Initial trip planning - this is probably the toughest part of the whole trip. Make a pot of coffee, gather together and begin taking notes. Whether you are planning your own trip, or working with an outfitter, having the following information handy will make everything come together much more easily.
Does the group want to travel?
There are three different types of trips that can be taken.
The first is a basecamp trip. The group travels in a short distance and sets up one camp for the entire trip. The group back tracks out on the last day. Some areas offer no portaging and minimal canoeing to get to a desirable campsite. This is a popular option for fisherman or families with small children. Keep in mind, however, that the group will see the highest number of people on this type of trip. Everyone must enter and exit through the same points, and basecamps are always close to or in the direct path of these areas. Any length of time will work well for a basecamp trip.
The second style of trip is a leisurely travel. This combines travel and layover days. Move every other day, or everyday with a planned layover day or two in the middle of the trip. This is a nice option if the group has a combination of fisherman and those wishing to travel. A leisurely travel trip does move away from some of the more populated areas, but the group will still encounter other travelers. Three to seven days work well for a leisurely travel trip.
A traveling trip is the third style of canoe trip. This is for the visitors who want to cover ground and see new areas each day. Remoteness and solitude can be found when traveling. Allow 5 or more days for a traveling trip.
Most novice canoeists will travel five to eight miles per day. Beginning canoeists will cover between eight to ten miles/day. Intermediate will cover ten to twelve miles, and expert canoeists will frequently canoe twelve to fourteen miles/day. A typical travel day is five to seven hours of combined paddling and portaging.
Does the group want to fish?
If not, the whole wilderness is yours to experience. If fishing is a factor...
Walleye, northern, smallmouth and lake trout exist throughout both wilderness areas in various configurations. Some areas do not contain smallmouth, but are excellent for walleye and northern. Other areas are predominately northern and smallmouth. It's important to know what type of fish the group would like to catch, so that the appropriate lakes can be selected.
Does the group want to see wildlife?
Moose love back water and marshy areas, eagles tend to gravitate towards forests containing large pine trees, and deer love the new growth aspen and cedar areas. Each species does have certain areas where they live and forage. Choosing the right area doesn't a guarantee that a particular species will be seen, but the odds will be more in your favor.
Are there any special points of interest the group would like to visit?
Waterfalls, scenic vistas, indian pictographs & petroglyphs, interesting geological formations, hiking trails and sand beaches are scattered throughout the wilderness areas. Seeing all of these things may not be possible in one trip, but choose the most important things the group would like to see and start there.
Once the trip criteria has been determined, an area can be selected. Keep in mind that a main route can be set-up, but alternate options in shorter and longer versions should also be considered. Flexibility is a necessity. Weather, group members, fishing and many other possible scenarios can create the need to adjust the route once on the water.