The True North Field Guide

Pictograph cliffs rising from Lac La Croix on the BWCA–Quetico border

BWCA vs. Quetico: Which Should You Paddle?

Both the BWCA and Quetico offer world-class wilderness paddling — but they're very different experiences. Here's how to decide which one is right for your next trip.

BWCA vs. Quetico: Which Should You Paddle?

Both the BWCA and Quetico offer world-class wilderness paddling — but they're very different experiences. Here's how to decide which one is right for your next trip.

Calm Boundary Waters lake at sunset with clouds reflected in the water

Basswood Lake BWCA: Routes, Entry Points & What...

Basswood Lake is one of the largest and most iconic lakes in the Boundary Waters — a border lake with excellent fishing, historic Basswood Falls, and access from multiple entry...

Basswood Lake BWCA: Routes, Entry Points & What...

Basswood Lake is one of the largest and most iconic lakes in the Boundary Waters — a border lake with excellent fishing, historic Basswood Falls, and access from multiple entry...

Paddler carrying a canoe over a rocky portage in the Boundary Waters

How to Plan Your First BWCA Trip: Permits, Rout...

Everything you need to know to plan a Boundary Waters canoe trip from scratch — permits, gear, choosing a route, and the mistakes first-timers usually make.

How to Plan Your First BWCA Trip: Permits, Rout...

Everything you need to know to plan a Boundary Waters canoe trip from scratch — permits, gear, choosing a route, and the mistakes first-timers usually make.

True North Map Co. Great Smoky Mountains cloth map on the forest floor

Great Smoky Mountains Fall Color: Best Trails f...

Fall is the most popular — and most spectacular — time to visit Great Smoky Mountains. Here's when peak color hits, which trails offer the best foliage, and how to...

Great Smoky Mountains Fall Color: Best Trails f...

Fall is the most popular — and most spectacular — time to visit Great Smoky Mountains. Here's when peak color hits, which trails offer the best foliage, and how to...

Knife Lake BWCA: Paddling to Dorothy Molter's Home

Knife Lake BWCA: Paddling to Dorothy Molter's Home

Knife Lake is one of the most iconic destinations in the BWCA — eight miles long, crystal clear, and home to the legendary Dorothy Molter, the last year-round resident of...

Knife Lake BWCA: Paddling to Dorothy Molter's Home

Knife Lake is one of the most iconic destinations in the BWCA — eight miles long, crystal clear, and home to the legendary Dorothy Molter, the last year-round resident of...

Best BWCA Canoe Routes by Skill Level

Best BWCA Canoe Routes by Skill Level

Whether it's your first canoe trip or your fortieth, the Boundary Waters has a route for you. Here are our favorite BWCA routes organized by skill level — with maps...

Best BWCA Canoe Routes by Skill Level

Whether it's your first canoe trip or your fortieth, the Boundary Waters has a route for you. Here are our favorite BWCA routes organized by skill level — with maps...