Boundary Waters Canoe Area: The Western Region

Now in a thoroughly updated and revised sixth edition, Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region continues to be the definitive guide for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to enjoy a land of beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Veteran travel writer and outdoorsman Robert Beymer provides details on 27 entry points in the western part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and includes important information on the length of time needed to complete each trip, distances and difficulty of each trip, number of lakes, rivers and portages encountered; and the maps required. Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region is enhanced with a four-color pullout map and is a "must" for canoeists, anglers, vacationers, and hunters seeking to enjoy what this unique and remarkable country have to offer.

This is a great book to start your plans for a trip into the Boundary Waters. There are suggested routes for every entry point in the western region and whether you use the suggested route or not it's a great place to start!

I have canoe camped in the BWCA since 1971 and have found previous editions of this guide essential for my trip planning. This well-written, newly-revised edition is even better. It contains the latest information on obtaining a permit for entry into the area as well as general information regarding the destructive storm that swept through the BWCA on July 4, 1999. The 2000 edition is slightly larger in size and with bigger print is easier to read. It is also about 70 pages longer than the previous book. The author has changed the format of the route numbers to better correspond to the entry points, making it easier to relate the two. There are updated photos throughout the book and some route recommendations have been changed. This edition is full of information to make your trip planning into the western region of the BWCA easy. It allows you to choose routes based on your physical ability (easy to rugged), fishing desires (it lists type of fish in 185 western region lakes), scenery (waterfalls, pictographs), time constraints (suggested routes for over 50 2-8 day trips), etc. It tells you how to reach each entry point and one of my favorite statistics, the popularity rank of each entry point (I like to find solitude as quickly as possible). This is trip planning guide, and does not provide detailed camping "how to" information, although the author refers you to reliable books on this subject. I recommend it and am planning to purchase the revised eastern region edition as soon as it is available.

I'ts hard to imagine going on a trip to the BWCAW without the appropriate Robert Beymer book. I refer to his books constantly when planning a trip, at the campsite, and even on the water; it never leaves my fanny pack except to be read. His information is clear and accurate (some of the rules have since changed). I even think his prose is pretty good. Highly recommended!

I have frequently recommended this book for anyone who is considering a trip in this region. His descriptions of the diverse routes are clear, accurate (we've made many of the trips ourselves), and very helpful in getting a sense of the region. In addition, he includes basic information (climate, map needs, entry points, etc.) that make this an invaluable source of information