Finding a great campsite can be one of the great joys of a canoe trip. Waking up in a stand of majestic pines, enjoying a cool breeze rolling off the lake on a midsummer afternoon, and cooking over a campfire without worrying about bugs can make a campsite that much more memorable.
Occasionally, these sites are discovered by delightful accident. But consistently finding the best campsites often takes a little more work and wilderness savvy. Here are a few subtle guide tricks for finding memorable Boundary Waters campsites.
1. Find a west-facing site
Wind often comes from the west in the BWCAW. In the summer, finding a site with western exposure helps keep camp cool and blow away the mosquitoes. Of course, in early spring and fall when bugs aren’t an issue, just the opposite might hold true if you want to escape the wind in the colder temperatures.
2. Look for mature pines clear of underbrush
Sites with mature pines and an open forest floor often have fewer bugs.
While thick underbrush and swampy areas hold bugs, the breezy, open forest floor and lack of favored habitat in some mature pine stands tend to keep the bugs away for much of the day.
Not to mention that camping in a majestic pine forest carpeted in soft pine needles is one of the joys of canoe country.
3. Travel early in the day and beat the crowds
Sunrise is often the most peaceful, beautiful time of day in the Boundary Waters. The wind has yet to pick up, the wildlife is undisturbed and active, and many other groups are still asleep. And paddling in the cool of morning is a welcome escape from hot summer afternoons.
While the BWCAW is still a secluded refuge from civilization, during peak paddling season (late June through mid August) you’ll probably run into plenty of other paddlers, especially near entry points and the more popular lakes. By aiming to reach your destination campsite around lunch or shortly thereafter, you’ll beat most of the crowds and often have the first choice of campsites on your target lake. And it’s a mighty fine feeling to eat lunch at that beautiful five-star campsite while watching other groups paddle by. Arriving early in the day also allows time to relax and enjoy the rest of the afternoon in camp.
4. Scout ahead of time with online tools
Using the internet to scout campsites and portages might feel like cheating to some. It’s completely understandable if this diminishes the simplicity and delightful unknowns of a BWCAW canoe trip for you. But knowing the lay of the land and reading trip reports from other paddlers can lead to a very enjoyable trip, still full of adventure and curiosity fueled by the hints and descriptions found online. When time in the woods is at a premium (which it is for most folks, myself included), knowing which campsites are favorable can save time and travel. And a great campsite can make a trip that much sweeter.
Two favorites include paddleplanner.com and bwca.com
5. Look out for widowers!
Be sure to check your site for dead or unhealthy trees or branches hanging over tent pads, especially if in the warm months of summer when thunderstorms are common. Find the “lightning tree” (the tallest in the area) to gauge where lightning strikes pose the most risk, as root systems sprawling away from the tree can carry a lightning strike a long distance. Keep in mind that wind often comes out of the west, though during storms wind direction can be unpredictable. Straight-line winds in the BWCAW are not a joke, and injury or worse from a fallen tree is not worth saving the little bit of extra time it takes to find a site without hazards.
Finding a campsite with fewer bugs, relief from the weather, and a chance to avoid the crowds can help make a canoe trip that much sweeter.
While favorite sites are occasionally discovered unexpectedly, following these tips will help you find favorable campsites more consistently on your next trip into canoe country.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about new articles, great deals, and information about the activities you love and the gear that makes them possible:
Have You Read Our Other Content?
The Ten Most Challenging BWCA Lakes to Visit
The Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness encompasses over a million acres and 1100 named lakes interconnected by portages and streams, but sometimes that vast expanse can feel a little cramped, especially along entries where larger numbers of groups congregate. For the cynic who feels the BWCA is lacking some inherent quality of wilderness in this…
8 Great Places to Canoe/Kayak Camp this Fall in Minnesota
Fall is a magical time of the year to get out and enjoy nature. And for me, I think it’s my favorite season to head out in a canoe to relish in the fleeting days of open water. The Boundary Waters are so special this time of year, and next week’s article will cover how…
Map Mondays – Week 9 – Trout to Moose River South
As part of our continuing series on the “route planning game,” we are creating routes using randomly selected entry points, exit points, and number of days to create unique and fun BWCA routes. This route highlights a route across the rugged western section of the BWCA. Check it out: Total Mileage: 35.2 milesNights: 5Paddle Distance:…
Five Ways to Make the Most of BWCA Permit Day
With BWCA permit day just around the corner, plenty of people are waiting in eager anticipation of how opening day will set the trajectory of their summer trips. Some people will log on the moment that permits open to try to reserve a premium entry point on the dates that they are available to go.…
Map Mondays – Week 3 – Crab Lake/Cummings Lake to Big Lake
As part of our continuing series on the “route planning game,” we are creating routes using randomly selected entry points, exit points, and number of days to create unique and fun BWCA routes. This week is an arduous 6 night trip through the far western reaches of the BWCA. This area of the BWCA can…
Three Generations of BWCAW Rules Videos – Side by Side
It’s as ubiquitous of an experience as one can find tied to a canoe trip into the Boundary Waters, and the memories of it are deeply rooted in my childhood as they are for many who make the annual pilgrimage north to paddle the border waters of canoe country. Even now, I can close my…
A Week in January – A Winter Trip Report
The week we had looked forward to had come around again: the Week of Winter annual BWCA trip. This tradition is relatively new, last year was our first, but it seems poised to be a trip that continues annually. January is a fascinating time to take a week long BWCA trip both because winter…
Six Rules for BWCAW Portage Etiquette
If you are new to wilderness canoe camping, especially in a heavily used wilderness area like the BWCAW, then the group traffic at some of the busier portages in Canoe Country may come as a shock. Here are six [written and unwritten] rules you should apply the next time you portage on a well-congested portage trail.…
The Annual Border Challenges – A BeaV Perspective
We are a week away from the annual Minnesota Border Route Canoe Challenges hosted by The Water Tribe. Each year, a small-yet-dedicated crew set off from Sha Sha Resort near International Falls, from Crane Lake or Little Indian Sioux on the western edge of the BWCA, or from Moose Lake off the Fernberg with the…
The BWCAW Permit and Visitor Use Report
At the end of July, last year’s visitor use report was published by the USFS. It notes current statistics and trends in visitor numbers and activities. It also provides a unique benchmark which, along with past visitor surveys (and more major studies from 2007, 1992, and 1969) gives a glimpse into the people utilizing the…
Author Bio:
