My wife and I are planning a trip in 2018 to view the Perseid meteor showers, which peak around August 9-13 (dates of our trip, maybe Aug 9-14). It's also a new moon (moon is dark), so the conditions should be perfect if the clouds stay away. My research says that they're seen in the Northeast sky around midnight, moving to overhead by the early dawn.

Do any campsites come to mind for having a clear view of the Northeast sky? A site similar to what I am thinking of, but facing in the wrong direction, is the southeast campsite on Lynx whose fire grate looks out over a 20ft cliff above the entire lake.

Bonus points if the lake/entry point has "backup" options. My three trips to the BWCA have been from the Ely side, but Grand Marais would be fine, too, I suppose? I'm not familiar with the differences.

Short version: EP with clear views to Northeast sky.

Right away I think of a campsite on alder lake. It is wide open and perfect for viewing the northeast sky! Alder is accessable up the gunflint. EP64. Good luck. Marc

Don't make it so hard - enter lake One and head to the Lake Two or even on to Lake Three- there are several site that have great open viewing to the northeast. Or, go over to Highway 61 at Tofte and up the Sawbill - there is a great pullout at the top and you can see just about everywhere.

The problem with you plan is that time of year is the busiest in the BW. You can target a campsite and there is no guarantee that it will be available when you get there. Another strategy may be to do a midnight paddle?

That being said: The lake that I think has the most sites with chances of success is Cherokee Lake. There are several sites that would be excellent and others that would work well. There is a campsite on the western shore on a spit of open rock. The northern most island site would be great. There are a couple along the southern shore that would work well.

Alpine Lake is in a burn zone that is recovering, but I think you will find many sites here with open views of the skies. (Seagull Lake may also have the open views to the northeast you need.)

Little Sag has a killer site on a peninsula on the southern shore that would be magnificent spot. There are other sites with your northeast views on Little Sag.

Hope you get to see many meteors!

Thanks, everyone, keep the replies coming! I will be looking at these EPs on maps/books. Midnight paddles are out -- wife is terrified of dark water.

Stuart has at least two wide open campsites that would be great. (1823 best, 1828 good too)

The first three and the second to last pictures are from campsite 1823: http://dew042.org/pics/BWCA2013/BWCA2013.html

Great ideas, if anyone has anything else, wife are sitting down soon to pick :)

The peninsula site on the west side of Cherokee (886). Great viewing from camp, from the rock landing, and if you hike up behind camp you'll find a great elevated spot that you'd think was made just for something like this.