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Listening Point - General Discussion

Favorite type of campsite?

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Duane's Canoe Outfitters

Last Visit: 06/19/2013 02:45PM
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TriTodd

04/21/2012 08:24PM

Mine is one which looks out to the south. I like to have all the sun I can get because my trips are in May, my favorite time to camp. I like to have a good flat and shady pad for my tent. I like a cool shady nap in the afternoon. Some trees nearby the water to set up my hammock is a favorite. I enjoy a good amount of room at the firepit with some good logs to sit on. Having an easy landing for my canoe is always a good thing. I don't care for sites that have steep landings. Too slippery during rainy days getting in/out of the canoe.

Everything else is just fine...

Life is about being outside enjoying God's world...

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Kevlar

04/21/2012 08:35PM

I like campsites with a good view, but that can vary widely. I want some wind protection, shade, a decent landing, and I love a view of the sunset and also a view to the north, in case we have northern lights. As I dream and remember, a distance off the main route, or out of sight of it totally, is nice, too.

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Sierra1

04/21/2012 09:07PM

Mine would be one that looks to the north and west, large open spot for my tent, four good trees near the fire grate for the tarp, plenty of fire wood, nice breeze to keep the bugs away, good walleye fishing right off the shore, and my family to share it with.

Watch out for that rock!!!........ Oooo.... That's going to leave a mark...

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Merganser

04/21/2012 09:13PM

Good fire area with tarp options. Someplace to hang my hammock. Those are tops. Breeze or shelternfrom it depending on the season. I like the north/west view myself.

"That sort of thing is my bag baby."

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Traveler

04/21/2012 09:21PM

I prefer sites that do not feel too closed in and I like a couple of well placed trees for my hammock. The worst sites have a lot of roots and rocks that I think of as ankle breakers.

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mooseplums

04/21/2012 09:36PM

The best sites for me depend on weather conditions, and time of year.
I prefer open, level sites in mild, warm weather, and closed in sites on cooler, windy fall days.

A couple years ago, on a fall trip, there were cold rains, and wind forcasted, for our first evening out.It was my daughters first trip, and I wanted her to enjoy the trip. I looked for a site that would give us adequate protection from the elements that night. It made all the difference, when it came to our comfort. We were out of the wind, and despite the inclimate weather, we had a great time

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

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bapabear

04/21/2012 09:38PM

open

comfortable canoe landing

fire grate not terribly exposed

large flat "table" rock

wind protection

good bear tree

at least one good tarp hanging area

May waters rise to meet you. May wind and current be always at your back. May the Good Lord paddle with you, And may yours be the lightest pack.

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kanoes

04/21/2012 09:41PM

unoccupied.

i think bigfoot is blurry. (mitch hedberg...youtube it))

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boonie

04/21/2012 10:09PM

I like elevated sites, especially with a nice sitting rock out above the water. Other important things: a good tent pad - level, smooth, grassy, a place to set up the tarp, no bears, no bugs. An easy landing is nice.

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RaisedByBears99

04/21/2012 10:15PM

Summer: High open site with a rock peninsula and a western exposure.

Autumn, winter, spring : Tight protected site with an eastern exposure.

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mcguiness22

04/21/2012 10:25PM

quote kanoes: "unoccupied."
+1
Definitely my favorite campsite!

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arctic

04/22/2012 09:39AM

I like bedrock sites on clear lakes, with cliff-jumping opportunities right from camp, as well as old pines overhead. A great view, especially to the east or west, is desirable too.

Not that I'm picky or anything...

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Savage Voyageur

04/22/2012 09:58AM

My favorite campsite is one that has lots of trees for hammocks and tarps. Not to be picky but the trees have to be a certain size and spacing for it it work. Anything else is just a bonus.

"So many lakes, so little time."

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missmolly

04/22/2012 10:01AM

Dirty and flat! Just give me a little dirt on flat rock and I'm content as a kitten on crushed velvet. Of course, since there's so little dirt where I camp, I'm rarely that content.

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Royce

04/22/2012 10:41AM

I like a nice view from the fire grate.
But the first thing I do is look for some good trees for the food pack to hang from.

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housty9

04/23/2012 08:04AM

Good view, good fishing, hopefully some wind break and a flat place to put the tent.

our we there yet

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Freddy

04/23/2012 09:01AM

I like an island site with a west view, a sandy spot to beach the canoe, and a nice drop off to catch a few walleyes from shore.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul" John Muir

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HowardSprague

04/23/2012 09:23AM

I like some big trees, a few big boulders, (a couple flat rocks to sit on/use as a table is nice too) a nice dropoff where you can fish from shore, and a nice gradual landing/launching area.

"Enjoy every sandwich"

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PineKnot

04/23/2012 09:51AM

Island sites. Red or white pines for shade. Soft duff for tents. Open enough for some breeze.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -- Teddy Roosevelt

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yellowcanoe

04/23/2012 10:34AM

Varies. Usually not an island site as those get beat up fast and bears use islands as rest stops to cross lakes.

I prefer east facing sites and sheltered or no depends on how how much bugs there are.

Ease of access to drinking water is important to me as well as ease of loading a small solo boat.

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Jeriatric

04/23/2012 12:55PM

As I have aged, an easy canoe landing has become the one "must have." Other criteria may vary with the level of wind or flying bugs.

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CrookedPaddler1

04/23/2012 03:20PM

Depends on the day for me!

If we are just traveling through and looking for a place to spend the night and get going in the morning, the weather is the biggest factor. If it is threatening rain/storms, I want a site that is protected from the wind and does not contain or has minimul "widow makers".

However, if I plan to spend a few days at a site, then I look for something totally different. Mainly I want at least a portion of the site that is open to the lake breeze. This helps minimlize bug issues. I also want a site that has at least one decent tent pad (might as well be compfortable). Third thing I would look for is overall apprearance of the site (clean, nice views, etc.)

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Beaverjack

04/23/2012 06:08PM

East facing, good sheltered landing, nice level tent site, roomy kitchen with a huge pile of wood left by the last occupants. And oh yeah, lots of big hungry fish hanging around just off-shore.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Smells like victory.

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alpinebrule

04/23/2012 06:36PM

Kanoes beat me to it "unoccupied" does that mean my answer is 'occupied'?

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TuscaroraBorealis

04/23/2012 07:51PM

Number one priority (although not an absolute necessity) is that the site be located on a lake that affords exploration, via portages, hiking trails, rivers etc., in as many different directions as possible.

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Millrat

Guest Paddler

04/23/2012 09:47PM

Any site as long as its in the BWCA

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oldgentleman

04/24/2012 07:36AM

Biggest things are a pleasant fire pit area, tall pines and a nice view of the lake.

I don't want to be too close to other sites.

I like a site on a point where I can watch sunrise and sunset.

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HowardSprague

04/24/2012 09:00AM

My only negative on using an island site is if the island is too small. We camped on a cool little island on Lonely Lake in Q last summer and wouldn't you know it, that was the day I needed to go #2. There was really no place to do so on the island, so I had to get into the canoe and tell everyone, "So long, I'm going to take a dump!" and paddle to the mainland to do my business.
I imagine there are island sites in the BW where the latrine might be within view of passing paddlers. So that's my only apprehension about island sites. If my dog were with me, I'd be tempted to plan on camping on islands exclusively as he'd be less likely to wander off and get into trouble.

"Enjoy every sandwich"

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AdamXChicago

04/25/2012 06:24AM

quote Freddy: "I like an island site with a west view, a sandy spot to beach the canoe, and a nice drop off to catch a few walleyes from shore."

+1

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Lemieux

04/25/2012 08:56AM

Good tent pads and trees are a must for me

Pack Lite!

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