I am curious if anyone here has been up to the two campsites on the far northwest end of the lake. I have been on this lake numerous times and have never checked them out. Anyone have pictures? We hammock camp and will have four of us so I am curious for our first night if they are worth it?

It is my sons first year so we are taking an easy trip and plan on shooting up to Heritage Lake, but the first day we drive up (7 hours) and then enter.

Don't know when you're going but we ended up at the site 39, around noon or one in an early July trip some years ago, because it was only one open. In June- August, you may not be able to choose.

BTW 39 is shown as 2 stars but while a little rough, it was not that bad, and had pads and certainly hammock spaces further inland. IIRC landing was poor and fire ring not special, but at least we had a site for last night (entered at EP 25).

We paddled through the area, so I don't have any concrete information. I know the FIRST site on Shell from the Pauness/Shell portage looked amazing for hanging.

Some 10 years ago, entered Pauness around 7:30 PM in early August. Considered ourselves lucky to obtain the high, rocky site. Not that bad and it is private.

I can’t comment on these two sites, but I have stayed on Site 43 on Lower Pauness. It’s the highest rated site on Upper and Lower Pauness, and I myself would give it three or four stars. It’s roomy, has a nice view of the lake, and offers some shelter back in the trees. I recall that there are good hanging opportunities, which should interest you.

I thought you might like to know, in case your other choices don’t work out.

Thank you everyone for you help. I am excited to hit the trail Sept 10th. We'll see what is available. My 10 year old son is stoked to see what daddy has been doing for the last 20 years. I hope he likes it as much as I do.

If you are going to go all the way up to heritage you want the north site there. We just got back from a loon lake heritage trip.

We stayed on the north site fit three tents there, good trees for hanging food and or tarps. OK kitchen area.

I found a moose skeleton the skull and hips were left by the fire grate.

If you can make it up to loon lake the first day there are much better sites then on upper pauness. MUCH better fishing as well.

Enjoy your trip.

I didn't look at those two sites, but I stayed at site 38 last year, which is the one on the point just to the SE of them. That had a nice area w/trees for the hammock, and hanging out my stuff because I was still learning how to sit in a solo canoe. (Lesson learned after that day.)

quote nelsonone: "Thank you everyone for you help. I am excited to hit the trail Sept 10th. We'll see what is available. My 10 year old son is stoked to see what daddy has been doing for the last 20 years. I hope he likes it as much as I do."

I haven't been to that area so I can't help with that but wanted to wish you well on your trip. IMO there's nothing better than sharing the bwca w/ your kids. My 11 yo daughter and I just got back from her 4th trip.

Have Fun and cherish every moment!!!!!

I was going to point out the ANT mounds on site 37, but looks like the comments on the map already say that. We didn't stay there due to said ant mounds, so can't personally vouch for how annoying (if at all) the ants are.

Stayed at 38 once, and the tent pad and latrine trail were under water (yes, I know it's a "high" site up on rocks). Turns out there is a tent pad down lower in pine duff (accessible from west side of that point) that was actually drier than the one up on the rock. Rock face made for good beaver-watching.