What lake or campsite has the best remaining old growth trees in the BWCA?

Do you by chance work in the lumber industry? :)

The oldest tree in the state is on Basswood. A cedar said to be over a 1000 years old.

the island campsite on Boulder lake has old growth cedar.
seagull lake has a tree that is really old, too, the firefighters put sprinklers on it during the cavity lake fire... or maybe it was the ham lake fire.

Ramshead Lake has a nice stand of old white pine. Also on Oyster on the campsite just north of the portage from the Oyster river.

marsonite: "Ramshead Lake has a nice stand of old white pine. Also on Oyster on the campsite just north of the portage from the Oyster river. "

+1. Also, Rocky Lake, just north of Oyster, has some really nice white pines.

carmike: "Do you by chance work in the lumber industry? :) "

LOL...

Maps from Sierra club, 1970s, Still useful. My opinion is the area around LLC la croix and the area east of the gunflint

Trees

Enjoy a good number of old growth trees on the Oyster to Agnes portage. A stream is close by toward the Agnes exit. Not too much brush either.

TuscaroraBorealis - Bottom of Johnson falls?

DanCooke: "TuscaroraBorealis - Bottom of Johnson falls?
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Yes it is.

The best old trees in the BWCA are on the Sioux Hustler trail, especially the north half. Beautiful white and red pines. A day trip walking from Loon or Heritage up to Pageant lake gives you a good taste but it continues nicely from there.
Some of the islands on Lac La Croix have great groups of pines, I'm thinking of the Fish Stake narrows area especially.
There are some huge trees off the east end of Lady Boot Bay in La Croix but they are buried in there a bit.
This is a slightly different answer, but the most open forests that I have been in are around Cummings lake on the west end, just north of Crab lake. This is the only lake that I have ever been to that I could walk the shore line and fish. The trees are large but not huge and there is a lot less undergrowth near the lake. This makes the lake have the appearance of larger trees. Very beautiful and enjoyable to be able to walk someplace besides the portages. the other lakes around Cummings to the NE were similar.

The old Cedar trees between Hanson and Knife are in the 1000 year old area I think.

Here is a more recent map that combines those old Sierra Club maps with burn area (and blowdown) data:

What is Wilderness?

I know BWCA was specified but a mention goes for Ottawa National Forest Sylvania Wilderness for old hemlock, white pine. Never logged many are so old they are coming down.


In the BWCA some favorites of mine are on the island on Finger Lake, the EP portage from the parking to Stuart River.

butthead

I recall a stand of very large old cedar trees toward the end of the portage from Gordon to Unload lake on the way to Frost Lake. Probably the oldest ones I've come across in the BWCA so far.

nlong: "I recall a stand of very large old cedar trees toward the end of the portage from Gordon to Unload lake on the way to Frost Lake. Probably the oldest ones I've come across in the BWCA so far."

There are some nice ones there.

Sorry but I think that this is best found on your own. Bad enough we have people cutting live trees that are smaller. I’d rather people find trees on their own.

butthead: "I know BWCA was specified but a mention goes for Ottawa National Forest Sylvania Wilderness for old hemlock, white pine. Never logged many are so old they are coming down.



In the BWCA some favorites of mine are on the island on Finger Lake, the EP portage from the parking to Stuart River.


butthead"

Much easier to get to, but almost as beautiful as the BWCA. A great intro to canoe camping!

I recall the huge red pines on the Oyster / Oyster River portage being exceptionally big. Although it's now dead the cedar tree that tipped over between Vera and Knife was a sight to see.

jwartman59: "Maps from Sierra club, 1970s, Still useful. My opinion is the area around LLC la croix and the area east of the gunflint
Where did you find these two maps?









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I was amazed at the size of the pines at my campsite on Stuart Lake, until I walked the portage to the Dahlgren River. There is a nice stand of massive pines on that portage trail. (and a nice little waterfall waiting at the end)

Thank You for sharing this information. Now I have some other places to visit in BWCA.

Frenchy: "Thank You for sharing this information. Now I have some other places to visit in BWCA."

If you haven't done so already? Check out this forum .

That'll be Ely in another 50+ years after more regulations kick in!! :)

Somewhere in the area of Rose Falls we came across this big ol' tree

johnMN: "

jwartman59: "Maps from Sierra club, 1970s, Still useful. My opinion is the area around LLC la croix and the area east of the gunflint
Where did you find these two maps?










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Sierra club bulletin published 1970.

1977 GIS Map from my collection. Red is area with predominate pine.