I go on trips every year with six in our group and we are always looking for the biggest and most enjoyable sites. Sites with lots of tent space, a great fire pit, possible Northern lights and/or sunset view, on a point, bluff or in a bay. Share your top five sites.

For some, this is like revealing their spouses weight or showing their birthmark.

Mine are all in the Q - and there are so many. The "Hilton" on Williams is pretty nice. There is an island site on Burke I'm fond of. Snow Bay with all the stone work: benches, tables, barca lounger, shower, and more. So many more.

The best part is you can probably find even better ones if you poke around.

Its a good topic for those who want to share....

quote BillConner01: "For some, this is like revealing their spouses weight or showing thier birthmark...."

No, it's not like revealing your spouse's weight.... it's much more serious that that.

It ranks right up there with you favorite fishing spot.

Kots... welcome to the board. We're all glad you're here.

What I would suggest doing is hang out on the board for a little while, be active by posting some replies to some threads that interest you and do a little research here first before asking for members to divulge the best camping sites in the BW or Q.

Like Savage Voyageur says, it's like sharing your favorite fishing holes. That information isn't going to be shared with the world.

I've got one on Horse, two or three on Gabbro, two on North Kawishiwi R, one on Angleworm, two on Agnes (BW), one on Shell (not the one you're thinking of), a few on LLC, one on Oyster (no, not that one), two on Iron, two on Stewart, one on Bald Eagle...

Haha. Maybe I phrased this wrong. I wanted to share the best campsites I have found in the BWCA in my 15 trips up there and if you want to share the ones you really enjoyed, feel free.

1. The narrows at Cherry Lake- lots of space, right on the point and a great view of the cliffs down the N side
2. Lynx Lake by the portage, with a great bay to swim in and awesome fire pit
3. Ogishkemuncie- Island in the middle of the lake with lots of tent space and nice hill to watch the sunset
4. Ima Lake on the south end with an awesome rock face to put your Crazy Creek on and relax
5. Splash Lake- my first trip ever to the BWCA

If by chance I see someone at one of these sites, I will smile and know someone is enjoying one of my favorite sites in the BWCA!!

Kots, another way to learn secrets is to go to the trip reports. Things we work for we tend to enjoy the most and you do the work you will find what you want here, but most will not tell you about that pine forest on the point where tent pads are inches thick with needles, so soft. Fishing right from the point, you get the idea. Anyway there are so many great sites who can pick the best.

Enjoy.

Thanks for sharing! I'm sure I won't be "stealing" your secret site anytime soon.... :)

Similar thread

I figure the best sites are pretty obvious if you actually go there. If you really think you have a secret best site it probably isn't a real BW site. ;-)

kots, I have a good one but it's not for your size group. That's the thing about best sites...it's subjective to an individual group's needs. Horseshoe Lake, over on the arm to the river past the portage to Vista. But even six people would be a real squeeze. Four was fine.

If I am thinking right, the Splash Lake I know of that is adjacent by a very short and usually paddle portage to Ensign only has 1 campsite, and it's not that great. However, the fishing is good and since it's the only campsite on that small lake, there is some seclusion.

Yeah, there might only be 1 site. I'll always remember it though as it was on my first trip ever to the BWCA...

quote bhouse46: "Anyway there are so many great sites who can pick the best."

Yeah, I think that's what I was trying to say.

TB: I find it humorous that in the thread you link to you had posted another link to yet another similar thread... Ah, the quest for the perfect site...

I had a 'best campsite on Lac LaCroix. It was a bonifide 5 star site. That was back in the 90's.

I went back to it a couple of years ago and it seems everyone else thought it was a 5 star too because it's now a 1 star due to incredible over-use and someone with an ax. Terribly sad.

The best remote 5 star sites should be guarded just like those secret reefs.

A great example of how to wreck a campsite is publish everything about it like Stu does in the BWJ. If that guy ever gets within an arms length of me..........

Tom

quote tumblehome: "I had a 'best campsite on Lac LaCroix. It was a bonifide 5 star site. That was back in the 90's.


I went back to it a couple of years ago and it seems everyone else thought it was a 5 star too because it's now a 1 star due to incredible over-use and someone with an ax. Terribly sad.


The best remote 5 star sites should be guarded just like those secret reefs.


A great example of how to wreck a campsite is publish everything about it like Stu does in the BWJ. If that guy ever gets within an arms length of me..........


Tom"

I tend to agree. I understand it's everyone's land,, but better found out with trail and error-- just like everything else BW people go through from being rookies to vets. Also- I find with time and this site,, that not everyone is equal on what makes a 5* site. I have been to 3 in 36 open water trips,, and schweady nailed 2 of them. The other is mentioned. But the best--(6*)? is not even commetted on in the map section. Keep it that way.

I understand not sharing your best spots. On the other hand, I have enjoyed my trips more based on campsite info picked up from this board. To me, it is not so much which sites are 5* but avoiding the sites that are 1 or no stars.

I make a lot of notes on my maps prior to my trips.

quote schweady: "

quote bhouse46: "Anyway there are so many great sites who can pick the best."

Yeah, I think that's what I was trying to say.

TB: I find it humorous that in the thread you link to you had posted another link to yet another similar thread... Ah, the quest for the perfect site..."

Just trying to tie them all together. :)

Big Moose lake. Just north of portage in from the river. Then next one north is nice too.


Mountain lake. From the west end of the lake paddling east the 2nd & 3rd sites are the ones to shoot for.


Clove lake. All 3 sites are decent. But the northern most has a nice sandy beach.



Horse lake. Island site on the north end. Also, the one nearest the Horse river is probably the best on the lake.

Gabbro lake. The island site near the rapids running in from Bald Eagle.

Ogishkemuncie lake. Island site nearest the Meuller lake portage. Also the site near the portage to Spice lake is very nice. Lotsa good ones on this lake.




Oyster lake. Peninsula sites are nice. Specially the northern most. Site by portage in from Oyster river is nice. Sandy beach site in SE corner of lake.

Dent lake. Eastern site.

Wine lake. The one near the portage from Frederick is nice but, the island site is tops.






Cherry lake. Narrows site is best but, the other one isn't too bad either.

Kekekabic lake. 2nd to the west from Pickle portage is premo. Island site on this end is nice. Another great one is tucked behind the small islands at mid lake. The one in the fishhook bay provides an awesome view.

Cummings lake. All 3 sites straight south of the portage to Big Moose lake are nice.






The western most site on Kiskadinna isn't too bad.

The eastern most site on Davis is stellar.

Tuscarora lake. First site just east after Missing Link portage. @nd one to the west around the big point has a great sandy beach. Island site is nice. As is the site directly south of it.



Vista lake. Southern most site.

Winchell lake. Peninsula site is awesome.

Gneiss lake. The island site just after the river washes into the lake is something of a lush oasis in the midst of the burn.





These aren't all necessarily 5 star. Just giving my opinions on a few lakes. :)

I'm not spoofing you when I say I don't really have favorites. Part of what I find the most fun, is the variation of each site we visit and I appreciate how they make change our camping experiences (e.g.- camping on a flat beach vs a cliff).

I don't even care how you guys describe sites, because I wanna go see them for myself anyway.

That said, I guess the peninsula site in the middle-west shore of Burnt is about the neatest site I've camped on.

The site on Hook might be 2nd.

There are only two of us, so some of my favorite sites are the smaller ones. ;-)

quote TomP: "I understand not sharing your best spots. On the other hand, I have enjoyed my trips more based on campsite info picked up from this board. To me, it is not so much which sites are 5* but avoiding the sites that are 1 or no stars.


I make a lot of notes on my maps prior to my trips. "

TB, Thanks so much for sharing and I love the pics! I have used this site in the past to pick the brains of the experts that are on here. I could have called the DNR or an outfitter, or read a book, but what better place to come to then directly to the knowledgeable BWCA "Pros" that are on here? I may be overly optimistic, but I would estimate that 99% of the people here are looking for helpful tips and want to share their favorite stories- not seek out a remote 5* site to ruin it. If they do and I find them, I will truly show no mercy!

quote TomP: "To me, it is not so much which sites are 5* but avoiding the sites that are 1 or no stars."

Here's a link to a thread that covers some of those sites. :) Worst campsites

Alice lake site #1170

Boulder Lake island site.

Adam's Lake island site.







Canoe lake middle site #701.

Gogebic site #724.

Frost lake beach site #879.






Little Crab lake site.

Little Saganaga site #531.

Long Island lake site #569.







Vernon Lake site #973.

Wisini lake

Gabimichigami lake island site #806.

What the heck, it's Saturday night in the middle of winter and I don't feel like watching TV..I'll play along a bit.


For those of you who like sand beach sites, this is a nice one. We prefer slab rock shorelines so got bored with it but it is a good one. Malberg site 1051




Both River Lake site 1969, elevated, great rocks for fishing, nice fire grate area, good tent sites




Site 1676 on Lake One...a relatively secluded site on Lake One...need I say more?




Eastern end of Caribou Lake(off Clearwater), on the north shore behind a small island, generally not marked on maps but has a fireplace and a latrine and no signs stating closed. Nice living area right on the lake, good tent sites back behind and great smallie fishing from shore. Nice view too and close to Johnson Falls.




Gun Lake site 1083, long rocky peninsula at the front of the site, good fishing swimming and views. Comfortable site




South Temperance site 910 in the NW corner of the lake. Very secluded due to location, likely will not see anyone else. Incredible birding with great variety and resident Spruce Grouse. Great view from shore. One of the biggest raspberry patches I have seen, if you time it right it's a feast.




For something different, site 5 at Crosby Manitou State Park. This park is backpack only and it is a challenging 2.5 to 3 mile hike in to a site right on the Manitou River with a rapids to the left of the site and a small waterfall to the right. Amazing seclusion, hiking and wildlife.




The campsite is to the left just beyond the little falls

I haven't found a good site yet in the Q. Looks like I should try the Boundary Waters!

My thought is that if it's a true 5 star it's not much of a secret. I still beat myself up for not taking full advantage of the best site I've ever stayed at in 20 years of tripping. I had my parents and wife along with me on a trip about 15 years ago. The plan was to go in Mudro, loop up to LBF, Crooked Lake and back south via Gun and Fourtown. We were lucky enough to come upon the site at the base of LBF and made quick work of setting up camp and enjoying a glorious afternoon. The next morning we packed up and continued on our loop. The rest of the trip was windy, rainy, and pretty much uneventful. Looking back if I could do it over I would have stayed right there at the base of LBF for 4 days and paddled right back to Mudro and called it a beautiful trip. I've convinced myself that if I paddled past that campsite 20 more times it will not be open once.

I don't think great campsites are as sacred as fishing spots in the BWCA. If you go to the maps here on the website there's tons of pictures, input, reviews, etc on campsites. Don't see near as many good fishing spots listed. Lol!

I've only done one trip to the BWCA so I don't have a lot of experience with campsites. However, the southern campsite on Vista Lake is a beautiful site and certainly met all of my expectations on my first trip to the area.

I don't mind sharing sites...

Best ones I've personally spent time at...

Cummings Lake southern island site (#289)

Gabbro Lake...first site you get to coming into lake from channel from Little Gabbro (1711)

Little Caribou...only site there.

Basswood River...northernmost of 2 sites in the bay south of Wheelbarrow Falls (1544).

Caribou Lake...site just across from the portage to Lizz...a little smaller than some of these others, but cool site regardless (645).

TuscaroraBorealis: "

quote TomP: "To me, it is not so much which sites are 5* but avoiding the sites that are 1 or no stars."

Here's a link to a thread that covers some of those sites. :) Worst campsites "

Came looking for this! I got one of these. We sure as heck didn't stay at it...