BWCA Where to stay entering Brule? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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LazyLefty
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03/06/2012 02:41PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I saw the topic on lodging near the kawishiwi river and it reminded me to ask where everyone stays before entering brule. Previous trips we have left at night and drove straight through to pick up the permit and head straight in, I really don't like doing it that way though.

We'll probably be making it to tofte around 7 at the earliest, I considered just staying at the americinn to make permit and bait pickup the next morning a breeze. Any better suggestions? I'm open to anything that gets us on brule the earliest.
 
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TuscaroraBorealis
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03/06/2012 03:09PM  
Crescent lake campground is about as close as you can get to Brule lake. Very nice campground.

Also, just a mile or so down the road, small Baker lake campground is a possible free option. But, there are only a few sites,that cannot be reserved, so don't count on availability.

Sawbill lake Campground will likely provide the best, closest spot to also pick up your permit & last minute supplies the day of depature.
Splake Spanker
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03/06/2012 03:23PM  
You could camp at Sawbill the night before if there's spots.
We went in at midnight one year because we were too excited and there was a moon. It was nice avoiding the wind.
inspector13
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03/06/2012 04:58PM  

I assume you are saying you will get to Tofte by 7pm the earliest. Unless you somehow pick up your permit at either the Tofte or Gunflint station before they close, you will still have to drive back to the Shore to pick it up.

If quickness to the entry point is your goal, I think you are better off staying closer to Grand Marais. After picking up the permit, from Grand Marais take County Road 8 to 57 at Devil Track Lake, follow through to FR158 heading to Eagle Mountain, then take FR170 to FR326 which leads to Brule Lake. There are lots of choices of lodging around Grand Marais including Devil Track and Two Island Lake, if you are leaning toward SNF campgrounds.

LazyLefty
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03/06/2012 09:31PM  
Yes I should have specified 7 p.m. I would love to get there earlier so we could have permit in hand but we have to wait for my cousin to drive the initial 5 hours from missouri before we can leave my house in iowa.

Thanks for the options, I will weigh these out and try to find the best one for our group.
talusman
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03/07/2012 08:17AM  
Find out the hours that the Canoeist in Two Harbors is open. You can pick up a permit there and then drive closer to the entry point for the night. The Canoeist
TuscaroraBorealis
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03/07/2012 08:54AM  
quote talusman: "Find out the hours that the Canoeist in Two Harbors is open. You can pick up a permit there and then drive closer to the entry point for the night. The Canoeist "


Or for that matter the SNF headquarters are in Duluth. As well, the Duluth pack store in Canal Park is also an official permit issuer.
03/07/2012 09:17AM  
When I go to Brule (went twice last year) we stayed the night before at Temperence River State Park.

Both times we left the Twin Cities after work and got to the park fairly late (after 11pm), one time we had a reservation the other time we just did the first come first served sites.

Temperence is maybe a mile away from the Ranger station where you can pick up your permit early the next morning.

We get up early, go get our permit, hit the holiday gas station to buy bait and then grab breakfast at the Lockport Restaurant/Store and then head up to Brule. Without rushing around and not being at the ranger station as early as possible we were still on the water before 10am. If you were at the Ranger station when they opened and you didn't go out for breakfast you could be on the water much earlier than that.

The one thing I do to make life easier when doing this is I bring an extra tent and extra sleeping bags so that I don't need to unpack any of my trip gear in order to camp that first night at the state park. It saves time setting up and also packing up. I usually just fold the tent and lay it in the back of the suv so it can dry out while I'm on my trip.

03/07/2012 10:09AM  
Daughter and I stayed at Whispering Pines when we went to Sawbill. I think we payed $65 in July. A little further south than would have been ideal, but the price was right.
03/07/2012 10:49AM  
I've stayed at Superior Ridge Resort and Motel in Schoeder 3 times now.
Very nice rooms, bigger and cheaper than the Americinn in Tofte and only about 5 miles from the ranger station. I think you get a discount if you mention their website.
tumblehome
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03/07/2012 12:15PM  
quote Splake Spanker: "You could camp at Sawbill the night before if there's spots.
We went in at midnight one year because we were too excited and there was a moon. It was nice avoiding the wind. "


I camped at sawbill one night at about midnight many years ago. When we woke up, we found that we camped at the water pump station and didn't know it. Priceless...
magaak1
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03/07/2012 06:20PM  
I second the Superior Ridge Resort. Nice accomodations and inexpensive. Nice to relax before the work starts in the morning.
Sandman2009
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03/07/2012 06:27PM  
We stayed at the Cliff Dweller once, and another time we stayed ay Chateau Leveaux. Both hotels are nice and they are located in Tofte.
 
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