Wilderness experiences, the goal of visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, are not just limited to the wilderness area itself. "What we're trying to do is emphasize that people put in at the area we call the "outback," said Audie Austreng, a permit issuing agent at the United States Forest Service office at the International Wolf Center in Ely. "That area, south of the BWCAW is just as scenic."

Among the potential camping sites outside the Boundary Waters are the South Kawishiwi River, Birch Lake, Fall Lake, Fenske Lake and Big Lake. "There are quite a few options if people don't have to be locked in to going to the Boundary Waters," Austreng said.

Austreng said this summer's quota of overnight camping permits for the Boundary Waters has been filled. However, no permits are needed for day trips by canoe into the wilderness area.

"In a day, you can access quite a bit of BWCA territory," Austreng said. "We can suggest a number of unique experiences, for example the South Hegman Lake pictographs. This is a tremendously interesting area and there are so many things to do."

People still seeking to take overnight trips in the Boundary Waters, who have not reserved permits, may still be able to do so by taking advantage of cancellations by permit holders, Austreng said.

"Unused reservations are called in Saturday and put back in the next week's quota," Austreng said. "People who want BWCA permits should call in early in the week to see if anything is available."

• Birch Lake- 10 miles south of Ely. 20 mile trip. 4 accesses, no portages. 16 campsites. Good walleye and northern fishing.
• Bass-Dry-High Lakes- 7 miles north of Ely. 3 mile trip. 1 access, 4 portages varying from 500 feet to 1/2 mile. 6 camp sites. Good trout fishing, fair walleye and northern fishing.
• Fenske-Sletton-Tee-Grassy-Low-Bass- 12 miles north of Ely. 20 mile trip. 4 accesses, 7 portages varying from 100 feet to 1/2 mile. 7 camp sites. Good walleye, bass, northern, and crappie fishing.
• Burntside-Dead River-Twin Lakes-Everett- 6 miles north of Ely. 11 mile trip. 4 accesses, 1 portage varying from 200 feet to 1/2 mile. 11 camp sites. Fair northern and walleye fishing.
• Hunting Shack River (Pauline-Nigh-Astrid-Maude Lakes)- 45 miles northeast of Cook. 4 mile trip. 2 accesses, 3 portages. 6 camp sites. Fair northern and walleye fishing.
• Vermilion River- River flow from Lake Vermilion to Crane Lake passing about 15 miles east of Orr. 39 mile trip. 7 accesses, 11 portages. 8 camp sites. Good northern and walleye fishing.
• Johnson Lake Area- 41 miles northeast of Cook. 6 mile trip. 1 access, 1 portage. 7 camp sites. Fair northern and walleye fishing.