With thousands of lakes and streams, over 1200 miles of canoe routes, 160 miles of portage trails, and 2000 campsites, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a true paddler’s paradise. Extending nearly 150 miles in northern Minnesota along the Canadian border, the wilderness area encompasses more than 1 million acres. This Eastern Region edition of the classic two-volume guide has been fully updated by area journalist Louis Dzierzak, with full coverage of 50-plus entry points and routes. Trip descriptions include day-by-day paddling distances, portage tips, and difficulty ratings, and identify the appropriate water-resistant, topographic maps W.A. Fisher maps for each trip. Together, these books deliver everything a visitor needs for the experience of a lifetime. Robert Beymer has been a frequent visitor to the Boundary Waters Cano Area Wilderness for the past 40 years, and was a canoe trip guide for seven summers at a private camp near Ely. He and his wife, Cheryl, have lived on the edge of the wilderness since 1984. Their home serves as a convenient starting point for day trips by canoe, as well as on foot, snowshoes, and cross-country skis. In addition to his two volume guide to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Bob has written three other books about the Quetico-Superior region of northeastern Minnesota and Ontario. His articles have appeared in numerous outdoor magazines, including Boundary Waters Journal, Silent Sports Magazine, Camping Journal, and Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. When the muse screaming in his ear was too loud to ignore, Louis Dzierzak walked away from a successful advertising career to become a full-time freelance writer. He’s written about issues and trends in outdoor recreation for over a decade. Lou firmly believes that paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the best way to recover from constant publishing deadlines. Route 36-1: The Perent River Route 3 Days, 15 Miles, 3 Lakes, 1 Creek, 1 River, 15 Portages Difficulty: Easier Fisher Maps: F-4, F-5 Introduction: This fascinating route takes you along the south perimeter of the BWCAW from Hog Creek to Isabella Lake. From the parking lot at FR 354, you’ll first meander 3 miles down Hog Creek to Perent Lake. After you paddle 3 more miles across that big lake, the Perent River will carry you west from Perent Lake to Isabella Lake. There you will exit the Boundary Waters and end your excursion at a parking lot just south of the lake, 32 miles by road from your origin (via CR 7 and forest routes 369, 373, and 377). Spread over three full days, this route is quite easy, even though you’ll encounter 15 portages along the way. The longest carry is only 61 rods; most are less than 30 rods. All combined, the trails total less than 1.5 miles―an average of just 28 rods per carry. Strong trippers could complete the route in just two days. Because of the scarcity of campsites on the Perent River, however, to paddle the route in just two days would require one long day covering 10 miles of travel by combining either days 1 and 2 or days 2 and 3 described below. Either way, you would cross most of the portages on just one of the two days. If you take three days, you can travel slowly enough to savor the experience. Although this route may not appeal to dedicated anglers, there is some good fishing along the way. Perent and Isabella lakes are both known for their abundant populations of walleyes and northern pike. That’s probably why most anglers are satisfied to stay on those two lakes and not explore the fascinating river in between. Motorboats are not permitted anywhere along this route. Day 1 (5 miles): P. 15 rods, Hog Creek, p. 15 rods, creek, Perent Lake. Hog Creek is barely wide enough in places to carry a canoe, but there is always sufficient depth. You may feel as if you are on an African safari as you wind your way through the dense vegetation that borders the creek. In addition to the two 15-rod portages near the road, small beaver dams may also occasionally require quick lift-overs. This area is noted for some unique bird sightings. The only record of a nesting Wilson’s Warbler in the state was made here. Other unique species include the Rusty Blackbird and the Virginia Rail, both of which were found nesting near Hog Creek. At least one pair of bald eagles has also nested in the Perent Lake area. Perent Lake was named after a trapper who worked this area in the early part of the 20th century. Beavers, muskrats, wolves, and other furbearing animals trapped by Perent are still common in this region. Moose are also abundant, though not as commonly seen today as they were some years ago, when the adjacent area had been recently logged off. Grab a good campsite along the center stretch of Perent Lake for a 5-mile day of travel. There are many good campsites on the lake from which to choose. Then grease your frying pan and cast a line. Perent Lake is a good source of walleyes and large northern pike. Day 2 (5 miles): Peren