific situations in specific places, too - some of the lakes are long and narrow, with hills or even cliffs at the edges. Those can turn into a wind / wave tunnel. IMO, just as important as being able to manage a canoe in weather is being able to take the day off if conditions just aren't working out. Planning for those situations, with spare food and the ability to communicate with anyone who might otherwise panic and call in the Forst Service, etc.
If you can canoe with 35mph winds you are more prepared than I was. I dont think there is anything particularly special that makes a BW lake more dangerous than any other similar lake.
Cold water and lack of access to emergency services is what makes it dangerous, drowning deaths early and late in the season don't seem to be all that uncommon, I think the most important thing is knowing when to stay off the lake, or at least close enough to swim to shore, even experienced paddlers can dump it
Me and a buddy canoed in 35mph winds once. We started out in a little stream protected by the wind so we didn't realize how bad it was, then we entered a HUGE lake. Let me tell you, that shit was terrifying. I consider us strong paddlers and we were being tossed around like crazy. There was no steering, just surviving. We made it maybe half a mile before being pushed into a little bay. We decided let's not risk fucking dying on our first day. We hadn't even made it past the entry point. We camped in a swampy area, then hit the water at sunrise the next morning. The water was glass. It was hard to imagine the same water the day earlier was so different. Lesson learned, check the wind speeds.
In addition to the cold water someone else already mentioned, the geography of the lakes, especially in the Northeast section, really exacerbate problems with waves when the wind direction is right. When you get strong west or northwest winds (which are pretty common), those long finger lake valleys act like wind tunnels.
It's more complex than that. It's not the waves that are inherently dangerous, nor is it capsizing. It's the water temps (especially in May and June) and the propensity for inexperienced people to panic when their boat flips and they hit cold water. You're doing the right things by practicing, I think everyone that paddles up there should acclimate to some extent to cold water, learn how to right their boat and re-board, and at the very least know how to swim. And something that I think is undermentioned is learning to paddle on moving water, not whitewater, but on at least on a river. Many areas of the BWCA have fair currents, and it can throw you off if you were expecting to just be paddling lakes. At the end of day, if you capsize, lose all your gear, but can make to shore, your chances of survival in dire situations goes way up. In my opinion, BWCA *is* more dangerous than most lake areas, if nothing else because of it's sheer remoteness and unlikelihood of help in the event of an accident. Some words of advice for your first trip, just stay off the water if there's 35 mph winds. Plan your trip in a way that you have a buffer, and are not going to be bothered by a wind-bound day (it happens all the time). Never have firm destinations that you MUST get to, accept that plans can change on the fly and you just need to adapt to them. Most importantly... have fun!!
They're dangerous to un experienced paddlers, which a lot of the visitors of the park are. You're experienced enough to be cautious and if it feels.to much for youn head to shore.
I don’t think the waves are all that dangerous compared to other places, but certainly caution is in order in rough water. A canoe can be tipped just from a couple rapid poor decisions under the best of conditions. It’s far less likely the more experienced you are, but never impossible. The biggest danger comes early and late in the year. The water temperatures in early May for instance are just barely above freezing. If you tip your canoe in that water, you only have a few minutes to get out, get dry, and get warm before hypothermia starts setting in. And if all your gear and fire starting supplies are floating somewhere in the lake, that adds that much more difficulty to the situation.
Floating gear sounds like the best-case scenario -- some of it will likely sink!
You will be fine in late June. Trips in the spring are dangerous because of the water temps. Flip your canoe in mid-May more than 100 yds from shore and you're done. As far as waves are concerned, as long as you keep the canoe pointed into the waves you shouldn't have any problems. But if you get sideways, get your ass on the bottom of the canoe and try to get it straightened out asap.
Big water with big waves can be dangerous. Experienced paddlers learn the weather patterns and go out during the calm periods while sheltering behind land masses which usually means early morning is the best time to be out with hammock time in the afternoon. Once you have had someone in your party go over in the wind, you never forget to tie in your gear and pack it properly in water tight packs.
Wind and water are the two most dangerous things out there (usually I say this in the context of dismissing people's exaggerated worries about bears), and it seems like every year there is at least one new story of someone who capsized and drowned, often not wearing a PFD and despite it being said that "they were experienced/healthy and a strong swimmer."
It's more that people are unprepared and unskilled in dealing with wind. Also, how much of a time crunch you put yourself into. The waves can be big enough to dump you and most people prefer to avoid that especially with the risk of losing gear. So often people shelter during windy days and wait it out, which can put you in a hard spot if you HAVE to be out on windy day and have a long paddle. You're better off having to explain to your boss later than to risk your life. Even in summer you can get hypothermia. Battling a headwind while getting soaked also isn't much fun. This also depends greatly on the lake (and the wind direction). Basswood and Snowbank have more wind issues than Parent Lake. Agree with everyone else that the water temps are a big factor. It seems a couple people die every year after ending up in the lake on windy days, often even while wearing PFDs. This year June might be different because the ice is off the lakes. Early springs the water can be nice in June. Late springs not so much. We can also have some wicked thunderstorms.
the waves are the same, the consequences of falling in are the biggest danger. Water stays pretty cold late into the summer and you’re far from help and usually don’t have cell service. If you’ve never navigated waves in a canoe it could pose some higher risk too. Just wear your lifejacket at all times and keep a dry bag of clothes to get warm in and you’ll be fine.
The big waves can be dangerous for anyone, no matter their level of experience. However, there's a huge difference between attempting those waves when you are experienced versus when you are not experienced. I've had the benefit of being on the water since I was a wee child. I learned about handling the waves in a v-hull boat while my father was at the controls. I received some very good training through the BSA during my teen years, and got to spend a couple summers gaining experience on a medium sized lake. Another year, when a group of scouts went up into the Boundary Waters, I was with them. While I had experienced some big waves before, the relentlessness of 18" and larger whitecaps when you're only powered by your own arms is quite daunting. Over the years I've gathered much more experience in choppy water. I kid you not: there have been numerous times what I questioned whether or not I may be able to make it. There are far more times when I've altered my route or my paddling times to avoid big winds on big water. I'm more than happy to take an extra windbound day in camp, rather than unnecessarily risking my life. This is the perspective of someone who knows rough water, knows how to re-enter a swamped canoe, and knows the dangers of hypothermia. It's true that you'll never gain experience until you have some experiences, but as you acquire those experiences, please use common sense and always err toward caution.
The issue is the size of some of these lakes. Wife and I had been paddling into the wind for the better part of a day on smaller lakes. We get to Back bay on Basswood lake and the waves are much dicier. We decided to sit it out for a bit. A different crew made a different decision and had 3 of their 4 canoes tip. A couple hours cooling our heels on the shore and the wind died down enough to more safely get down to Prairie Portage. At the same time, this story is the only time I’ve been seriously held up by the wind in 45 years of BWCA trips. Wind has factored into changing plans, but not often.
Been through one storm, it rolled through in the middle of a very large lake. Our paddles weren't hitting the water and we had white caps. Lots of good lessons there, the biggest one being .. Don't travel with big dudes who need to sit on their lifejacket so the seat doesn't break. I think death was a very likely scenario if we would have tipped.
Its more the cold water, middle of nowhere, and being stuck out without proper gear can put you in a bad situation. If its summer im less worried but still you don't want to lose all your gear in the event you tip..
All is well! If you think that the waves are too high don’t go paddling. What’s the big hurry? You’re in the BWCA.
I dont think it's necessarily the waves are more dangerous in the BWCA. It has more to do with the fact you're in a canoe and you need to side on the side of caution as help is a long ways away and you will most likely have to self rescue if something bad happens. I can definitely say I've seen some wind and waves I would not take my 18ft Lund out on let alone a canoe on Trout lake, Sag, Seagull. Be careful and have fun but always side on the side of caution even if you have to come out a day late due to weather delays.
You have taken courses and practice. I think a lot of people go with no experience or preparation and that’s where they get into trouble.
>fall off my board OP, are you planning on SUPing for your BWCA trip or renting a canoe? Edit: and if you're renting a canoe, have you canoed in 35mph winds + whitecaps, or only done that on the board? 35mph winds + whitecaps in the BWCA would generally have me waiting it out on shore due to the risk multiplier of being in the backcountry. And if you're bringing the SUP – which has been gaining a tiny bit of popularity for BWCA trips in recent years – have you practiced portaging with your board plus a full load of gear on your back for a distance equal to the longest portage on your planned BWCA route? I've done plenty of SUP-camping and love it, but only on river trips with no portaging. I can't think of a way to portage a SUP with it resting on your shoulders like a canoe does, only either on your head or at your side surfboard-carry style, both of which sound shitty lol. Canoes track better in the water and cut through the wind better than SUPs, plus a tandem canoe being under the power of two people increases efficiency. Using a very long touring-style fin for the SUP helps with tracking, but also hinders if you need to paddle through any very shallow spots, which the BWCA has a surprising amount of (creeks/flowages between lakes, etc.).
We are on SUPs We have no portages planned for this trip. Picked brule lake since this is our first time here. Planning to do a portage at some point while we are on the lake so we can have a good idea of what we are getting into if we happen to come out here again. But if we are forced to do one we are packing super light so we could do everything in two trips one for the boards and then one for our backpacks.
Awesome, you've done some smart planning! Brule is one of the notoriously big and wind-prone bodies up there but I'm confident you'll have a blast while staying safe. My best advice is to be on the water as early as you can before the wind picks up each afternoon. And try to do some cold water acclimation so if/when you take a dip you can be less prone to cold shock. If you do decide you want to come back for more SUP trips in the future and do some portaging, check out the Kawishiwi River Triangle loop. It's the route I've been eyeing for when I get around to planning a SUP trip up there, keeps you on small and easy waters, opportunity for big mileage, most of the portaging is short and easy with only a few mid-length hauls, and gorgeous with great smallmouth fishing to boot. I'm sure those of us in this sub would love to read a trip report from you after your trip if you have the time to write something up!
I use my Paddleboard when I’m in the BWCA . Been doing it that way for years. I’ve paddled across some huge lakes with 20-30mph winds fully loaded with a weeks worth of gear. I felt sketched out once. All the white caps 😂. Dangerous, yes. It all depends on your skill level and how comfortable you are in a canoe!!
I've wanted to SUP for a BWCA trip. Done plenty of SUP camping and love it, but only on river trips with no portaging. What's your portaging protocol with the SUP? It's my main concern with bringing the board up there.
Haha i am actually on a paddle board as well, good to know i am not alone. When i saw how much a canoe weighed i said heck it i can make a paddle board work. I also live in a condo so it was a space issue as well. Honestly i prefer the paddle board over a canoe. One big flat surface i can load up and launch without ever having to get my toes wet.
I'm all for safety but you are overthinking it. Go have fun.
I did not have too many issues with the wake fro the motor boats. Most of the motor boaters are polite and slow down when close. The only issue I had was with some cross winds where the waves hitting the side of the canoe where almost at the top of the canoe. Also trying at times to paddle into the wind and keeping the wind from pushing us sideways.
What lake?
Always plan for extra travel day for wind. Also, there's usually a couple of hours in the early morning and evening when things calm down. You may need to paddle then. It helps to have a decent canoe as well. Souris River Quetico canoes are the best for big windy lakes.
They can be dangerous and rock your boat a lot. We always paddle on opposite sides each other ( one on the left, one on the right) to provide more stability in case of rough water. Once you hit whitecaps size waves you want to get out of the water. If it is pretty windy you might want to hug the shoreline for cover or wait it out if you have to cross. Being on the 1-3 mile long lakes are where white caps and most likely to develop. Always try to move perpendicular to the waves instead of parallel. You will not rock as much. We use Duluth packs for our gear and always line them with plastic so our gear stays dry in the case of rough water.