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BWCA Campsite 870
| Campsite Number: | 870 Link to Map |
| Camp Status: | open |
| Lake: | Alton Lake |
| Lake Camp Number: | 15 |
| Approx. Latitude: | 47.89050 |
| Approx. Longitude: | -90.89822 |
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There are 11 member comments about this campsite.
Member Comment 1 - (posted on 08/21/2020)
Camp Info Posted by:
norshor
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
6
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
08/17/2017
Camp Notes:
A Great site with plenty of room for larger parties. Good landing on a "beach" just below the rock platform that provides great views down the whole lake. A little open in the main area so shade may be a little hard to come by.
Member Comment 2 - (posted on 08/17/2019)
Camp Info Posted by:
Jthuso
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
9
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
08/01/2019
Camp Notes:
We had a group of 9. Large spacious site with room for 4 tents if you don't mind a little communal living. Soft ground for easy tent staking. Separate area for 1 small tent. Open area for kitchen setup, gear and tarps. Nice boulders in camp and rock ledge at back of site for organizing gear/stuff on. We setup 4 hammocks. Elevated site with nice rock outcrop at shore line for sitting to enjoy lake view (Pict in POI). Open space good for star gazing, somewhat exposed though if it storms. Very limited options for food pack trees. Two trees just down slope south of camp that we used but you need a creative setup to make it work. Wide sandy beach landing on north side easily accommodates 4 canoes (pict on POI). Another sandy landing on south side but less convenient access. Can walk out from the north landing about 500' into the lake to exposed rocks in bay and still touch bottom. Latrine is a long uphill hike (pit is nearly full). Only downsides were close tent spacing, lack of food pack trees, and somewhat exposed for storm. Otherwise a 5 star site. I would discount reports of convenient backdoor access to Kelso river. It's a rather ugly, marshy path and the river access at the trail end is shallow, mucky and full of stumps. I would not attempt to land or launch a canoe there except in an emergency. Good walleye fishing just off the site into the bay after 8:30 pm in 7-10 ft (fishing POI).
Member Comment 3 - (posted on 09/13/2018)
Camp Info Posted by:
kendomn
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
6
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
09/11/2018
Camp Notes:
Very good site. Has a large footprint. Lots of places to walk around. You will not feel in any way claustrophobic. Odd though that it basically has only one (large) area for tents. I didn't see any other tent good spots. You could easily set up a number of tents but they'd be close together. Great for a large tent though. Lots of space to roam and good areas to set up a chair or a hammock, or whatever. Good rocks to sit on. There's two nice little bays on either side of the site (which is on a small peninsula). The beach area on the north side was quite nice. On the downside, the site is exposed to the elements. I had some strong wind when I was there and the wind just ripped through the main area on the site.
Member Comment 4 - (posted on 08/10/2017)
Camp Info Posted by:
norshor
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
8
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
08/06/2017
Camp Notes:
A great site that can get overlooked with most traffic heading south into the lady chain. Perfect for base camping or large groups, there is ample, flat, sandy space for tents behind a sizable common area. The site sits on a high, bedrock peninsula on almost all sides, but it can be pretty shallow for jumping. The landing is a nice, sandy beach in a secluded, shallow sandy cove. The only con could be the rather long trek to the latrine, but thats not a big deal for me.
Member Comment 5 - (posted on 05/22/2017)
Camp Info Posted by:
BendingBranchesPaddler
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
9
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
05/11/2017
Camp Notes:
Very spacious campsite with great views surrounding. Excellent star-gazing areas as well as plenty of spots to explore. Latrine is a bit of a hike, so do your best to plan ahead...
Member Comment 6 - (posted on 10/01/2013)
Camp Info Posted by:
Doughboy12
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
6
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
01/26/2013
Camp Notes:
As others have said...We used the back door from the river. A little tricky with the sleds/snowshoes but nothing out of the ordinary. Great base camp for day trips of the "river loop"
Member Comment 7 - (posted on 06/20/2012)
Camp Info Posted by:
brantagal23
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
3
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
05/20/2010
Camp Notes:
This is a great site... unless you're in a downpour or extended rain. Lucky for us, we had both. There's a huge boulder on the north side of the campsite that acts like a waterfall in heavy rain and a gutter for rain long term rain. Site is relatively flat, dropping off a little towards the lake, so water pools. A lot. Not much you can do about it, very open and not much area for a tarp either. But it was spectacular for the first 24 hours we set up camp.
Member Comment 8 - (posted on 09/02/2010)
Camp Info Posted by:
IBFLY
Campsite Rating:
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Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
07/30/2010
Camp Notes:
I echo all other comments here. Absolutely great site.
A little dusty perhaps. The site has a nice little back door to the kelso river.
Member Comment 9 - (posted on 07/19/2009)
Camp Info Posted by:
jfoxmedic
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
9
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
07/04/2009
Camp Notes:
Very nice large site. Superb rock areas to sit on and watch stars/world go by. Great sand beach on the west edge of the site for landing.
Drawbacks are latrine distance, and a bit of traffic heading to the Kelso River Portage
Member Comment 10 - (posted on 04/13/2008)
Camp Info Posted by:
Darkstar75
Campsite Rating:
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Max. Group Size Recommended:
6
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
09/03/2007
Camp Notes:
Great Site!! Excellent Views and a Sandy Beach.
Member Comment 11 - (posted on 04/13/2008)
Camp Info Posted by:
Darkstar75
Campsite Rating:
Login or Sign up here to view rating.
Max. Group Size Recommended:
6
Lake:
Alton Lake
Entry Point:
38 - Sawbill Lake
Approximate Date of Visit:
09/03/2007
Camp Notes:
Great Site!! Excellent Views and a Sandy Beach.
