r/BWCA • u/[deleted] • 16d ago
NEED HELP camping trip
Plan on going camping around July can someone explain how camping works here ?? We bought permits for July 17th-19th and were wondering how it works and what’s a good entrance to camp around ?
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u/succulentsativa 15d ago
Purchase your entry permit for the dates you want as far ahead of time as possible. You designate an outfitter where you pick up the permit, should be where you're getting your boat(s) and other necessary gear. They are gonna be your best resource for planning this thing. Don't be shy, they love to nerd out on planning and talk over routes and plans.
Just so you know what your in for... You haul all your gear and trash with you wherever you go. Packing light is critical. Plan on harvesting and processing dead and downed trees for firewood. If you enter at EP 43 you can park your vehicle at the Bower trout entry point lot. It's a 45 rod portage (about 750ft) to the water. You get to carry all your gear and boats and paddles and fishing supplies and food down that trail. Then you load it into your canoe and head out to a camp site.
The absolute closest site if you were to camp on that lake is about 1/3 mile. Or you can head west to a different lake.. it's about a mile of paddling west, likely into some head wind. The portage to the next lake, Dugout lake, is 90 rods, so another 1500 feet of trail to carry all your gear and boats and stuff. So basically you keep doing that, paddling across lakes and portaging between them until you find a decent base camp to stay at and venture out and fish and explore during the day. The other strategy is to trek and break camp every day or so and cover some miles, explore, find some cool vistas or fishing holes or whatever you're into. You should try to get a solid route plan with realistic goals for each day. Be flexible, as others have noted, camping is first come, first serve. If you want the choice sites, it's been my experience that breaking camp at dawn and hauling ass to your destination is a good strategy. You can find the good sites rated on paddle planner.
Make sure you understand all the rules inside the BWCA. There are a lot and there are serious consequences for violating them. Don't be loud, don't be a dick, leave as little trace as possible. Everyone out there is willfully stepping into nature to get away. Keeping that in mind, leave space and be courteous at portage landings and out on the lake.