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?

Curtain Falls gets my vote along with Lower Basswood.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

I really enjoyed Johnson falls

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

We always stop at gooseberry falls, but we will have to stop at a few others along the way next time.

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?

Johnson falls has my vote took kids there and they always talk about it

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.

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

Johnson falls, Rebecca, and. Cattyman. in that order.

Curtain Falls is Spectacular

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.

Curtain Falls

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.

Look here for a few favorites

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.