I'm sure this has been a post before but the Dream Team thread got me thinking about my favorite sites.
Name the site on the specific lake or perhaps just your criteria you look for in a great site.
1. the southern island site on Cummings
2. the point across the lake from the entry on Angleworm
3. the point across from the island on West Pike

In no particular order.

1. Oyster peninsula site.

2. Wine island site.

3. Kekekabic site #1406

4. Winchell site #762


5. Ogishkemuncie site #785

TB

There is a particular site on Little Sag that I'm partial to, also one on Gillis.

The next one i stay at.

Love a shaded but open-ish site with level tent pad, slightly elevated. Good view. Good landing/harbor area with gradual slope for swimming. LOVE when there are lots of flat rocks around the kitchen area.

"thee" campsite on William (quetico)

i dont want to name my favorites but i do have a checklist...

easy canoe landing.
a clear area close to the landing to tie the canoe off at night.
practically level ground from the landing to the camping area.
good sitting logs around the fire area.
one flat tent pad...preferably on pine needles.

thats about it.

after every trip i seem to have a new favorite...
on insula, fall 2010

(1) No trash/bear sign
(2) Level, grassy tent pad
(3) Elevated with nice view
(4) Isolated from portages and travel routes

One of my favorite sites is on an island on Crooked Lake... Good fishing, good landing area, nice tent pad and nice kitchen area and fire pit. That's all the info I'll give... :)

Campsites that I like should have...in order of preference

-Level tent pads
-Easy landing area
-Plenty of trees for tarps and hammocks
-Roomy firegrate area with good seating and flat rocks
-Large campsite with lots of space to explore

Here are a couple that I liked....

Kawishiwi River



Lake Three

A few more.....

1. Dent lake

2. Kekekabic site #1422

3. Davis site #931



4. Gaskin site #628

TB



similar thread

T. Borealis, look at Bear Bait's pic on this thread...that is the sand beach campsite I was referring to on Insula. The left side of his pic is cut off, doesn't quite show the smallish rocky shoreline and point. To all you others, this is about TB's "name that lake" pic of a sand beach campsite on Tuscarora that I said looked a lot like this Insula site.

T.B., your Winchell Lake campsite is a beauty, but your pic is about 15 years old. The forest service used this site as a heliport to fight the Winchell Lake fire, and they cut all of the trees down on the front 70 ft or so. A lot less shade on the point now, but still very nice.

I'd like to add to the great campsite list, but I'm sure to forget some great ones, too.

Ima, island and site on portage to Alworth
LLC, several in Tiger Bay area
Iron Lake, island site
Fourtown, north end
Lake Three, several on islands

Gaskin site #628 (same one as T.B.)


Perent site #998


We like open space.

There are a couple of island sites I loved - one was on the south part of Lake Three



One was on the north part of Little Saganaga with this view:


I found one of the sites on Pan Lake to be very pleasant too..

I like clean sites with level tent pads away from the water and any trees that look like they could collapse on my tent. I usually like to have a good mix of sunny and shaded areas. A good view of the lake from the firegrate is priceless. I also like sites that have ample shoreline near deeper water for fishing from shore. I also tend to like sites on a point the most; I will usually target these sites before any others. They tend to have enough breeze to keep bugs away and are attached to mainland, which gives me more wood gathering opportunities and a safety net if bad weather strikes.

two come to mind, one was on Crooked & the other on Boulder.... the one on Boulder wasn't what it was the 1st time I stayed, the years closed it in & a tree fell in it.

quote HowardSprague: "There are a couple of island sites I loved - one was on the south part of Lake Three




One was on the north part of Little Saganaga with this view:



I found one of the sites on Pan Lake to be very pleasant too..
"

Beautiful Pictures!! I love how the pink and blue stands out so much.

quote HowardSprague: "There are a couple of island sites I loved - one was on the south part of Lake Three




One was on the north part of Little Saganaga with this view:



I found one of the sites on Pan Lake to be very pleasant too..
"

I liked the island site on Little Sag too. I stayed there in the pre blowdown, pre-fire days. Beautiful view.

quote Kevlar: "T. Borealis, look at Bear Bait's pic on this thread...that is the sand beach campsite I was referring to on Insula. The left side of his pic is cut off, doesn't quite show the smallish rocky shoreline and point. To all you others, this is about TB's "name that lake" pic of a sand beach campsite on Tuscarora that I said looked a lot like this Insula site.


T.B., your Winchell Lake campsite is a beauty, but your pic is about 15 years old. The forest service used this site as a heliport to fight the Winchell Lake fire, and they cut all of the trees down on the front 70 ft or so. A lot less shade on the point now, but still very nice.


I'd like to add to the great campsite list, but I'm sure to forget some great ones, too.


Ima, island and site on portage to Alworth
LLC, several in Tiger Bay area
Iron Lake, island site
Fourtown, north end
Lake Three, several on islands"

LOL! That was the first thing I mentioned to my wife when I seen that (Bear Baits') picture. I can see how someone could easily confuse them.

Actually that picture of the Winchell site was taken last fall. It doesn't show up on the photo, but you are right. The front portion is basically wide open. There are several small stumps remaining. Here's another view of the site. You can see a couple of the stumps.

TB

wisini all day, or jordan(thats where the bear said "hi")

east side of fourtown
penninsula site on the southern end of jordan(also had a bear say hi to us)
lower basswood falls
penninsula site on oyster
south end of lake three

#1 Site on the point just outside of the Boulder River on the point in LLC.
#2 First peninsula site on Oyster
#3 North end of Con island on Shell
#4 On Gebe I think it was the 2nd site on the bluff in Cedars
#5 Beach site 3/4 of the way up on East side of Alice in the pines with a beach.

Before the Turtle Lake fire the site on the hill on Pietro Lake. I heard the site is pretty rough now but I remember it and trees grow back

Coming up with one campsite that I can say is my favorite is very difficult. There are so many nice sites to choose from.

Weather plays such an important role. What was a great site to stay on when the weather was nice could present some dauting challenges in heavy winds or rains.

Likewise, group size plays an important role. Some sites are just not big enough to accomodate 3 to 4 tents for a large group but are wonderful sites to stay at when your group size is small.

Are you basecamping for several days or just stopping for the night? Are you camping in tents or using hammocks? Are you looking for as much solitude as the BWCA will offer or are you visiting a lake for the fishing?

So many things come into play when choosing a campsite. That is one of the biggest benefits of participating on this site. I doubt there are many, if any at all, who have visited every single site in the BWCA. A resource like this forum allows both novices and 'experts' to solicite ideas and advice from others.

I am always amazed when I read posts from people who will only answer questions like this with generalities and will not share their expeiences with a partcular lake, be it fishing or campsite, for fear that they will be divulging some secret and ruin their future trips. Aside from being just a tad selfish, it's really pretty silly if you think about it.

While the BWCA is huge and classified as a wilderness, we all know that none of us are visiting any established lake or campsite for the first time. All lakes, campsites and even fishing reports are all listed in numerous public sources. What you won't divulge here on this site, someone else, keeping more in the spirit of what this site is all about, will.

Back to the question at hand, our group usually focus's on fishing but we also value whatever solitude is available to us. We like island campsites, preferably islands with just one site. Last year we stayed on one such island at Lake Polly on our way to Malberg and back. We planned to stay just one night, but ended up staying there 3 nights because the fisghing was great, the weather was cooperating, and we were just having a great time.

My best advice is to determine the experience you or your group is looking for, buy a good BWCA map(s), and log onto this site and ask questions. There are plenty of good people who are more than willing to help you out.

@speople

I agree with most of what you had to say, but it doesn't really surprise me that some people do not feel like sharing certain information on the web. You are right that most information is already available elsewhere on the web or in a guide somewhere. The matter is finding that information. The more times it gets posted on the web, the more easy it will be to find that information on search engines or elsewhere. And frankly, the more times people visit an area, the more it degrades. Most people, especially members of this site, will use that information responsibly. But it only takes one irresponsible individual to ruin something for everyone. It only takes one person to lop down a tree and leave an unsightly stump sitting around camp, or to leave garbage behind or to leave a fire scar or to carve their name into the unique rock at the site or whatever, you get the idea.

Sharing is great, but maybe there is a responsible level of doing that as well. I didn't add any specific sites to this thread because most of the sites that I have enjoyed have been well used already. Some to the point that they are showing impact or are growing large. More traffic is not what those sites need, in my opinion. Just my point of view.

The North island site on Cherokee was a great site. There has been so many good sites that it is hard to choice. Only been one or two 'clunker' in all the years I have been there.

quote BearBrown: "@speople


I agree with most of what you had to say, but it doesn't really surprise me that some people do not feel like sharing certain information on the web. You are right that most information is already available elsewhere on the web or in a guide somewhere. The matter is finding that information. The more times it gets posted on the web, the more easy it will be to find that information on search engines or elsewhere. And frankly, the more times people visit an area, the more it degrades. Most people, especially members of this site, will use that information responsibly. But it only takes one irresponsible individual to ruin something for everyone. It only takes one person to lop down a tree and leave an unsightly stump sitting around camp, or to leave garbage behind or to leave a fire scar or to carve their name into the unique rock at the site or whatever, you get the idea.


Sharing is great, but maybe there is a responsible level of doing that as well. I didn't add any specific sites to this thread because most of the sites that I have enjoyed have been well used already. Some to the point that they are showing impact or are growing large. More traffic is not what those sites need, in my opinion. Just my point of view. "

Sadly many of your concerns like garbage left behind, or trees chopped down do happen from time to time. Thankfully in my experience it is very rare. Other than a pruned branch here and there I haven't seen more than a couple trees damaged in my 20 plus years tripping in the BWCA. On the rare occasion I encounter garbage left behind it gets packed out along with our trash.

With regard to your point about sites showing signs of impact or growing large....Again I. can only go back to my point that the BWCA is public ground and as such there are no secret sites known only to ourselves. Every site is known and used by multiple people over and over again, every year. All we can do is treat it with respect and educate as many as awe can, in forums such as this, on the benefits of leave no trace.

I still don't see how keeping silent about a particular site does any good. Now with fishing spots, bait and methods I can understand. Fish are a finite resource that can be depleted without practicing catch and release or just keeping a few for dinner.

Very well said. I have been to the BWCA 15 times with an average of 3 sites per trip. 45 is not many sites and I consider myself a veteran! The excitement of coming to a new lake and new sites is one of my favorite "rushes" and I am more than happy to share this with others. A great site can make sweet memories and wishing this fairly small fraternity of BWCA lovers the chance to have an even BETTER time is what I live for. You can't stop a**holes from ruining sites, but you CAN spead the good word to those that cherish this wonderful, amazing place...

Island site in far north McKenzie. Absolutely perfect all around.

My favorite site is just west of Clearwater Lake. The only thing it's missing is a sunset because it's on an east facing point.

quote nctry: "One of my favorite sites is on an island on Crooked Lake... Good fishing, good landing area, nice tent pad and nice kitchen area and fire pit. That's all the info I'll give... :)"

Think I know the one you mean. We hope to be back at this one the 1st week of June. Hope you're not already there.

Sadly many of your concerns like garbage left behind, or trees chopped down do happen from time to time. Thankfully in my experience it is very rare. Other than a pruned branch here and there I haven't seen more

I find that sooooo hard to believe. Really, at least 80% of the campsites in the BWCA have pretty good signs of cut vegetation if not more. Perhaps it's how you look at a site. The problem gets worse every year because new vegetation is not growing back at campsites.

I'm not a doomsdayer, but I too camp often in the BWCA and practice the ultimate in leave no trace. The quality in terms of human impact on campsites is substantially worse than 20 years ago and it's not getting better. I know my bitching about it won't help either. I only wish people would understand the cumulative effects of their actions.

Rant off

Tom

quote tumblehome: "

Sadly many of your concerns like garbage left behind, or trees chopped down do happen from time to time. Thankfully in my experience it is very rare. Other than a pruned branch here and there I haven't seen more

I find that sooooo hard to believe. Really, at least 80% of the campsites in the BWCA have pretty good signs of cut vegetation if not more. Perhaps it's how you look at a site. The problem gets worse every year because new vegetation is not growing back at campsites.


I'm not a doomsdayer, but I too camp often in the BWCA and practice the ultimate in leave no trace. The quality in terms of human impact on campsites is substantially worse than 20 years ago and it's not getting better. I know my bitching about it won't help either. I only wish people would understand the cumulative effects of their actions.


Rant off


Tom, just curious, have they ever closed a site and created new ones in the past 20+ years?


Tom


"

Tom-

Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?

quote tumblehome: "

Sadly many of your concerns like garbage left behind, or trees chopped down do happen from time to time. Thankfully in my experience it is very rare. Other than a pruned branch here and there I haven't seen more

I find that sooooo hard to believe. Really, at least 80% of the campsites in the BWCA have pretty good signs of cut vegetation if not more. Perhaps it's how you look at a site. The problem gets worse every year because new vegetation is not growing back at campsites.


I'm not a doomsdayer, but I too camp often in the BWCA and practice the ultimate in leave no trace. The quality in terms of human impact on campsites is substantially worse than 20 years ago and it's not getting better. I know my bitching about it won't help either. I only wish people would understand the cumulative effects of their actions.


Rant off


Tom


"

Not that I'm trying to imply that there are not those people out there who will (unknowingly?)"trash" a campsite. But, I have actually witnessed the Forest Service "cleaning" a couple different sites. Once on Moon lake & once on Horse lake. In both instances THEY cut/clipped a fair amount of brush & weeds all in the name of campsite improvement. Not that I'm suggesting or trying to justify anyone doing that. But, if the forest service themselves are doing it?????

quote Kevlar: T.B., your Winchell Lake campsite is a beauty, but your pic is about 15 years old. The forest service used this site as a heliport to fight the Winchell Lake fire, and they cut all of the trees down on the front 70 ft or so. A lot less shade on the point now, but still very nice.


"

I spent a few days at that Winchell campsite last summer. This is what the point looks like now if you're standing up toward the fire grate. The pines you see are probably 6'-10' feet now.

quote Kots: "Tom-


Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

They used to close campsites in the past, and it was my impression that they felt they would "heal" in time. But I think the current idea is that they might as well just let them stay open, as to open more just makes more places where the "wilderness" is changed by campers.

In other words, a campsite is a campsite, and it just isn't going to look like the deep forest anymore. We should try not to make it more barren than it already is, but to close it off when it gets overused and open a new one will harm the land more.

At least, that was what I was told. Since I don't remember who told me that, it could be totally erroneous. In other words, with that information and $5, you might be able to go to Starbucks and get yourself a nice latte. LOL!

quote Kots: "Tom-


Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

Good question. I sent The USFS in Duluth this question and am awaiting a reply.

Tom

quote Kots: "Tom-


Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

I believe there was a site on Ogishkemuncie just west past the narrows site that was closed a handful of years ago. (I have an old MacKenzie map showing one there.) There are some larger trees that have been placed in front of it down by the lakeshore to dissuade people from landing there.

With all of the fires the last half dozen years. I know of several sites that have been temporarily closed. Though I can't say for certain if any have been permanently abandoned.

There are also several sites located within PMA's that have been abandoned. They still get occasional use. But, the firegrates & latrines have been removed. You also need special permission to use them.

quote Kots: "Tom-


Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

This is why it's fun to keep old maps.

I know of a few campsites that have been closed in the last few years. one site on bald eagle lake that I really liked was closed baecause of erosion. I also know of portages that I used in the past that are no longer maintained. they are getting hard to find.

quote tumblehome: "

quote Kots: "Tom-



Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

Good question. I sent The USFS in Duluth this question and am awaiting a reply.


Tom"

I've seen serval sites closed and Lynnn (Voyageur North) just posted a message that mentioned a new campsite or two.

My favorite weekend spot. Less than and hour from the truck and on a little used route. Great weekend paddle.

Sorry, double post

quote 1stSatInMay: "

quote tumblehome: "

quote Kots: "Tom-



Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

Good question. I sent The USFS in Duluth this question and am awaiting a reply.



Tom"

I've seen serval sites closed and Lynnn (Voyageur North) just posted a message that mentioned a new campsite or two."

They closed a site a few years ago on Sag...the sign said it was for something like experimentation.


Keeping in the original vein of this thread...my favorite campsite is on the tip of the peninsula on Tuscarora just EAST of the loonngggg portage.

quote bear bait: "after every trip i seem to have a new favorite...
on insula, fall 2010
"

This is a GREAT SITE! We were there last Aug.

quote Kendra: "

quote bear bait: "after every trip i seem to have a new favorite...
on insula, fall 2010
"

This is a GREAT SITE! We were there last Aug."

Aaw, yes the Beach site on Insula. Very nice. My profile pic is taken from that beach! July 2010 we were there.

A new fav for us was a site on Ogishkemuncie in the NW part of the lake. We tend to like a campsite that has plenty of space and different view points. This site also has some hiking trails that take you up to the top of a point where you can view the lake. Very nice. Had a great spot for the tent and a tarp as well, since we spent one rainy day there.

quote Kevlar: "T.B., your Winchell Lake campsite is a beauty, but your pic is about 15 years old. The forest service used this site as a heliport to fight the Winchell Lake fire, and they cut all of the trees down on the front 70 ft or so. A lot less shade on the point now, but still very nice."

I agree, the Winchell Lake picture is spectacular. What killed those large pines in the background? Fire? If so, I am a bit surprised only a bunch of birch sprung up afterwards, since it seems like there are a lot of white pine seed sources nearby. Looks like the perfect situation for regeneration.

with 3 kids our number one campsites in this phase of life are beach sites. Before kids I looked for jumping rocks (Loved those). Now with the age of my kids jumping rocks are falling to your death rocks lol

I like shade. Big trees are a big plus in my book. I hate those sun-baked sites facing west or south. I also like privacy. If me and the wife can't get naked and swim around off the landing without making some bunch of boy scouts' summer, it ain't private enough.

here are the canoe landings at a nice *little campsite on queticos sturgeon lake.

I can see where clearing new sites would do more harm. Depends on the soil, drainage, etc. With thin soil and a lot of rocks, not much healing will happen. Next to a swamp, it might be a lot quicker.

quote tumblehome: "

quote Kots: "Tom-



Have they ever closed a site or opened any new ones in the past 20+ years?"

Good question. I sent The USFS in Duluth this question and am awaiting a reply.


Tom"

The island campsite on big moose lake was closed in the last 10 years

1) solitude
2) stellar view
3) solid fishing

We're inserting on Birch Lake and traveling along Knife. Following the criteria listed above, what is the best campsite or campsites (if they're close together) to accommodate 9 guys? Thanks...

"Git r done." -Lawrence the Cable Guy

I'll come up with my favorite site later...have to think about that. But a perfect site for me would be in no order....

1. Solitude
2. On a point
3. A rock to fish from
4. Tent pads away from the fire
5. Big trees
6. Drop off so no snags when fishing from shore
7. Semi soft ground under water for nice swimming
8. Facing North for the Northern Lights
9. Good canoe landing
10. Dead and down trees aplenty
11. Good benches to sit on

Actually as I was writing this I know two of my favorites but will wait till I get home so I have pictures. But no campsite has met all of those.....but that would be my 5 star campsite.

haha I did not know this was such an old thread

Well... considering I've only been to two sites.... we did enjoy both... but for different reasons.


1.) East Fairy Lake site.
Reports have said multiple tent pads, but we only saw 1 maybe two... but maybe we're picky... LOADS of places to hang a bear bag, and wonderful fishing from shore... we didn't actually catch much, but it was easy to cast out and a wonderful view. No dry wood to speak of tho. We actually kept warm on our biolite stove! haha!




2.) Portage site on Fourtown leading to Horse. Yes... this is right on the portage... but we didn't mind... the site was gynormous to say the least and tons of flat tent pads. Not many places to hang up a bear bag, but TONS and TONS of dry wood.

I have been to so many campsites over 43 years of tripping I don't have clear memories of most of them. Here's a few from recent trips...

Caribou Lake(off Clearwater), not designated as a site on the maps but not posted as a closed site either...east end behind the small island...nice living room on the lake and great smallie fishing from shore, good view of island in front...




















South Temperance Lake, NW corner. If you go early August you will be treated to the biggest raspberry patch ever. Gorgeous view and a pair of Spruce Grouse as our constant companions...





















Lake One...out of the way site, spacious and great bear hang tree

The best site is usually the not the best overall site, but may be the best site for a particular time. We stayed at the furthest northeast site on boot when a huge storm came through. (The time they closed he interstate due to 10 inches of water. I think 2012. We pitched our tents next to a large outcropping of rock that kept the wind from hitting us too much. Not the best site ever but we really appreciated the sheltered tent pads. We had a great site in Kekekabic. I can't remember which one. But the lake seems to have several nice ones. Boot lake

SO MANY. I can't pick one. Maybe NEXT week I can narrow it down?