My husband had to be in Escanaba for work last week, so we decided to pack for a quick couple nights in Sylvania. We were there probably 25 years ago. A few things have changed- permit system, and reserving your site. As we could not arrive to the area until 3:00, it was nice having a reserved site so we didn't have to search around for one.

We ended up on the Osprey 1 site. Easy to get there, only one portage ( very steep from Clark to Loon, then flat, then a not as steep downhill to a sandy beach). It took about 2 hours to get there. The campsite landing was good, the next 20-30 feet was mushy (probably muddy after a rain), then a steep walk to the camping area. There were a couple decent level tent pads, and 3 sides of the fire pit area were level for chairs. One thing we really noticed was there was very little vegetation like grass. From too many people at the end of the season?? I know it is an old growth area but the site sure looked trampled. The path to the thunderbox was steep. Overall it was a nice site, mostly flat and open.

The one thing we really did NOT like was that we could see and hear the campers at Osprey 2. it was about 100 paces away. Luckily they left the next morning so we had a quiet second night.

It is a very pretty scenic area. The 2 lakes we were on were very clear.
We enjoyed our short time there, but it is not quite the same as the Bwca!

I've always wanted to stay at the Loon site but it seems perennially booked when I have the time to make a trip. I've also avoided all the doubled up campsites for the reason you gave... neighbors in the wilderness. Its a nice area though, I bet a fall colors trip would be awesome.

quote mirth: ". Its a nice area though, I bet a fall colors trip would be awesome."

The colors were just Hinting Thursday. With the very cool temps Friday and Saturday nights there was some definite color on the drive home.

Just got home from 3 days/nights at Birch campsite on Clark. We had reserved a different site (in fact, about a month ago when I did the reservation Birch, Loon and another favorite site were all booked already like usual). When we checked in at the entrance station we were offered Birch which was open due to a cancellation - lucky us. Birch and Loon, have single sites at those locations so you enjoy some solitude. If you can try to go during the week, less busy.

Most locations in Sylvania experience very heavy use, especially on weekends, so all are bare soil and many are quite eroded. The place is being loved to death. I think back to my first trip there on Memorial Day weekend in 1974 and the place was booked up even then and all campsites had 3 individual sites.

We saw just a few random trees starting to turn can't lot. Usually the best color is during the last week of September.

Still a nice place for a quick getaway since it is exactly 300 miles to the entrance station from my house.

I stayed at Birch in 2013. Took advantage of the trail to the beach on the north side at night to watch the Perseids. It was great.

My two sons and I are staying on Birch for 2 nights next weekend. I just finished a solo trip there last weekend and spent two nights on the Coyote site on West Bear. Nice site. It's the only one on this lake, so very quiet. It has some nice tent pads and is on a peninsula with water on three sides. I would recommend this site. I love the BW, but this is 6 hours from my house as compared to 9 for the BW.

I usually keep my maps and mark them with sites we've stayed at. I also keep a small notebook with notes about the sites, pro & cons etc, sites that we check out for future trips. Looks like I will be adding Birch and Coyote to the "stay here" list. Loon is already on the list, but I'd have to get lucky to get that site.

Bobcat on High Lake is nice too. If you haven't seen that lake you should. Gin clear.

quote mirth: "Bobcat on High Lake is nice too. If you haven't seen that lake you should. Gin clear."

This is the clearest inland lake I have ever seen. It is amazing.

When we saw how clear the lakes were we thought we should have brought our snorkeling gear.

Got back last night from my weekend on the Birch campsite on Clark Lake. Nice site. Fairly open. Quiet. Tucked into the back of a bay. The weather was great. Warm, no rain. Spent some time on the Clark lake beach. My son and I took a day trip from Clark to Loon and then to the other lakes south and east of Loon. Fisher, Florence, Big Bateau, Cub and Deer Island. One problem...we could not find the portage from Fisher to Florence. We are experienced in finding portages having taken many BWCA and Sylvania trips, but we spent about an hour searching all over and could not find it. We concluded that it is so seldom used that it must have disappeared. Anyway, we had to head back to Loon and get to Florence by the SE portage on Loon. On the way back we checked out the Loon site on Loon Lake. It was occupied (of course) so we only saw it from the water, but I can see why it is so popular. Water on three sides, open, good sunrise and sunset views.

quote movington: ". Anyway, we had to head back to Loon and get to Florence by the SE portage on Loon. "

Was the Loon to Florence portage easy to find? We casually looked for it as we were fishing but didn't see it. We ended up walking across the Loon to Deer just to stretch our legs.

quote 4keys: "

quote movington: ". Anyway, we had to head back to Loon and get to Florence by the SE portage on Loon. "

Was the Loon to Florence portage easy to find? We casually looked for it as we were fishing but didn't see it. We ended up walking across the Loon to Deer just to stretch our legs. "

Yes. It was right where the map shows, at the end of the lake on the west side. The only issue was that the original portage entrance is blocked by a fallen tree. But you can see where people have landed a little west of that and there is a trail leading back to the original portage.