BWCA Family Guide 2025: Kid-Friendly Routes, Permits, and Packing Tips

Everything changes when you have kids. Things you did in your 20s without a second thought now get complicated. Remote wilderness trips add a new layer of planning.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. The BWCA with kids can be fun and create memories that last.

What is the BWCA? The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a protected wilderness of forests, lakes, and streams along the northern Minnesota border. Across the line in Canada, it’s called Quetico.

On each lake, you’ll find designated campsites and portages between lakes. People travel from all over for epic canoe trips. You may not see as many families, but you can absolutely have a great time with kids up there.

When to Take Your Kids to the BWCA

Taking my kids to the BWCA was always a dream. The wilderness is amazing.

I counted down until they could handle a real Boundary Waters trip. For us, that was when my youngest turned 6.

Here are a few criteria that help kids have an enjoyable time in the BWCA.

Able to hike short distances

To get between lakes, you’ll portage your gear and canoe. Portages are measured in rods. One rod is 16 feet, about a canoe length. They range from 5 to 350 rods.

Most average 100 to 150 rods. Trails are well traveled, with roots, rocks, and the occasional downed tree.

If your kids still need to be carried, wait a bit longer. Otherwise one adult ends up hauling most of the gear.

OK being independent for short moments

They don’t need to be alone long. Just enough so when you’re shouldering a canoe, they can walk the trail safely.

Sometimes you’ll double back for a second load. You want them to wait at the end of the portage without worry.

Other helpful factors

Kids who can carry a small pack or paddles make things easier. I’ve seen families bring infants and toddlers. It’s possible, but it raises the difficulty.

Pre-Trip Activities for the BWCA with Kids

Let them help plan the trip

What type of trip do they want?

Pick between base camping at one site and exploring by day, or traveling to new campsites each night. Both are fun with kids.

Route planning

There are many canoe routes. Review a map together and let kids help pick. With many entry points, you have options.

My kids wanted more paddling and skipped the waterfall route. We entered Saganaga Lake early, camped, then traveled south to Alpine Lake for a night.

Then we continued south through Seagull Lake for the final night. It included three short portages of about 15, 100, and 150 rods.

Motorized boat traffic

Some entry lakes, like parts of Seagull and Saganaga, allow limited motor use. The Forest Service sets motor routes, speed limits, group size limits (max 9 people and 4 watercraft), and a daily cap on motor permits.

Wakes can make canoeing harder for kids and add noise. These lakes may also see higher use near entry points.

If you want quieter water and fewer wakes, plan routes that go a lake or two past motor zones, or choose non-motor entry points.

Meal prep

Have kids help make meals at home. They’ll know what’s in the food and can tweak it. Bag-by-meal packing keeps camp simple.

Mental preparation

Watch BWCA trip videos together so kids know what to expect. Also watch the Forest Service permit videos on rules and Leave No Trace.

The biggest surprise for my kids was the latrine. Each campsite has a simple pit toilet down a trail.

It can feel spooky for kids. Younger ones may want a grown-up nearby.

Pack light

In the BWCA, you need less than you think. Overpacking makes portages tough.

Each person needs two clothing sets, a dry set and a wet set, both quick-dry. One extra pair of shoes, sleeping bag and pad, tent or hammock, and a rain jacket.

You’ll also need food, a water filter, toilet paper, a small trowel, stove, fuel, matches or lighter, and a camp towel.

With kids, we let each bring one small stuffed animal. It doubled as a pillow.

Teach kids to stuff their sleeping bags and pack their clothing. Treat clothing with permethrin ahead of time to reduce bug bites in peak season.

We wanted as few bags as possible. Sleeping bags fill most of a Duluth pack, so we made DIY ultralight sleeping bags to cut weight and bulk.

I also made a few quick compression sacks for the bags.

We brought hammocks for camp lounging. Total win.

We packed one Duluth pack, one Kevlar canoe, and two small day packs with food and grab-and-go items.

Our outfitter was shocked how little we had for four people. Meanwhile, another pair carried one Duluth pack each.

Good hammock straps make a big difference. We like this set on Amazon. They’ve held up well for years. Check current price.

How did it work?

The plan was for each kid to carry a small pack and paddles. On the second portage, the weight was too much.

My 6-year-old’s backpack was adult-sized and kept slipping. We swapped loads. My older child took over that pack, and I grabbed hers on the second trip.

It worked. They rose to the challenge. I couldn’t be prouder.

In the BWCA with Kids

Stay the first night at an outfitter

The BWCA has excellent outfitters near most entry points. If you’re driving more than four hours, consider a bunkhouse your first night.

Kids get to stretch and reset. We stayed at Seagull Outfitters in a bunkhouse.

We packed that evening and launched at first light while the water was glassy.

Outfitters can place your rental canoe in the water and help with gear checks. Full and partial outfitting options are common.

Cooking

Cook on a camp stove or in the fire grate. You cannot bring your own firewood; collect only downed, dead wood away from camp. Follow current fire restrictions and burn bans if in effect.

The kids loved exploring and gained confidence. They were too small to manage fire, but helped gather water and filter it.

Many people fish the clear lakes. We skipped fishing to keep camp chores simple.

Teach them to navigate

On smaller lakes, hand your kid the map and let them guide you to the next portage.

I learned navigation in the BWCA, and I taught my daughter there too. She guided us to portages by matching landmarks and bays.

With light supervision, kids pick it up fast.

Teamwork

Before each portage, review roles. What will each child carry? Even paddles help.

One kid carried the food bag and a paddle. The other carried the second paddle and a small pack. They walked together, dropped gear, then doubled back.

They learned teamwork fast. If a bag was heavy, they shared the load. It became a puzzle they solved together.

Things don’t always go as planned

Weather shifts. Campsites fill. Stuff happens. Roll with it. Our three-day plan stretched to four and almost shrank to two.

Day two was sunny, so we pushed to Seagull Lake for an extra day.

We reached Seagull at 2:30 p.m. and checked site after site. A kind group offered to share, but the BWCA max is 9 people per site and four watercraft, so we declined.

At the last site on the north side we were wiped and considered heading back to the outfitter.

A small navigation error took us along Three Mile Island where we found open sites. We woke to a thunderstorm in the distance the next morning and packed up. No need to sit in the rain all day.

What would I do differently?

We had an amazing Boundary Waters trip with the kids. Next time, I’d plan to go a lake or two deeper, even with kids.

Gunflint Trail entries are popular now, and adjacent lakes can fill fast in peak season.

Plan to reach camp before lunch to improve your chances of finding an open site. In late August, bugs are usually light. Earlier in summer, bring head nets and treat clothing to stay comfortable.

If you love paddling stories, check out Hudson Bay Bound and This Tender Land. Both will inspire your next trip.

Also, make time for Grand Marais on the North Shore. It’s a great weekend town with good food, art, and trails.