I'll be making my first trip into Quetico July 17 thru 24. Will be in the general area of Argo. Trying to get a general idea of how busy it will be/campsite availability.

Have been to BWCA twice, as well as WCPP and Wabakimi for comparison.

Thank you in advance for any info provided.

Will there be others camped on the lake? Maybe. Maybe not...possible you could have the lake to yourself.

Will you have trouble finding a campsite? Nope!

Experience closer to Wab and WCPP than BCWA, though certainly more traffic than those two parks.

That lake has the clearest ocean blue water of any lake in Quetico. Not clear like water clear, but clear like glacier blue clear.

It's a big lake and it will be busier than WCPP or Wabakimi but still serine.
One thing the Q has that the more northern parks has is a topical feel with the humidity and bigger trees.

Tom

I've done six BWCA trips and seven Quetico trips. In the BWCA, you have to look for a campsite by early afternoon if you're in a popular area or close to an entry point.
In the Quetico, you can look for a campsite any time of day you please. Probably 75% of the time, you'll get the exact campsite you're shooting for. I would say 75% of the time I'm not even aware of another group on the lake or bay I'm camped on. It has never been an issue to find a site, especially on a bigger lake with lots of good campsite options like Argo.

As others have said, the color of the water in Argo is unlike many lakes in the BWCA and Q. Kahshahpiwi has a similar water color, in my opinion. And there are other very clear lakes like Burt/Marj/Joyce, but very few with the blue hue. I wouldn't describe it like glacier melt since it doesn't have the milky appearance though, at least not to my eyes.

If you are curious, you can log into the Quetico permitting site and check on how many permits have been pulled for Bottle and McAree. That should give you a sense of how crowded it will be. Each of those EPs have two permits per day.

Below is a screenshot from one of the views on the website…


If I had to guess, I’d say you will see people, but not have a problem finding a site but the primo 5 star sites may be taken. If you want intel on Quetico campsites, check out PP.

You'll be fine

Argo is a spectacular lake. My favorite in all of Quetico and BWCA....

There are plenty of campsites, so even if the lake is "Busy"- (relative term), you should be able to find a site with privacy.

Elk lake (just to the east) is a similar lake, water clarity wise. A lot smaller of a lake, but every bit as beautiful.

Make sure you run up the Siobahn river in the NW corner of the lake. There are some beautiful old growth cedars at the end of the river.....

Also- Darky lake to the north (think its been rebranded Darkwater lake?) has some great pictographs and cliffs that are worth seeing.

Good Lake Trout in Argo (and some big Smallmouth).

I think Argo has the highest elevation of all the lakes in that area, which leads to its clarity I am told.....

There is a campsite in the SE corner of Birch island on the east side of the lake that has a great jumping ledge into a private lagoon.

All of the sites in the middle islands are good as well, with one being spectacular and spacious.....

ubbenholdthekraut: "I think Argo has the highest elevation of all the lakes in that area, which leads to its clarity I am told.....
"

Lake elevations:
Argo 396(meters)
Brent 397
Hurn 401
Ted 408
Milt 398
Darkwater 376
McIntyre 405
Cone 405