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Trip Planning Forum

Best waterfalls

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Date/Time: 06/02/2024 06:52AM

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Best waterfalls

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
mgraber	01/10/2015 05:23PM The best falls trip IMHO is Fall lake to Moose river north. It will take you past Newton Falls,Pipestone Falls,Upper Basswood,Wheelbarrow,Lower Basswood, and Curtain Falls.It is a FANTASTIC trip. Very little portaging,crazy good fishing(especially Basswood,Crooked,Iron,and Lac La Croix.Also small lakes, huge lakes,Small creeks,larger river,swamp.All that combined with 6 falls.It looks long but can be done in 7 or 8 days no problem. We have done it 3 times and outside our Quetico trips it is still my favorite.
cyclones30	01/09/2015 08:48AM This was also just posted on another topic about Basswood. "If you don't mind leaving from Fall Lake at EP 24 the folks at Packsack canoes are fantastic and will tow up to the no motor zone about an hour paddle from Upper Basswood Falls. They are located in Winton. We have done this many times. If you need more info e mail me. Dodger."
cyclones30	01/07/2015 06:19PM Here's the link to my trip report. Trip Report Here's a map from my trip. We started at EP 23 (Mudro) and took Jackfish Bay up to upper Basswood falls. We camped just above the first falls on night 1. Then there's a mile portage and another short one around some rapids. Then Wheelbarrow Falls and then lower Basswood Falls in my original picture. The fastest way to the area is probably up through Horse Lake and Horse River, but that puts you between lower and Wheelbarrow and you'll be backtracking to see them all. We ended up doing a much larger loop but this area is very nice and fairly well traveled. We went past all 3 and ate lunch at a nice campsite below the lower falls so we saw them all in half a day. Next time I'm in the area, I'll definitely slow down and take more time to explore, take pictures, and fish.
heavycanoe	01/07/2015 10:39AM quote cyclones30: "I've done a loop twice that involved both Basswood falls and obviously Wheelbarrow falls in between. Each one is different and they can all be seen easily in the same day if you wish. " Can you give more details of the loop? this sounds like a good option for us.
drglock	01/06/2015 06:18PM There are so many! Take a lifetime to try and see them all :) Last year on our maiden voyage we went to lower basswood fals and were lucky enough to nab one of the only two campsites right at the base of the falls. it was the most memorable camping trip of my life as we spent 2 days relaxing in the unending roar of the water and the unbelievable view.
mgraber	01/04/2015 09:31PM Curtain falls is probably the most spectacular as far as size, and the three falls along the basswood river(upper, wheelbarrow, and lower) are pretty awesome, with lower being pretty amazing (and occasionally deadly).My fav is Curtain, my wife's is Lower Basswood.Wheelbarrow and Lower Basswood are both double falls.
cyclones30	01/04/2015 08:32PM I've done a loop twice that involved both Basswood falls and obviously Wheelbarrow falls in between. Each one is different and they can all be seen easily in the same day if you wish.
HansSolo	01/02/2015 05:26PM A lot of good references already, but one of my favorites is the waterfall along the "stairway portage". Often refereed to as the Rose Lake waterfall, it's actually Duncan Lake that tumbles into Rose Lake, as most BWCAW aficionados know. Makes for a great shower as well, just skip the soap. Hans Solo
TuscaroraBorealis	01/02/2015 05:02PM Look here for a few favorites
tobiedog	01/01/2015 10:00PM Johnson. Had to paint out a part of one photo but you get the idea. I forget which one is upper and which one is lower.
CardinalNation	01/01/2015 08:51PM Curtain Falls
caribouluvr	12/31/2014 12:06PM I highly recommend Lower Basswood Falls. It's awesome - one side is more of a drop-style waterfall, and the other is like a huge cascade. There are campsites right there on either side. Lucky for us, all of the rain last early summer had it roaring plenty, even on July 20. It wasn't even that crowded for a warm Sunday afternoon.
mooseplums	12/30/2014 06:36PM Johnson falls, Rebecca, and. Cattyman. in that order. Curtain Falls is Spectacular
MacCamper	12/30/2014 05:59PM Following several suggestions, Johnson Falls took me away last October. Be sure and keep going to the top falls as they may be easy to miss. However, as popular as they are I am sure the area can become quite busy...too busy for me and thus I went in mid-September. Mac
Savage Voyageur	12/30/2014 05:09PM Johnson falls has always been at the top of my list. It has been at least 20 years since I've seen it. I'm going back next year, can't wait.
kajy	12/30/2014 04:31PM Johnson falls has my vote took kids there and they always talk about it
heavycanoe	12/30/2014 02:42PM quote Rob Johnson: "quote billconner: "quote Rob Johnson: "I'm biased...but I like Johnson Falls. It has an upper and lower section and a plunge pool for swimming. HC...of all the falls we have seen together in the BWCA Johnson Falls is an order of magnitude better." So Rob, do you know which ancestor they were named after?" My dad had me convinced we were related to Jeremiah Johnson...the mountain man portrayed by Roert Redford. As to namesake on the falls?" So it was named after your great Uncle Jeremiah then?
heavycanoe	12/30/2014 02:39PM We always stop at gooseberry falls, but we will have to stop at a few others along the way next time.
housty9	12/30/2014 12:47PM Curtain falls in the spring is very impressive, if coming from Crooked to Iron stay way to the left, portage is on left side when heading west.
Rob Johnson	12/30/2014 10:26AM quote billconner: "quote Rob Johnson: "I'm biased...but I like Johnson Falls. It has an upper and lower section and a plunge pool for swimming. HC...of all the falls we have seen together in the BWCA Johnson Falls is an order of magnitude better." So Rob, do you know which ancestor they were named after?" My dad had me convinced we were related to Jeremiah Johnson...the mountain man portrayed by Roert Redford. As to namesake on the falls?
billconner	12/30/2014 07:17AM quote Rob Johnson: "I'm biased...but I like Johnson Falls. It has an upper and lower section and a plunge pool for swimming. HC...of all the falls we have seen together in the BWCA Johnson Falls is an order of magnitude better." So Rob, do you know which ancestor they were named after?
Rob Johnson	12/30/2014 02:57AM I'm biased...but I like Johnson Falls. It has an upper and lower section and a plunge pool for swimming. HC...of all the falls we have seen together in the BWCA Johnson Falls is an order of magnitude better.
Jackfish	12/29/2014 10:00PM quote billconner: "Rebecca Falls ain't bad neither - but don't think it's good for swimming under. " And if you happen to be in the neighborhood, make sure you stop at Curtain Falls. Absolutely impressive.
Woodtick	12/29/2014 09:39PM quote kanoes: "quote Woodtick: "stop at some of the state parks along the shore to see some falls. All of the parks along the shore have waterfalls. Some are bigger than others." high falls, baptism river....impressive." That is a good one. And Caribou Falls on the Caribou River is another spectacular sight.
Chross16	12/29/2014 09:35PM I really enjoyed Johnson falls
kanoes	12/29/2014 09:30PM quote Woodtick: "stop at some of the state parks along the shore to see some falls. All of the parks along the shore have waterfalls. Some are bigger than others." high falls, baptism river....impressive.
Woodtick	12/29/2014 09:17PM Do a canoe trip up the Gunflint. And on your way up there or back, stop at some of the state parks along the shore to see some falls. All of the parks along the shore have waterfalls. Some are bigger than others. Some have crowds of people (Gooseberry), others have none - like this one...
billconner	12/29/2014 02:15PM Gotta be Louisa Falls in the Q and the devil's bathtub. Love sitting at the base of the falls and and letting it massage my back and neck with spectacular views of Agnes Lake. Rebecca Falls ain't bad neither - but don't think it's good for swimming under.
old_salt	12/29/2014 12:35PM I like Pipestone Falls and all of the falls in the Basswood river. Also Curtain Falls. This could be done as a one way trip in 5 days.
BearDown	12/29/2014 12:25PM Rose had been my favorite. Cattyman is good, and you can get in there and play if it's warm, and that's also on the way to my favorite area... Fraser lake.
LuvMyBell	12/29/2014 12:18PM My vote goes to Cattyman Falls. Not because they are the most spectacular falls in the BWCA, but because when I am there I am in one of my favorite areas of the BWCA. Johnson Falls are pretty scenic, especially if you are lucky enough to be there without the crowds.
Grandma L	12/29/2014 12:07PM Curtain Falls gets my vote along with Lower Basswood.
heavycanoe	12/29/2014 10:48AM It is that time of year again, it seems after Christmas My attention turns to planning the annual trip. My daughter (age 13) and I have gone the last two years together and we seem to enjoy the waterfalls the best. I think we are still interested in staying on the US side for one more year. We have gone to Rose falls and Devils Cascade. that is the background the the question, but we will want to plan our 2015 trip around your answers probably 5 days. So if you had to rank your best BW waterfalls how would your ranking go?