Since including detailed maps is out of the scope of this book, we strongly suggest that you acquire the appropriate water-resistant topographic maps published by the W. A. Fisher Company. Thirty-two “F-series” maps combine to cover all of the BWCAW and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park. The scale is 1.5 inches to 1 mile, and there is sufficient overlap to provide foolproof transitions from map to map. Designated USFS campsites are identified by red dots on the maps, which are updated annually. A disclaimer on each map reads, “This map is not intended for navigational use, and is not represented to be correct in every respect.” Nevertheless, these maps are published specifically for canoeists and are remarkably accurate and detailed.
The discussion of each route outlined in this book indicates which maps are needed. Maps can be ordered from:
W. A. Fisher Company
P.O. Box 1107
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9544
McKenzie Maps, which are also topographic (scale 2 inches to 1 mile), offer an alternative. They also provide excellent detail and use similar red dots to identify campsite locations. Some routes described in this book require as many as three Fisher maps but only one McKenzie Map (and vice versa). When such is the case, it is pointed out in the introduction to the route. You can order McKenzie Maps from:
McKenzie Maps
8479 Frye Road
Minong, WI 54859
(800) 749-2113
You can purchase both of these map series from outfitters, outdoor specialty stores throughout the Midwest, and from the companies’ websites.
Choosing a Wilderness Route
Any group entering the BWCAW must have in its possession a travel permit, which shows that they have been granted permission to enter through one of the 71 designated entry points. Thirty-six of those entry points are located in the western half of the Boundary Waters. Of those, 27 are canoeing entry points described in this book: