I've made a few trips to the BWCA thirty years ago, but I was a kid and dad picked the campsites. Now I'm the dad and have to pick the campsites for my kids (12 and 22). What should I be looking for?

We will be headed in pretty soon for four days on Seagull, Alpine, possibly others depending on my kids stamina.

We won't be fishing.

Mike

The first thing we look for are good tent pads, flat with no roots or rocks sticking out. We prefer a western view so you can see the beautiful sunsets. Since I am no longer as young or nimble as I used to be a path to the latrine that isn't potentially hazardous is preferred.

If you look at the maps on this site you can see where members have entered ratings for various campsites. They are a very good barometer in our experience.

Have fun! We go in on Sunday and I am ready!

With kids along, I'd be looking for good swimming. Doesn't have to be a beach, but a place to get in the water and get out is good. Also, no shallow weedy areas. Personally, I always like to have some shade and some nice scenery.

Decent doable landing (getting older here) . Level tent pad that is not in a low spot that could end up under water in a heavy rain. As a woman I prefer a latrine that has a solid base around it so I don't have to worry about rocks moving while using it!

With all the winds and storms, I would look for widowmakers near the tent pads and kitchen.

Good points above. Level tent pad is no. 1 for me. I like points to south or otherwise open to breeze - for bugs - and some sun for drying. (I put up cloths line first unless rain.). And of course I have rejected a site or two for just too much trash left - I think only on Ensign.

Fire rings - or non-existent logs for sitting - turn me off but I would never carry a chair. YMMV.

A larger site gives room to roam and provides space for a second tent or possibly a third should you prefer privacy for each person. Tents are not too heavy and we take at least a 4 person tent for each adult tripper . Since I own a 6 person tent, it makes the trip should some of the family want to keep the kids with them at night or when a spouse goes along. In summer, the extra ventilation and less body heat inside has great value. Well worth the effort. Get bug whackers for each tent and life inside will immediately be better in the evenings or night.

Plan on double portaging and take creature comforts. Your "mules" can do the heavy work. I would not even consider going without a chair, cot, or an extra pack or so to make each lighter to carry.

Plan to spend an extra night of so to enjoy a campsite you really like. You must plan a trip where you can do this if the opportunity presents itself. I once left the campsite next to Louisa Falls in the Q because of my schedule. We just lucked into the site and spent 2 nights there before heading north. I have kicked myself for not staying much longer and shortening my loop to get back to Prairie Portage. Be flexible. If that comes about for you, take day trips to burn energy and see many sites. You can travel at least 15 miles one way miles traveling light. We go early and travel about half way time wise so as to return at a time good for us. Stop to see the sights along the way out, and time for wind changes, etc should still allow the schedule for the day to stay intact. Enjoy.

depends on the day Dad.

You have to be cognizant of the current (and forecast) weather and wind, what sites you'll be passing during the day, and what the topo map indicates in terms of protection. (Side note, my wife could not read a topo to save her life on our first trip - today she is in charge of navigation and campsite selections!) This is a FANTASTIC opportunity for you and your kids to learn something you'll share for the rest of your lives!

A campsite high up on a breezy hill can be 10/10 during muggy buggy weather. The same campsite can be a 1/10 in cold windy conditions.

Case in point. There is an UGLY site on Strup lake (near Kekakabic) that we spent two very long windbound days at. However, the wind just didn't seem to touch the site, even though we could see hella waves and trees bending over most of the time. We were grateful, to say the least.

Also - stayed at a site on LLC with an AMAZING view...like National Geographic cover material. But...it was October and miserable. We would have much rather been at a low lying swampy site on that day.

Scramble4a5 makes a good suggestion. The maps section often has comments about portages and campsites, often including pictures. In planning my trips I consider a couple routes, check the maps for possible campsites on the lakes I will stay, and finalize my general route plan. I will have a preferred site and backup in mind.
While sunsets at a western facing site are great, sunrise and the sun drying tarps and such makes an eastern facing site better if you are traveling and an early starter. Northern facing sites can give a better view of any possible northern light shows. In the end it is a complex decision with lots of variables.
I think it would be fun to sit with the boys and look at campsite photos. Have everyone give input on where a tent might go and if there is a place to wade or swim, you get the idea.

Here is my criteria.

1. Good tent pad or pads if you need more than 1.
2. Good water access for getting in and out of the canoe.
3. Good water access for swimming and no weedy or bad rocky areas.
4. Potential for some success while fishing from the campsite.
5. Being on a point with a breeze is a big plus.
6. I'll consider how much traffic the site might experience with folks paddling by.

Everything about is considered first when picking a site. Once those are met I consider things like the following.

1. Camp kitchen area - any flat surfaces to use for cooking or prep.
2. Fire grate area - how is it set up, what kind of condition, any sitting logs.
3. Latrine - don't a huge concern usually but if its in real bad shape it could be a deal breaker.
4. Shade/sun
5. Place to hang hammocks for napping and food pack trees.

An individual group may change the priority level of each of these but these probably cover most of the variables in a campsite. When I am with my wife and kids water access for getting in and out of the canoe and for swimming gets higher priority as does latrine condition. If I'm with some of the guys then fishing from camp gets much higher priority as does proximity to fishing spots and different lakes we want to fish.

This is so dependent on personal preference. As you have seen, most people list their personal preferences. Here are mine:

1. Good tent pad, but watch the path of drainage should it rain. Many tent pads look nice, but will become small pools if it rains.

2. Water access--- for water collection and swimming, if that's your thing. Unless you have a water bucket or filter bag or other receptacle, you'll be making a lot of trips to the shore just to collect water for cooking.

3. I like a site that offers some amount of breeze, or breeze potential. This can help to mitigate bugs, though is no guarantee. I put myself in a bind, though, because I like the breeze, I also like shade. I don't like to be directly in the sun. Sometimes this arrangement is easier imagined than done.

4. I like a spot in the woods where I can hang up my sun shower and shower every night. That spot needs to have a tree with a branch high enough to hang the shower so I can get under it (I'm tall.) I can usually find one.

5. Sitting rocks. I like a multitude of options of where to sit throughout the day, depending on sun, breeze, view, etc.

6. An area to hang the tarp. Everything except the tent and what goes in the tent goes under the tarp. It should have enough room to sit under if it rains. And again, watch out for the drainage.

I have about five what I would consider perfect campsites in the BWCA. Most are nearly so. Take the one that fits what you consider your priorities.

Mike

Room for tent and a screen house
Protected from big water waves
Good canoe landing
Preferably a island site
Some shade
Not a bunch of sand- sand gets into everything
Suitable depth for shore fishing
Close proximity to where I will be fishing

Thank you all so much for all the advice!!! There are so many things I hadn't even begun to consider; breeziness, widowmakers (big trees right?), latrine path, etc.

Honestly I had thought of maybe 20% of what you all mentioned.

Mike

1. Unoccupied
2. No sign of bears/trouble
3. No widowmakers
4. Good tent pad(s)

Once those are met, the rest is pretty much a bonus. I don't spend a whole lot of time running back and forth looking for the perfect site, which doesn't exist; better to spend more time at a decent one.

There are conditions where certain locations/sites are advantageous, but there are times when getting one is a priority.

I personally like elevated sites (but not with lightning).

Widow makers are dead trees or large branches that are hung up on other trees, just waiting for the perfect moment to fall completely onto ground. Look carefully for dead trees still standing or dead trees / branches leaning on live trees. Don't pitch a tent or hammock underneath those.
TBH, if you're leaving in a few days, my priority would be simple and same as Boonie's: unoccupied. It's a busy time of year (understatement). A person can spend some significant time and paddling-energy looking for a "perfect site", not finding it, then returning to see their original site occupied. Ouch. Kids in tow? Double ouch. Just got out today from the week in EP 39 area. It was very busy (all permits issued) and affected my decisions about when and where to travel. I ended up staying put and day tripping as opposed to completing a loop. Actually ended a day early because I didn't want to face Friday afternoon crowds vying for sites closer to the entry point upon my return. Get started early, be flexible and you'll be fine. But during this time of year, get an open site.

I also try to stay away from sites with frequent lightning strikes. To check that out, look at the trees at the site. If there are 2 that have been hit I might stay if there are 3 of them I move on.

The perfect summer campsite.
1. Good tent sites
2. On a point to catch a breeze, to stay cool & keep the mosquitos away.
3. Nice kitchen area.
4. Shade & good food hanging trees
5. Sand landing area
6. Drop off for fishing and good fishing near by.
7. if you have kids a small cliff for jumping in the water.
I haven't found the perfect site yet but have found some that are very close to perfect.

Hey OldShepster

I've done my fair share of picking with kids and all that.

For you with 4? people is the mother going or if its 3 it changes it. Either way I head to the maps on here and read all the reviews and kind of get a feel.

With 4 you would probably be looking for two tent pads and for 3 you just need 1 tent pad.

When reading the site reviews I look at these main things:

Canoe landing: How easy or hard is this going to be every time we leave and come back

Tent pads: Do you need 1 or 2... if only 1 pad is needed then you can basically skip this as almost every site will have at least one decent pad.

Location: Does it have shelter from wind... does it not get enough wind.... You can really only get an idea from what you think but if no wind the bugs might be high.. too much wind and it might be cold. Can you block the wind with a tarp. These are tough questions that you kind of have to guess on.

Fishing from shore: Some sites are easy and some are near impossible. I like the option to do it.



So what I do is I weigh all those considerations and start labeling the sites on my map in order of what one I want most to least and the sites with no info I put question marks. Then aim for that :)