Hello,
I've posted stats a couple of times. Here is 2015 stats after 12 hours of reservation being open. These stats are for the months of May through Sep for overnight paddle. Previous years:
http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=700757&forumID=16&confID=1
http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=446484&forumID=16&confID=1
I hope this helps with your trip planning!

3674 reservation made. This is up from last year.

Sunday and Monday continue to be the most popular days to enter.
Mon - 16.88%
Tue - 8.60%
Wed - 11.09%
Thu - 16.85%
Fri - 16.14%
Sat - 12.10%
Sun - 18.33%

Most popular days to enter. (Click on image to enlarge.)


Most popular entry points by percentage reserved vs. available
35.95% - 23 Mudro Lake
34.64% - 33 Little Gabbro Lake
28.20% - 30 Lake One
26.70% - 25 Moose Lake
20.35% - 16 Moose/Portage River NORTH
19.93% - 77 South Hegman Lake
18.02% - 24 Fall Lake
14.38% - 32 South Kawishiwi River
13.73% - 22 Mudro Lake RESTRICTED
13.40% - 14 Little Indian Sioux NORTH
12.42% - 84 Snake River
11.11% - 19 Stuart River
11.11% - 69 John Lake
10.46% - 68 Pine Lake
10.13% - 27 Snowbank Lake
8.66% - 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes
8.50% - 62 Clearwater Lake
7.52% - 26 Wood Lake
7.19% - 35 Isabella Lake
5.88% - 08 Moose River SOUTH
5.88% - 43 Bower Trout Lake
5.66% - 50 Cross Bay Lake
5.56% - 64 East Bearskin
5.23% - 60 Duncan Lake
5.23% - 29 North Kawishiwi River
5.23% - 61 Daniels Lake
5.19% - 09 Little Indian Sioux SOUTH
4.58% - 44 Ram Lake
4.58% - 75 Little Isabella River
4.14% - 31 From Farm Lake
4.11% - 38 Sawbill Lake
3.92% - 30F Lake One #30F
3.40% - 51 Missing Link Lake
3.10% - 04 Crab Lake
3.03% - 54 Seagull Lake
2.98% - 37 Kawishiwi Lake
2.61% - 45 Morgan Lake
2.29% - 06 Slim Lake
2.24% - 41 Brule Lake
2.08% - 55 Saganaga Lake
1.96% - 52 Brant Lake
1.96% - 34 Island River
1.74% - 39 Baker Lake
1.74% - 57 Magnetic Lake
1.59% - 01 Trout Lake
1.31% - 58 South Lake
1.31% - 49 Skipper & Portage Lakes
1.31% - 66 Crocodile River
1.18% - 36 Hog Creek
0.87% - 12 Little Vermilion Lake
0.87% - 42 Brule Lake ONLY
0.87% - 48 Meeds Lake
0.87% - 71 From Canada
0.65% - 07 From Big Lake
0.65% - 20 Angleworm Lake
0.65% - 40 Homer Lake
0.65% - 54A Seagull Lake ONLY
0.65% - 80 Larch Creek
0.44% - 55A Saganaga Lake ONLY
0.33% - 70 North Fowl Lake
0.00% - 12A Lac LaCroix ONLY
0.00% - 28 Snowbank Lake RESTRICTED
0.00% - 67 Bog Lake

Most popular entry points by total number of reservation made.
1103 - 25 Moose Lake
386 - 24 Fall Lake
330 - 23 Mudro Lake
302 - 30 Lake One
218 - 16 Moose/Portage River NORTH
124 - 27 Snowbank Lake
123 - 14 Little Indian Sioux NORTH
106 - 33 Little Gabbro Lake
88 - 38 Sawbill Lake
61 - 77 South Hegman Lake
54 - 55 Saganaga Lake
53 - 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes
51 - 54 Seagull Lake
44 - 32 South Kawishiwi River
42 - 22 Mudro Lake RESTRICTED
42 - 30F Lake One #30F
41 - 37 Kawishiwi Lake
39 - 62 Clearwater Lake
34 - 64 East Bearskin
34 - 01 Trout Lake
26 - 50 Cross Bay Lake
26 - 51 Missing Link Lake
24 - 60 Duncan Lake
24 - 41 Brule Lake
23 - 26 Wood Lake
22 - 35 Isabella Lake
19 - 84 Snake River
19 - 31 From Farm Lake
19 - 04 Crab Lake
17 - 19 Stuart River
17 - 69 John Lake
16 - 68 Pine Lake
12 - 52 Brant Lake
9 - 08 Moose River SOUTH
9 - 43 Bower Trout Lake
9 - 36 Hog Creek
8 - 29 North Kawishiwi River
8 - 61 Daniels Lake
8 - 39 Baker Lake
8 - 57 Magnetic Lake
8 - 12 Little Vermilion Lake
7 - 44 Ram Lake
7 - 75 Little Isabella River
7 - 06 Slim Lake
6 - 58 South Lake
4 - 09 Little Indian Sioux SOUTH
4 - 45 Morgan Lake
4 - 49 Skipper & Portage Lakes
4 - 42 Brule Lake ONLY
4 - 48 Meeds Lake
4 - 71 From Canada
3 - 34 Island River
2 - 66 Crocodile River
2 - 07 From Big Lake
2 - 20 Angleworm Lake
2 - 40 Homer Lake
2 - 54A Seagull Lake ONLY
2 - 55A Saganaga Lake ONLY
1 - 80 Larch Creek
1 - 70 North Fowl Lake
0 - 12A Lac LaCroix ONLY
0 - 28 Snowbank Lake RESTRICTED
0 - 67 Bog Lake

Interesting. Thanks for putting it together and sharing. Got 4 different permits reserved (3 different trips) within the first 16 minutes it was open.

Yeah, I booked #14 by 9:02am, because I knew it was more popular.

Figuring average party size at 3-4 I'd guess, it's a wonder you're ever able to get away from folks...that's a lot of people using the BW!

Thanks! That's interesting. I figured Sunday would be one of the more popular. (it is for us)

Invaluable stats for us OCD numbers junkies! Thanks. May I ask a bit about your method? It seems like compiling this information would require:
a) a LOT of mouse clicks and open browser tabs,
b) access to the reservation system that we mere mortals are not granted,
c) an army of helpers, or
d) all of the above.

The only other stat of which I like to take note is what you might label 'Most popular entry points by number of days completely reserved and no longer available'

Good work!

Invaluable stats for us OCD numbers junkies! Thanks. May I ask a bit about your method? It seems like compiling this information would require:
a) a LOT of mouse clicks and open browser tabs,
b) access to the reservation system that we mere mortals are not granted,
c) an army of helpers, or
d) all of the above.

The only other stat of which I like to take note is what you might label 'Most popular entry points by number of days completely reserved and no longer available'

Good work!

Oh, and clickable links to your previous work:
2012
2014

Great data, thank you! This is very interesting, especially for us stat nerds.

Looks like Bog Lake is the place to go if you do not want to see others. Anybody know if you can go from Bog Lake north on the creek. Could be an adventure.

1/2 for Angleworm Checking in!

quote tpember: "Looks like Bog Lake is the place to go if you do not want to see others. Anybody know if you can go from Bog Lake north on the creek. Could be an adventure."

You can, just not very far before you'll have to turn around and go back. Used to be good perch fishing in Bog years ago! And you're right about not seeing many people;)

Based on a 2007 survey, average group size is 4.4 and average trip length is 4.4 days.

Aren't 98% of permits reserved on any given day for almost any permit site by the time a particular entry day comes around? I looked at EPs with between 2 and 27 permits available using the historical lookup on this site. It's interesting to see which days go first on reservation day, but in the end, they all fill up, don't they?

Thanks was just looking for this.

quote tpember: "Looks like Bog Lake is the place to go if you do not want to see others. Anybody know if you can go from Bog Lake north on the creek. Could be an adventure."

Unless someone knows some secret way to go farther North into the BWCAW from Bog Lake, I am not aware of it. Bog is a dead end lake as far as canoeing goes. The North half got burned over in the Pagami fire. Not sure on the status of the camp sites but I think some may be closed after the fire. I spent 2 weeks on the Pagami fire, my division was from Section 29 Lake to Bog Lake. From what I saw of that fire, I think it would be near impossible to walk north of Bog Lake to the Isabella River, due to the amount of jack strawed trees that came down after the fire. I do not fish much but I have heard that there is pretty decent Walleye's fishing in the lake.

Thanks for putting that together, very interesting

Here's my stab at it... numbers taken around 1:00 this afternoon, 28 hours into the process.

Most popular entry points by total number of days all permits have been pulled
(Entry points you ought to reserve early if you are set on entering on a certain day)

37 - 33 Little Gabbro Lake (2)
20 - 69 John Lake (1)
20 - 84 Snake River (1)
19 - 68 Pine Lake (1)
17 - 23 Mudro Lake (6)
16 - 19 Stuart River (1)
13 - 30 Lake One (7)
11 - 22 Mudro Lake RESTRICTED (2)
9 - 08 Moose River SOUTH (1)
9 - 29 North Kawishiwi River (1)
9 - 43 Bower Trout Lake (1)
8 - 44 Ram Lake (1)
8 - 61 Daniels Lake (1)
7 - 32 South Kawishiwi River (2)
7 - 75 Little Isabella River (1)
5 - 16 Moose/Portage River NORTH (7)
5 - 26 Wood Lake (2)
4 - 45 Morgan Lake (1)
4 - 77 South Hegman Lake (2)
3 - 09 Little Indian Sioux SOUTH (1, alt days)
3 - 34 Island River (1)
2 - 24 Fall Lake (14)
2 - 35 Isabella Lake (2)
2 - 62 Clearwater Lake (3)
2 - 66 Crocodile River (1)
1 - 25 Moose Lake (27)
1 - 50 Cross Bay Lake (3)
1 - 80 Larch Creek (1)
0 - the 35 other EPs

This certainly is not to say that John Lake is more popular than Mudro Lake, or that folks are equally attracted to Wood Lake and Moose River North. Obviously, it has to do with offering fewer permits per day. But sorting it this way is another tool that lets you know which entry points might not be available on a certain date if you aren't planning ahead. (Hoping to go in at Little Gabbro? Set your date and get your permits right away. And have some alternate dates in mind.)

It also seems to point out how really unnecessary it is to continue the early permit reservation lottery for Fall Lake and Moose Lake.

And, yes, there are 153 days available May-Sept. Most folks are flexible enough to find a different date if need be. :)

Thanks for the stats

Thanks for the great stats. Do you have, or is it possible to get similar stats for Quetico?

That would be interesting to see!

This is great info! Thank you for putting it together.

Love the data - Thanks!

quote LindenTree3: "

quote tpember: "Looks like Bog Lake is the place to go if you do not want to see others. Anybody know if you can go from Bog Lake north on the creek. Could be an adventure."

Unless someone knows some secret way to go farther North into the BWCA from Bog Lake, I am not aware of it. Bog is a dead end lake as far as canoeing goes. The North half got burned over in the Pagami fire. Not sure on the status of the camp sites but I think some may be closed after the fire. I spent 2 weeks on the Pagami fire, my division was from Section 29 Lake to Bog Lake. From what I saw of that fire, I think it would be near impossible to walk north of Bog Lake to the Isabella River, due to the amount of jack strawed trees that came down after the fire. I do not fish much but I have heard that there is pretty decent Walleye's fishing in the lake."

Up to the time of the fire,there was a little known trail-old logging road you could go from the Bridge crossing the Island river on the Tomahawk. It ran about 0.25-0.4 miles south of the Island river and went for miles and crossed the Mitewan(sp) creek to the northwest, than headed toward the Little Isabella river.

Just south of John lake there was a field the trail went thru,and it was still open from the logging in the 70's and had a little warming shack with a wood stove in it for loggers.

It was my favorite grouse hunting trail in the 70's up until about 2005 when it started getting grown over. A day in the BWCA and just me.

There was also a old trail branching from the main trail and it went and ended about 0.5 miles north of Bog lake.

You could also canoe up the Mitewan from Island river and cross the old logging road.
The last few years much of the trail was getting over grown but you could still follow it. There was red pine plantations back in the BWCA along this trail I believe planted in the late 60's.

Thanks, bwcarocks! Your labors produce some very interesting results!

Thanks for the info.
Once again looks like off the Gunflint and avoid Ely for us.
CB

Very Interesting Pine Tree,

Up to the time of the fire,there was a little known trail-old logging road you could go from the Bridge crossing the Island river on the Tomahawk. It ran about 0.25-0.4 miles south of the Island river and went for miles and crossed the Mitewan(sp) creek to the northwest, than headed toward the Little Isabella river.


Just south of John lake there was a field the trail went thru,and it was still open from the logging in the 70's and had a little warming shack with a wood stove in it for loggers.


It was my favorite grouse hunting trail in the 70's up until about 2005 when it started getting grown over. A day in the BWCA and just me.


There was also a old trail branching from the main trail and it went and ended about 0.5 miles north of Bog lake.


You could also canoe up the Mitewan from Island river and cross the old logging road.
The last few years much of the trail was getting over grown but you could still follow it. There was red pine plantations back in the BWCA along this trail I believe planted in the late 60's.
"

______________________________________________________________________

The road you mentioned is still on my Mckenzie map, and I just loaded the aerial photos' on my computer and the road you describe actually stands out nicely after the Pagami Fire took a lot of the canopy away. I pretty much loose the roadbed north of Bog lake and definitely can't find where it crossed Mitawan Creek.

Listening to you describe the road reminds me of the old loggers I would talk to when I lived in Isabella. They knew all the old trails. It is also a reminder of what Isabella Lake must have been like when Forest Center had over 200 people living there and a post office.

FYI: The Stony River Café in Isabella is in one of the old buildings that was moved from Sawbill Landing when that town closed it's doors.
OK I'll be quite I know I'm a little off thread.

I thought of trying to walk it last year but you could see it was all downfalls now etc.. At one time in spots you could see it was built up and a couple of small gravel pits were present.
I have seen the older topog maps showing the trail crossing the Mitewan and heading toward Little Isabella river where it quit just short of the river will say 0.5 miles. Some topogs it ended just before the Mitewan.
You also could canoe down the Little Isabella and before and you hit the Island river you could see like a landing,that hooked up to a road system that ran along the east side of the Little Isabella river.

My stats:

Number of permits ready: 2

Happy campers sitting at my desk right now: 1

Is there any chance we could get updated statistics?
Thanks!

quote pastorjsackett: "My stats:


Number of permits ready: 2


Happy campers sitting at my desk right now: 1"

Funny what a couple of permits will do. People strut around like they won the World series or a big lottery. Count me in.

@Me2012
Sorry for not seeing this sooner. Give me 5 minutes and I'll query Curly to get updated stats.

@Me2012
Instead of hijacking this post, updated stats are posted here:
http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=833194&forumID=16&confID=1

http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=833194&forumID=16&confID=1

bwcarocks... Thanks for the stats, but please edit your posts and use the "Add a Link to this Message" function. Let me know if you need help with it. Thanks.

Bwcarocks thanks for all the stats! I enjoy spending time looking at them. Thanks again.