Hello everybody, This is the first time I have posted on this board. I am made several trips to the BWCA but this will be the first time I bring my daughter with. She is 4 years old and loves camping but has only car camped. I am thinking of going in through the Lizz/Swamp entry point. I am wondering for those who had used this before, how busy this area is? I want to get a few portages in and have several options for campsites. I think we will probably only go into caribou or horseshoe lake and basecamp for a few days. I don't want to do anything too long because of my daughter. What have others seen on these lakes for availability of campsites. Are these lakes fairly popular or should we be able to find a site? Thanks for any advice.

The southeast camp on Horseshoe is small and not many people go there, it would be fine for just you and your daughter. Good moose area, too.

You don't give us dates for the trip. This can be a busy entry, but should be a good one for a short father/daughter trip. Just get your permit early. If this is a weekend trip, you may have to go as far as Gaskin for a site. We entered on a Sunday and all the sites on Horseshoe were taken in the morning. We wanted a site on Vista and those were also full. We returned to Horseshoe and by Noon or 1 we had our choice on Horseshoe.

Check out the maps on this site. The campsite dots often have links to comments/pictures about the sites. It can help you target a couple campsites on each lake that may be good for your daughter instead of paddling all the way around hoping to get lucky.

As noted earlier, this is a moose-y area. Mom's and calves are pretty common (but not guaranteed). The portages are not particularly hard, but can be muddy.

Enjoy.

It is fairly popular, I think, and can be busy at times. A lot may depend on when you go and what day you enter. It will be less busy earlier or later in season and during the week vs. the weekend. I go in Sept and have never had a problem finding one there. But even in Sept. I have seen easily accessed areas very busy on a weekend with really nice weather for example. As maxxbhp mentioned, since there are only the 2 of you, any site is big enough and useable.

Brother and I left out of there mid-September a few years ago. I think we got to Brule before seeing another soul.

quote Michwall2: "You don't give us dates for the trip. This can be a busy entry, but should be a good one for a short father/daughter trip.

Dates are still up in the air but I am thinking late June or early July. I am thinking of starting on a Tuesday or Wednesday and staying for about three nights.

with those dates and midweek entry you should be good. Great area to take kids. If Caribou gets a little busy during your stay, take a neat creek paddle up into Meeds where there is great fishing and solitude. If you stay on Horseshoe and things get busy, daytrip to Gaskin....or maybe Vista....for some solitude. Have fun.

Hey! Welcome to the board.

Here is our basecamp trip to Horseshoe.

As far as business goes... This was Labor Day weekend, and it was pretty busy. Depending on your comfort zone, the most SE campsite on Vista is AMAZING!!!! I kind of wish we would have stayed there.

Basecamp on Horseshoe with an 8 year old.