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Scottjr77
  
04/07/2019 09:06AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Alright everyone, I'm new to this forum but I need some serious help planning my first trip to the BWCA. I'll be going with 4-6 people and am thinking of doing a basecamp route in early July for 4-5 Days. My decision for the basecamp is so we're not spending time putting up and tearing down camp all the time.

The main two places I'm looking at right now are EP64 on East Bearskin Lake and base camping on either Alder, Canoe, Crystal or Pierz. The other is EP47 on Poplar Lake and base camping on either Caribou or Horseshoe. Another route a friend suggested was Fall Lake EP in Ely and going in from there.

We're looking for some scenery/fishing/nice paddling/a decent campsite and to just get away from the crowds. Any and all help would be absolutely wonderful!
 
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04/07/2019 09:57AM  
Scott,
Congrats on the decision to go, you will love it. Both of those routes are good. What I would say about EP 47 is that it is possibly a little more scenic; the uniqueness of Horseshoe Lake adds to the views. That area, and Horseshoe in particular is known as the moose highway for the frequency of moose sightings. The downside is it is probably going to be busier than the Alder area. If you felt like taking a chance you could go one lake further to Vista which is beautiful and has very good fishing. The site on the south end is one of the nicer sites in the BWCA...if you can get it. From Caribou you can head over to Meeds Lake for a night or two, or a daytrip on a quiet lake with very good fishing.

A plus for the Alder route is that from Canoe Lake you can hike the long portage up to Johnson Falls and see one of the cooler scenic spots in the BWCA, two sets of falls and a nice swimming hole at the bottom one.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one
04/07/2019 06:20PM  
When I finished reading the first 3 sentences of the opening post, I thought East Bearskin. Then I read you are considering it. It is a great choice, super easy portages, with day trips to Johnson's falls (no need to portage the canoe to Pine) and Spaulding lake's mine/cabin "ruin". As for camp sites, Alder and Canoe have some great camp sites, or if you want more seclusion Crystal is a pretty lake but the campsites have some drawbacks, one has a mountain climb to a latrine. Pierz I have not visited.
Read a few of the trip reports referring to these entry points. It helps make the decision.
gkimball
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04/07/2019 06:32PM  
East Bearskin is an extremely popular entrance that time of year. Alder Lake often fills due to its beautiful scenery and being just one portage in. If you do find it filled Pierz Lake might have open sites as it is a "dead end."

That is what I found when I entered East Bearskin on a late June base camp trip, found no sites available, pressed on to Pierz and all 3 sites were open. A really nice lake of itself yet good for day trips to Alder, Crystal and Canoe.
Northwoodsman
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04/07/2019 08:18PM  
I like EP #47. Next month will be my 3rd consecutive trip into that EP. You will be on Caribou about 1.5 hours into your trip, and on Horseshoe in another 30 - 40 minutes. I would keep going to Gaskin to get in a little deeper. Take the long portage (not the shorter ones), it's easier. There are a lot of day trip loops in that area.
mjmkjun
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04/07/2019 08:56PM  
E. Bearskin Lake
04/08/2019 07:56AM  


for many base camping ideas which you may or may not need, check out the basecampjng forum which is just below the For sale/Wanted forum on the message board forum list.
Scottjr77
  
04/09/2019 07:19AM  
Awesome! thanks everyone for the help and all the suggestions! I think we're going to go with EP64 on Bearskin and do the other trip possibly in the fall. With that being said anyone have any suggestions on the better campsites/lakes in the area? Thanks!
TuscaroraBorealis
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04/09/2019 01:23PM  
There are some nice sites on Alder but, they tend to fill up fast.

A couple of the sites on Canoe Lake are very nice.

Crystal is, perhaps, the most visually appealing lake but, both campsites are less than spectacular.

Pierz is a dead end lake that offers 3 average/to above average campsites.

Pine has several nice sites but, of course, that would mean you'd have to cross the monster portage.

Check out the maps section for more detailed information.

Be sure to check out the old cabin on Spaulding Lake.
mjmkjun
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04/09/2019 03:24PM  
#706 on Alder. If the wind has kicked up before you reach it go around the point to escape choppy water. There is a back entrance. Actually, you might want to go straight to that back entry as it's a much, much easier landing. Excellent group site. I stayed there solo as there was hardly any paddlers in June of that year.

The two fellas camping at site straight across on north shore of Alder were talking at normal volume after darkness fell and I could almost hear every word if I wanted to. I didn't. A couple of nips of Jim Beam + 5 mg. melatonin fixed me up for some sound sleep. Just saying......sound carries easily out there.

I think all will enjoy this entry and its lakes/fishing. EASY portaging. The hike to Johnson Falls is a super day trip. Leave your canoes out of the way on east end of Canoe Lake landing.
Don't forget to take the south branch of E. Bearskin Lake when it forks at the east end.
I am headed for Crystal L. in late June.
jaredschmeling
  
04/09/2019 07:17PM  
Alder can fill up that time of year, but if you can snag one of the two sites in the southern arm of the lake you’ll be set up nice. The campsite by the island on the north shore is nice as well. As others have said the long trek to Johnson falls is well worth your time.
Enjoy!
 
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