Hi all,
Two others and I are making our first BWCA trip in late May. Any and all advice is good.

What are some good routes for beginners preferably (with solid fishing and maybe hiking too)? We are planning on a 3-4 day trip. Not really sure how much to pack.

What are some things that would maybe forgotten and some unnecessary things?

Best food options?

Some clarification - the simplified process with the permit is to obtain one online with the desired launch point and then pick it up from the issuing station on the way up? Do most launch points have lots to leave the car for the duration of the trip?

Apologies for the question dump... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Joseph-

"Apologies for the question dump... Any help would be greatly appreciated."

No problem, but . . . there are lots of answers to the questions you asked and lots of questions you didn't, and information you didn't provide :). Email me if you'd like some detailed information I've sent to family and friends.

One, there's a Planning section at the top you can read which will help a lot. You should become familiar with the regulations because they may impact what you take and how you do things.

Two, it's not long until your planned trip and since permits are specific to the date and entry point, and are limited, many options may not be available for your entry date. There's no use in talking about routes from EP's (Entry Points) that aren't available for your entry date, so that information would be useful. A 3-4 day trip is not long so that limits route options. You may be best served by a simple out-and-back route with limited portaging. Yes, there are parking lots at the EP's. You can explore available permits here

I usually go at the other end of the season, but it may get colder than you expect then. Another thing would be that the water may still be somewhat cold even though ice-out looks early this year. Colder water increases the concern about hypothermia so read up to be informed.

If you are using an outfitter you can pick up the permit there if you select them when you make a reservation. On the other hand, you may find it useful to have an outfitter help you with the permit, route, and any gear you need to rent. There's an outfitter tab at the top with information and website links. You'll find route suggestions and packing lists at their sites.

What to pack and food options vary from person to person. A lot of first-timers pack too much stuff and the wrong stuff. I usually look up the historical weather averages and record high and low. Prepare for the low with clothing, sleep pad/bag, tent.

Provide as much information as you can and ask any questions you have.

Your outfitter will be a tremendous resource. Don't leave home without one... outfitter, that is.

For my first few trips I used this checklist and it covered the basics well enough. You don't need every item on the list but it is a good idea to at least understand what everything is and why it is on the checklist so that if you choose to not take that item, it is an informed decision and not just forgetting it.

For meals, you don't want to plan on keeping anything cold past 24 hours. Depending on the weather, time of year, how you pack it, how much, and how cool you keep the food pack, usually frozen items will be good for at least a day, maybe a day and a half depending on what it is. I feel pretty safe bringing steaks for the first night and maybe sausage or bacon for the first breakfast. Other than that, everything else should be shelf stable and light weight. Catching fish is NOT guaranteed. We like to plan meals that can go with fish but are filling enough to go without.

One simple option is spaghetti noodles with garlic salt, packets of parmesan cheese, and butter. Salted butter is shelf stable but unsalted is not. If you plan a recipe that requires milk, premeasure powdered milk and write down how much water is needed. Sharpies and zip-lock bags are your friend here. You can go with premade freeze dried meals as well. Those can be costly, but so is buying a bunch of ingredients that you are only going to use a little bit of. Just make sure you plan on 1 full backup day's worth of food in case the weather makes travel ill advised.

A couple other pieces of advice. Don't bring cotton clothes, except for bed clothes. Cotton doesn't dry out once it gets wet without significant effort. A sleeping pad that insulates you from the ground is more important than a warm sleeping bag. Learn about Leave No Trace and follow the rules, you don't want to be "that guy" that leaves a mess for someone else. Leave the hatchet at home unless every person on the trip fully understands that there is no situation where swinging a hatchet is a good idea. The only thing you might use safely is a wedge that you push through a log by hitting it with another log. Lastly, thrift stores and buying used is a great way to get started with gear without renting. You don't have to start out with the lightest or best gear available, just start with what you can afford and then upgrade a little at a time when you can afford it and are sure you will be going again. Some people like working with and renting from outfitters, but there is no reason you have to spend the extra money.

Boonie's response is point on.
Permit availability is a first thing to check. Maps show campsites, portages, hiking trails and much more. Find the EP that best fits your plans then lock in your permit and start to zero in on the details. I like to read trip reports and look at photos and camp comments on the maps.
Keep asking questions, we love to help and will want you and your group to enjoy the planning process. One warning. You will likely want to come back and it can become addictive.

I like the Robert Beymer books about the BWCA, one for the western half and one for the eastern half. They have nice clear directions for driving to the entry points. Yes, each entry point has space to park your car and leave it for the duration of the trip. Those books also give route options for each entry.

Find out what is available for permits for your desired entry date and secure it. Then pop back on here and we can help you plan how far and where to go from that point. Lots of great fishing available in May.

The water will be COLD. Be prepared! No one plans to flip over, but it happens. Wear your PFD at all times in the boat. Carry a "ditch kit" in your PFD pocket with fire starting materials and a mylar blanket in case you get separated from your canoe/gear. Be willing to sit on shore on days with big wind and waves, even if it means you will be late getting out. People have lost their lives trying to stay with their swamped canoe in the cold spring water. And as others have said, no cotton , especially that time of year.