Good morning,

New member, relatively long time follower, and first time poster. Looking at “Lady Lakes” trip this August and curious about campsites on the north end of Lake Polly, specifically 1077 (and possibly 1073). Wondering if anyone reading has camped on the north end and if they would recommend a particular site over another.

I also paddle with an 11 and 9 year-old and I am hesitant to tell them about the bear problems on Lake Polly. So wondering if there is a “less bear prone” campsite in the area. We’re good stewards and apply best practices at our site so I’m not overly concerned, but a 300lbs uninvited guest may come as quite a surprise to them.

Thanks in advance!

Paddle Dad

I've camped on Polly over a half dozen nights at 4 different sites, usually at the north end, and never seen a bear. I haven't camped on either of those sites though, but have stayed at 1072 numerous times. One year it was closed (I don't know why) and we stayed at 1074. I have also stayed at 1078 and 1081. FWIW, I eat dehydrated meals and use BearVault/Ursack, so no need to hang.

I can’t help with any intel on site 1077.

I spent two nights on site 1073 in August 2018 with my wife and two young sons—5 and 13 at the time. We thought it was a good site. Good mix of tent pads and trees for hammocks. Well shaded with a nice rocky shelf landing area to get sun and set up chairs to relax. Rock landing was a little tricky but nothing too hard if careful. You will likely see and hear some canoe traffic as people headed to or from the Lady lakes route pass close to the site.

We use a blue barrel for food storage on family camping trips and stash it away from tents and fire/kitchen areas between meals. We didn’t see any bears or hear of any bears from others that we chatted with on portages.

+1 for #1073.

Paddledad, It is my view that there is no such thing as a less bear prone campsite on a lake when a camp bear takes up residence in the area. The Polly/Malberg area has long had a reputation for camp bears. I've had visits from bears on both lakes. These bears are very persistence and when chased off from one site will just move along trail to the next site to "make the rounds" so to speak. I use a blue barrel that I tie to a nearby tree and rig it with an alarm to wake me should a bear mess with it. It has worked twice. Take your food with you if out fishing or day tripping. I think a bear could crack a bank safe given enough time.

All that said, I like site number 73 on Polly. It sits low to the water on a channel with several nice level tent pads. The site is on one of the main north/south routes so there may be a canoe or two passing by within easy talking distance.

UP Boy

We camped on 1073 around the 4th of July in 2018. My daughter (9) and wife liked the site with the nice rock to hang out on on the north side. You also have nice shade from the cedars and good tent pads. There is a neat little trail to the campsite further south on the peninsula too. There are no notes about 1077 in the map section on this site.

We did not have any bear problems. We kept a clean camp and used a blue bear barrel. It was the first trip for my wife and she had a hard time sleeping, she thought every mouse and little critter in camp was a bear.

Thanks everyone for the insight. We had our sights set on 1073 so I think that will be our goal.

As far as food pack goes, last year I started using an Rtic Backpack Cooler (a less expensive version of the Yeti Hopper). It seals nicely, keeps things cold for a long time (although we don’t travel with much that needs to be stored cold), and sits low enough that I can wear it while carrying our canoe. It’s easy to hang with lots of straps and floats (if god forbid we capsized). I don’t trust it to be bear proof but, like I said, it’s a good food pack for the price and function. Perhaps the “Bears of Polly” will give it a field test...

Thanks again!

PaddleDad

As a reminder, when making your campsite less appealing to bears, the point isn't only about your survival if the bear gets to your food. Especially on Polly, you are only 2-3 hours from an EP and possibly your vehicle. You won't starve. However if the bears are successful at getting to your food they could lose their life when they become a nuisance. Protect your food, your trip, and the bears all at the same time by being diligent about your campsite and food storage.

I have spent many nights on Polly and never had bear issues. We may have heard one at site 1073 but didn't see it and it didn't leave any signs of being there. Like Boonie I cook dehydrated food and use Ursack or BV brand bear vaults.

I have stayed at 2013 which is a lovely large island site with easy landing, good sun in fire area and lots of trees in back with multiple large tent sites. easy walk to toilet.

I have stayed at 2211 with the large sloping stone driveway. Relative easy landing and several nice tent sites, easy walk to toilet.

My favorite site is 1073 which I call Sunset Rock. Lots or room for tents (had three 2 person tents set up and still plenty of room), good hammock trees, space for tarps, awesome rock to sit and catch some sun and watch sunsets, relatively easy landing, toilet up the hill but not too far. I have stayed there multiple times and the only issue I have ever had was a group of ladies and dogs hiked into our site from their site just south of use and it scared the bejezzus out of me as their dog came running/barking out of now where while I was napping. I probably scared them more because I woke up cursing like the daughter of a sailor that I am:-)

We stayed one night at 1078 on the way back from a week on Malberg. It was a nice site with a few good tent pads including a perfect one right along the shore down the hill from the main site. Good view from the fire pit and decent landing. Main fire grate area is perched up on a large rock

We stayed three nights on 1076 in July last year. Polly can be busy in July/August. It was a fine site. No bears, but we did hook a snapping turtle fishing off the rocks. I also dumped a canoe getting out and lost my fishing net. So if you find it...

Polly's a lovely lake. You'll enjoy it.

Another ringing endorsement for 1073. One of my favorite sites in the BW. I've camped there twice... once with Luft and once with my hubby. One trip was bear vaults/ursack. the other was a CCS food pack stashed in the woods. No sign of bears either trip.

Sunset Rock is indeed a gorgeous location to hang out and watch ... well.. the sun set.

You will see traffic if you are on the rock or near the waters edge. And the traffic will see you. But if you are farther up in camp, you are hidden a bit.

If you are doing the Lady Chain, check out this thread for info on navigating the boulder field in the Phoebe River. Scroll down the thread to find the BingMaps screen shot. It was a lifesaver for us when we did that route a few years back.

It's a gorgeous route, one of my favorite trips ever. Hubby and I didn't see anyone on the interior lakes - Hazel, Phoebe, Grace - until a planned meetup with Luft on Grace.

Lady Chain trip