Plan our boundary waters adventure: At Rockwood, we take pride in our expertise, from maintaining gear to cleaning the bunkhouse. But the most important thing we do is answer your questions about planning a wilderness adventure in the Boundary Waters. Our team’s knowledge and experience are at your service.
Carl Madsen, one of the owners here at Rockwood and its ranking question answerer, said, “I had a great teacher who said if you have a question, there’s a very good chance that someone else has the same question but is not raising their hand, so you are helping both.” Your questions are not just welcome, they are essential to the planning process. They help us understand your needs and ensure we provide the best possible experience.
Carl’s core message is that your questions are valid and essential. Others are likely wondering the same things. And you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to ask it.
Rockwood quoting an outfitting package
We regularly receive requests for information from folks planning an adventure. We know that every person planning a trip is unique. Some are experienced canoeists and backcountry campers. Others have little or no experience paddling and have rarely, if ever, slept on the ground. Some are young, fit, and ready to cover a lot of wilderness, while others are older, more sedate, and just looking to enjoy a relaxing time, perhaps at a base camp. When every member of the family, from child to elder, paddles together in the BWCA, the shared wilderness experience becomes a deeply transformative bond.
Your questions may range from where you’ll be going to the bathroom to the safest way to handle the portages you’ll face. But the journey itself, the shared experiences, and the beauty of the wilderness will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
Let’s follow a passage from the first inquiry to a finalized quote. In this post, we’ll use a bit of role play. I, your humble scribe, Steve, will be the potential customer asking some basic questions, and Carl will be the one answering. His answers are not just about sharing his passion, but about welcoming another family into the transformative communion with the BWCA.
Introductions
Steve called Rockwood on a Monday morning in early December.
Steve: “Hi Carl, thanks for taking my call. I’m starting to plan a five-day trip in the BWCAW with some family in July next year. There’ll be a total of nine people, four adults, a couple of teens, and three younger children.”
Carl: “That sounds like a fun adventure.”
Steve: “Can you recommend some possible routes we can take? We’re trying to decide whether to paddle to a base camp on the first day or two, or to take an easy route with multiple camp sites. Which would you recommend?
Carl: “Plan our boundary waters adventure is a big undertaking, and we want everyone to feel comfortable. I can certainly recommend a few routes for you to consider. You’ll also need to decide on dates, the length of the trip, and the budget, all of which involve many moving parts. I’m sure a dozen questions are swirling around right now about food, fitness, and time off. Before we move on to the proposed itinerary, let’s consider a few routes.”
Route Recommendation
Every canoe route is unique in terms of campsite availability, portage lengths, scenic amenities, and difficulty. A variety of routes are available on the Rockwood website. Since Carl has years of wilderness experience, having paddled most of those routes at least once, he shared a recommended route for the trip planner.
Carl: “For a three to five-day trip for families with kids, I’d recommend Route 3. You will leave right from Rockwood, paddling down Poplar Lake to the Lizz Lake Entry Point #47. Proceed through Lizz, Caribou Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Gaskin Lake, Winchell Lake, then north to Omega Lake, Henson Lake, Pillsbery Lake, and Meeds Lake. From Meeds, you’ll come back through Caribou and Lizz, returning to Poplar and Rockwood Lodge.
“These specific lakes are key parts of what’s often referred to as the ‘Meeds-Gaskin-Winchell Loop.’ Henson is often a crossroads, connecting to Gaskin and Omega Lakes. Winchell Lake is a long, prominent lake known for its tall cliffs on the south shore. Gaskin Lake is connected to Winchell, Henson, and Horseshoe Lakes.
“This is a multi-day loop, but could easily just be a basecamp route by simply stopping at Caribou, Horseshoe, or even Meeds, setting up camp, and then returning to Poplar and Rockwood on your last day.
“Other options are Route 9, East Bearskin Lake Entry Point #64, which includes the Johnson waterfalls, or the first half of Route 6, Duncan Lake Entry Point #60, which includes the Rose Falls/Stairway portage waterfalls. We can easily arrange a shuttle between Rockwood and one of those entry points if you decide on that option.”
Canoes
Kevlar canoes, often referred to as composite canoes, are a favorite for wilderness tripping in the Boundary Waters. They are ultra-lightweight, which makes a massive difference when you have to carry the canoe over long portage trails. The reduced weight makes the canoe much easier to put into the water and manage alone if you need to.
Kevlar enables manufacturers to create highly efficient, streamlined hull designs that reduce drag, allowing the canoe to paddle faster and glide much farther with each stroke, saving energy over long distances. Finally, unlike aluminum canoes, which can be noisy when hit by a paddle or gear, Kevlar is very quiet. This is a significant plus for enjoying the sounds of nature, fishing, and stealthily approaching wildlife.
Steve: “Thanks for the route info, Carl. Some of my group members have paddling experience, and we need to rent canoes. What do you recommend?
Carl: “There are a couple of ways to handle nine people in our sturdy, stable, and lightweight Kevlar canoes. The simplest is three canoes, each holding three people and all their gear. Another option is a combination of three tandem (two-person) canoes and one three-person canoe. A third option is one four-person canoe, one three-person canoe, and one tandem, giving you the most options in canoe arrangements. You can find the comparisons of the canoes in our stable on the website.
Gear
Steve: “Our family has experience camping, and we have some of the necessities for the BWCA adventure. What are the things we must have? And can we rent them at Rockwood?”
Carl: “Our partial outfitting package includes everything you’ll need, except for food. The package also includes a one-night stay in a Rockwood bunkroom with a private bathroom and showers after your trip (towels and shampoo included!).
It’s always nice to have a fresh start on day one of your trip, so I’d recommend getting a bunkhouse the night before your entry date. We have four rooms total, and your group will fit into one of them. This allows you to arrive after hours at Rockwood, get ‘all your ducks in a row’ on the first morning, and then get into a great campsite early that day.
“You can find a list of some non-essential gear to bring with you to make your wilderness trip more enjoyable.”
Pricing
Steve: “Let’s Plan our boundary waters adventure – Can you give me some pricing information?”
Carl: “We can certainly provide prices, but first, let’s confirm the details of your plan. In the meantime, our outfitting page on the website will provide you with specific pricing for our outfitting packages and an à la carte price list for various things you might need.
“Partial outfitting packages are expensive, as they include all the gear, canoes, bunkhouse, showers afterwards, camping gear, food storage and preparation, but not the actual food itself. If you already have all the camping gear and cooking equipment, or some of each, you’d save money with à la carte, basically telling us what you need. All of the prices below do NOT include the permit or taxes.
“Our showerhouse offers four showers, still at the low $5 rate, complete with use of towel and shampoo. If you plan to do any fishing, we have live bait on hand all summer. The Outfitting store has ice cream, candy, soda, lots of BWCA maps, and fishing pole rental. If you need extra layers, Rockwood-branded clothing is available for purchase in case of cooler temperatures when you arrive.
“Our terms are one-third down within two weeks of you making plans, and the balance when you’ve completed your trip but before you head home.
Steve: “Awesome, Carl. We’ll have a family meeting to firm up our plans over the upcoming holidays. You can expect to hear from me shortly after to finalize our booking.”
Final Thought
Carl: “Thanks for calling Rockwood, Steve. Are you able to get the entry quota permit at 9 am on Wednesday, January 28th? The official website for reserving Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) overnight permits is recreation.gov/permits/233396. There are no special privileges for outfitters when it comes to getting permits, but we can do it for you if you’ve never done it before. It’s as easy as renting a cabin online. You’ll need to know your entry point, the dates you’ll enter and exit. You should make sure you have your alternate’s email and phone number.
