Hiking or canoeing? Good question. My real destination is the Adirodacks in upstate N.Y., where I plan to spend a few days paddling, portaging, and camping in the canoe wilderness area near Mt.St.Regis. Then backpacking for a few days in the High Peaks area, including Mt.Marcy.
But Minnesota is sort of on the way from Oregon to N.Y., and the Boundary Waters Area sounds terrific. Mainly thinking of paddling, but haven't decided whether to bring my canoe all the way by car, or take the train and rent a car and canoe in N.Y. (in which case I'd have the same problem in Minnesota)