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Accessible primarily by canoe, the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota is one of America's most beautiful and remote adventures. It has 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 11 hiking trails and approximately 2,000 designated campsites.
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slow down to enjoy
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While it can be tempting to paddle your heart out and see as much as you can, the best way to do the Boundary Waters the first time is to pick a central spot to set up camp and take day trips from there. That way, you’ll spend more time exploring and less time packing and unpacking, portaging your canoe and taking your tent down just to set it back up again.
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 if you head out without a plan, chances are you’ll feel more like you’re on a bad episode of 'survivor' rather than in one of the most incredible places on earth.
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pre-trip prep
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The key to a successful Boundary Waters trip is proper preparation. If you head out without a plan, or sans necessary equipment, chances are you’ll feel more like you’re on a bad episode of “Survivor” rather than in one of the most incredible places on Earth.
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When packing, make sure you have the essentials covered:
- Two full sets of weather-appropriate clothing
- Footwear that functions well in water and on rocks
- Rain gear
- Dry bag
- Zinc (leave the sunscreen at home—it pollutes the water!) and bug repellant
- Toiletries
- A compass, flashlight, Boundary Waters map and any other wayfinding equipment plus spare batteries
- Fishing gear if you plan to drop a line in the water
- A water bottle and water purification tablets (or pump)
- A Swiss Army or multi-tool knife
- Matches in a waterproof case
- Easily transportable foods in lightweight, paper or plastic containers
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Don’t forget that no cans or glass bottles are allowed in the wilderness. You won’t want to hassle with anything that isn’t worth its weight to portage (yes, you’ll be carrying your canoe and everything else you brought if you plan to travel between lakes). A good rule of thumb is if you can’t portage everything you brought in one trip (or two at the most), you probably brought too much. Plus, the less you have, the easier it is to leave no trace!
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getting gear and finding guides
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Whether you’re looking for a guide or simply some solid options for renting a canoe or other essential gear, you’ll find ample options in nearby towns. Ely has over 20 outfitters alone, there are several located along the Gunflint Trail and in Grand Marais, a few near Tofte and one in Babbitt. Trip outfitters can help you with canoeing equipment, camping supplies and the best boundary waters routes.
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Cinnamon Janzer is a freelance journalist based in Minneapolis who writes broadly about culture, business and travel. Her words have been published in National Geographic, New York magazine, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Eater and USA Today. |
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You’ll need an entry permit from recreation.gov that’s linked to the specific entry point you plan on using before you hit the water. The type of permit you need depends on the type of trip you want to take (overnight or day use, hike or paddle), and remember that fishing licenses are additional.
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credit from top to bottom, left to right: couple in canoe, photo by Paul Vincent |  woman paddling, photo by Paul Vincent | person portaging, photo by Joe Baumann | looking at stars, photo by Paul Vincent | clouds above the BWCA, photo by Lauren Cutshall | person by canoe in gear, photo by Steve Piragis  | POV: canoe, reel by Explore Minnesota | stars at night in the BWCA, photo by Lauren Cutshall  | author bio portrait of Cinnamon Janzer |
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