It's kind of a hassle to get there, but Ladyboot Bay on Lac La Croix requires NO portages.  You get there by driving to Crane Lake, then taking a powerboat "tow" (I've worked with Zups Outfitters out of Crane Lake) to Lac La Croix.  The outfitters stop and unload in Lac La Croix on a wee spit of rock, just off the mouth of Ladyboot Bay, which is just inside the BWCA.  You have a short paddle from the drop off point into the Bay..maybe a quarter mile.  You will find that others in Ladyboot Bay bring in lots of gear, on account there is no portaging...  I heard some outfitters even arrange to meet campers in Ladyboot Bay during mid-stay back out on this tiny island to re-supply them!   Ladyboot Bay is a beautiful bay and has pretty good fishing.

I don't know if this will meet your needs, but if you call Mark at Zups he'll be able to tell you. 

One potential problem....better check party size limit...not sure if it's 8 or 9, and I'd also check the canoe limit. 

Good luck! 

Another thought: contact Wilderness Inquiry in Minneapolis.  They are a non-profit dedicated to giving people with disabilities outdoor experiences.  They might have other ideas.  They are a very good outfit. 

prouboy

Depending on your crew's ability to portage, you may be able to make a few portages, especially the well-worn, flatter ones.  I've had guide friends take similar groups up to Knife Lake and Ottertrack along the border, if you can manage a few shorter portages.  There's lots of paddling that can be done with only 1 day of portaging.  A wheelchair may not be easy, but I know they can be done, especially if you have a couple people assisting him in the tough spots.

However, if that's not your cup of tea, I'd say Basswood will be your best bet.

Sawbill might be a good place to go in.  TOf coarse you cna stay on Sawbill which is a beautiful lake or there is a portage into Alton that is short and I think would be accesible.

Per (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

"Portage wheels or mechanical assistance are only permitted over the following areas: International Boundary, Four-Mile Portage, Fall-Newton-Pipestone and Back Bay Portages into Basswood Lake, Prairie Portage, and Vermillion-Trout Lake Portage."

Agree with Mad_Matt that you should check with the Forest Service.  ADA has provisions, but doesn't necessarily superceed the FS regulations, as legally it appears to be a grey area.  Don't know the rangers out there this year, but past experience has shown them to be extremely reasonable.  IF you ran across them, I doubt they would even begin to take issue with you.  The above regulation more aptly pertains to use of a wheel for transportation of canoes & other gear, not persons with disabilities.  Obviously, no motorized scooters or wheelchairs are allowed.  I like the game carrier idea, or a fold-up wheelchair.  Just don't use the wheels for transportation of ANYTHING else, however tempting it may be, and be sure you stick to existing trails.  Practice leave no trace.

  I figured the game cart would be illegal for it's intended purpose, but if the rangers are reasonable at all, and permission is granted before hand, it would at least be worth the effort, if you like the idea.
When they allow wheelchairs, they must know there is an opportunity for abuse IF the parties are so inclined.
Never hurts too ask.

I can't help you with any ideas of my own, but I give credit to you and your group for looking for ways to take your fiancee' into the BW in spite of his wheelchair.  You're a special lady.

If he needs any assistance sitting in the canoe, there are adaptive seats being made by Kevin Carr at Chosen Valley Canoe Assessories.  Here's the website:  

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Give him a call to see if the seat might work in your fiancee's situation.

For any who may have wondered where we went, we ended up at Kawishiwi Lake. Just got back yesterday. It worked out well for us. I did call Wilderness Inquiry, they said most of their trips are on the number lakes out of Ely.  A few of us are going up to Lake in a couple weeks to check it out for a possible trip next year.
Thanks again to all for input and suggestions.

Hello TT, looks like I just missed giving advice but I'm glad you had a great time. I actually posed the same question over on the bwca.com forums earlier this summer. Some friends and I successfully took a disabled friend of ours on his first BWCA trip at the end of June. We ended up going Fall Lake to Basswood as others here have suggested. The portages are virtual gravel roads. The only downside is, of course, that it's motorized. How was Kawishiwi for accessibility?

Other routes recommended to us included the Numbered Lakes (an obvious lack of portages) and the Sawbill-Alton route over the old railroad line portage. I've personally not been to the numbered lakes so TT I'd be interested to hear about your thoughts on that, too. We're all already looking forward to our next trip.

Also, I want to second Jackfish. The trip was entirely made possible by Kevin Carr who generously let us use one of his adaptive paddling canoe seats. If anyone's interested, he has a site specifically set up for adaptive paddling seats he makes (by hand): (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links). Thanks Kevin!