BWCAW: Best campground for basecamp paddling?

[Idiot Savant]

I might still be able to do an easy route in the Boundary Waters, but assuming my portaging days are over, I was looking for suggestions for some good campgrounds from which to do basecamp paddling. I would be willing to change basecamp a time or two during a multiday trip. I'd like to avoid large, open bodies of water that become treacherous in a stiff breeze.

 

[Alan Gage]

I've never been to the BWCA so I can't comment directly on that. But another thing to consider, around the same area, would be the many state water trails in northern Minnesota. North central Minnesota, while full of lakes and rivers, is not heavily populated and while there are plenty of fishermen in the area I find it pretty easy to find lakes, rivers, and primitive campsites that are off the beaten path and a pleasure to paddle.

The Big Fork River is a beautiful and easy river to paddle. As I recall there are only two (possibly three) portages along the entire length. Only one of the portages is more than 20 meters and it's along easily traversed on roads in a small town (population 200). I've paddled it a few times and have never seen another boat.

There is also the Little Fork River, which I have not paddled. It has more whitewater and possibly more portages. I believe it's more water dependent as well.

There will be plenty of motorboats at times but Cutfoot Sioux lake is a very pretty area with a quiet full service campsite at the end of a short dirt road as well as paddle/walk in campsites as well. From Cutfoot sioux you can paddle into Little Cutfoot Sioux, then to Little Little Cutfoot Sioux, and from there into First River Flowage. These are all small lakes with plenty of shoreline to explore. There are some fishing resorts on a couple of the lakes but the farther you get down the chain of lakes the fewer the boats will be. There are primitive campsites along the way. I believe there is a campground on Little Cutfoot Sioux with shore access as well.

There are innumerable other lakes and rivers that offer similar exploration and might offer more solitude than a base camping lake in the BWCA.

Here is a link to the Minnesota Water Trails website. Many good paddling opportunities are not on it. Open a map and take a look.

Minnesota State Water Trails

Minnesota has 35 state water trails with over 4,500 miles of terrific paddling! Whether you want to kayak, canoe, or stay at a campsite on the river, you can find a place to paddle here.

www.dnr.state.mn.us

 

[GeoBoy]

We used Canoe Country Outfitters in Ely, MN, nice people.

 

[billconner]

I might still be able to do an easy route in the Boundary Waters, but assuming my portaging days are over, I was looking for suggestions for some good campgrounds from which to do basecamp paddling. I would be willing to change basecamp a time or two during a multiday trip. I'd like to avoid large, open bodies of water that become treacherous in a stiff breeze.

I second geoboy's recommendation and would offer staying at their base on Moose Lake would be my choice if I were not able to portage BUT Moose is not small and there is some motor traffic. You can paddle quite a ways up Birch which has no borders.

No experience but Kawishiwi Camp ground is small and the lake is medium size and paddle only. Lots of good reviews.

And Fall Lake Campground puts you in a good spot for Fall Lake as well as a lot of other entry points within a short drive. And more amenities at the camp.

I don't know much about east side but a number of campsites there.

 

[Sedges]

Lets clarify your objective. No portaging at all with outfit or on day trips? By basecamp do you mean a campsite in the wilderness area that you will paddle to or a campground outside the wilderness area from which you could drive to different entry points for day trips?

Not portaging at all leaves you only with entry lakes. The ones that are big enough to offer some day trips are, well BIG. Think Brule, Saganaga or Seagull.

I would not let a lakes reputation for bad conditions keep you away. You are basecamping, if the lake is rough you can wait it out. Most of the big entry lakes have motorboat traffic. Its not really that bad. Most are limited to 25HP.

One interesting option is Lac la Croix. You can get a motorize tow to Snow Bay from outfitters on Crane Lake. A pretty expensive option. Or you could paddle there without portaging as the two portages on the Loon River have marine rail assisted options. LLC has a lot of sheltered bays and island groups.

 

[Idiot Savant]

I've been looking into water/canoe trails in a number of states. Seems like many have them. I'll look at the ones in Minnesota.
To clarify what I want, I'm looking for something close to a traditional Boundary Waters experience, but portaging canoes along with heavy packs might be out of the question.
Portaging, with just a day pack is something I'd consider. Which would leave open entry points that aren't right on a lake.
I might also consider a traditional trip if it only had a few short portages. I was looking at one-way routes with a shuttle but haven't found anything that doesn't have at least one ugly portage somewhere on the route.
My basecamp wouldn't necessarily need to be on a lake, just close to some entry points. I would even consider staying in a motel and heading out each morning. Open to a lot of things at this point.

 

[Jim Dodd]

We used Canoe Country Outfitters in Ely, MN, nice people.

I've dealt with CC Outfitters for years. I give them high marks !
A call to them, would be my best advice.
They are people in the know.

Jim

 

[billconner]

Traditional BWCA experience would lead me to a Beaverhouse entrance in the Q. Stay on Beaverhouse or one fairly easy portgage to Question Lake and there is so much and varied to see: pictos, burn areas, little bays, etc. Not really small water but easy to stay near leeward shore and bays. My favorite area. Easily a week or two of day trips from a base camp.

I forget there is a longish - flat and level and wide - portage from parking area to water.

 

[Boatman53]

Another big thumbs up for Canoe Country Outfitters.
Jim

 

[jdeerfoot]

My first BWCA trip was a base camping trip to the Gunflint Trail in 1973. My brother and I camped various USFS campgrounds along the Trail and day paddled a number of different lakes. Lots of different day paddles available along the trail.

 

[Erica]

My first BWCA trip was a base camping trip to the Gunflint Trail in 1973. My brother and I camped various USFS campgrounds along the Trail and day paddled a number of different lakes. Lots of different day paddles available along the trail.

I just looked up - the website says you can camp anywhere you want without a reservation, except the reserve campgrounds of course. That makes is more attractive if you prefer not to have to reserve a camp in advance and then follow a schedule. Looks interesting.

 

[jdeerfoot]

Dispersed camping wherever you want is allowed in the Superior NF outside of the BWCA.

Starting back in the early 1970’s and into the 1980’s I often dispersed camped in the Nat. Forests of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. At that time I didn’t know I was dispersed camping, I was just too cheap to stay in proper campgrounds where I had to pay a fee. We usually took my vehicle, a Dodge Tradesman van, with my double bed mattress in the back making it the Hotel Dodge. In the fall of 1974 my wife and I camped at Wyalusing St Park in western Wisconsin - we paid the state park camping fee because the missus has never been a camping scofflaw like me. Anyway, I guess we should have given daughter No 1 the middle name of Wyalusing, since the timing of her birth likely relates to that long rainy night in the back of the Hotel Dodge.

 

[GDahl]

I have never heard of dispersed camping before...only have camped at NFS campgrounds in several states where we made reservations. Exactly how does dispersed camping work?

 

[jdeerfoot]

It may depend on what National Forest you are interested in and their policies on dispersed camping. For instance, the Hiawatha NF in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a wilderness area, Big Island Lake Wilderness, which allows camping anywhere as long as you camp the required distance from water. This area has gradually become more popular and does have some campsites which are regularly used. Another NF wilderness is the Sylvania Wilderness area in the western UP in the Ottawa NF. It has long established campsites which can be reserved and are the only places you can camp. Sylvania is scenic and made up of about the only remaining virgin forest in the Upper Midwest. It is also very popular and heavily used. But I still like to go there but only in the early spring just after ice-out and later in the fall.

 

[Gamma1214]

I have never heard of dispersed camping before...only have camped at NFS campgrounds in several states where we made reservations. Exactly how does dispersed camping work?

The State forests here in PA, BLM land out West, Crown land in Canada and most, if not all, of the National Forests in the US allow dispersed, minimum impact camping outside of designated areas. This is on a "leave no trace" basis or, in the terminology of my childhood, we were told to "take only pictures and leave only footprints".

As it relates specifically to camping, there are seven keys to remember:

1) Any and all trash must be packed out.

2) Do not clear vegetation.

3) Camp at least 100 feet from any water source.

4) Dispose of any waste water at least 200 feet from any water source.

5) All human waste should be buried at least 6 inches deep and not less than 200 feet from a water source.

6) No standing trees (technically, not even the dead ones) should be cut and especially in heavily used areas,

7) All campsites should be a minimum of 25 feet off of the trail and, ideally, out of sight of the trail.

For my extended trips, I try to use only established sites (most of which ignore some of the above rules) but I've had to improvise at times and I take a bit of pride in looking over a site after packing and knowing that the average person would never suspect that anyone had stayed there.

Note: I believe that dispersed camping is allowed in Superior Nat'l Forest except within the BWCA. There, it is restricted to designated sites only.

As always, it's best to check with the landowner (or, in this case, the land manager) before you go.

 

[GDahl]

The State forests here in PA, BLM land out West, Crown land in Canada and most, if not all, of the National Forests in the US allow dispersed, minimum impact camping outside of designated areas. This is on a "leave no trace" basis or, in the terminology of my childhood, we were told to "take only pictures and leave only footprints".

As it relates specifically to camping, there are seven keys to remember:

1) Any and all trash must be packed out.

2) Do not clear vegetation.

3) Camp at least 100 feet from any water source.

4) Dispose of any waste water at least 200 feet from any water source.

5) All human waste should be buried at least 6 inches deep and not less than 200 feet from a water source.

6) No standing trees (technically, not even the dead ones) should be cut and especially in heavily used areas,

7) All campsites should be a minimum of 25 feet off of the trail and, ideally, out of sight of the trail.

For my extended trips, I try to use only established sites (most of which ignore some of the above rules) but I've had to improvise at times and I take a bit of pride in looking over a site after packing and knowing that the average person would never suspect that anyone had stayed there.

Note: I believe that dispersed camping is allowed in Superior Nat'l Forest except within the BWCA. There, it is restricted to designated sites only.

As always, it's best to check with the landowner (or, in this case, the land manager) before you go.

Thank you, Gamma for this very good explanation. But, are paddlers able to set up a dispersed site, with car parked nearby, then drive to a BWCAW entry point the following morning?

 

[GDahl]

It may depend on what National Forest you are interested in and their policies on dispersed camping. For instance, the Hiawatha NF in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a wilderness area, Big Island Lake Wilderness, which allows camping anywhere as long as you camp the required distance from water. This area has gradually become more popular and does have some campsites which are regularly used. Another NF wilderness is the Sylvania Wilderness area in the western UP in the Ottawa NF. It has long established campsites which can be reserved and are the only places you can camp. Sylvania is scenic and made up of about the only remaining virgin forest in the Upper Midwest. It is also very popular and heavily used. But I still like to go there but only in the early spring just after ice-out and later in the fall.

Thank you jdeerfoot for your info and explanation.

 

[Gamma1214]

...are paddlers able to set up a dispersed site, with car parked nearby, then drive to a BWCAW entry point the following morning?

I wouldn't see why not. Within the Superior NF & outside the BWCA shouldn't be an issue for the night (or week) prior to your entry permit date.

Interestingly, the NF says you're not allowed to leave the camping stuff unattended for more than 24 hours (so you could base camp & venture overnight nearby) but there is no limit as to how long you can use the campsite.

From https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/recreation/camping-cabins

Dispersed Camping​

If your idea of camping is literally off the beaten trail, most of the Superior National Forest outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is open for dispersed tent camping with no permits or reservations needed. This is camping outside of designated sites - just you and the woods without latrines, fire rings, or any additions. Please follow Leave No Trace ethics to make sure no evidence of your visit remains.

• Be aware of fire restrictions that apply to campfires outside of developed campsites. In dry conditions, campfires may be banned in the general forest, but still allowed in campgrounds.
• Parking motor vehicles or trailers is not allowed where it will impede traffic, harm vegetation, or harm soils.
• You may not cut live trees or construct any “improvements” at your camp, including trenches.
• Use a camp stove, or disperse all signs of a campfire if you use one. Do not leave a rock ring.
• You may not leave your camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours.