Hi Everyone,

Planning trip during August 4 day 3 night trip. Any suggestions for a scenic campsite and potential moose viewing?

Intend to base camp and explore via day trips.

Priorities:
1. Scenery
2. Waterfalls
3. Wildlife
4. Norman Rockwell worthy campsite

Thank you.

Iron lake- However, you wouldn't be the first person to know about that lake.

Thank you fishnfreak!

Silver Falls and Saganagons, Quetico

Thank you Bobber #3!!!

bobbernumber3: "Silver Falls and Saganagons, Quetico"

If the border is open by then

Granite River if you don't mind a comeback from a burn. Waterfalls. Not. Everything else =yes.
Little Indian Sioux North area.
Crooked Lake= Lower Basswood Falls if you need waterfalls.

Thank you Cyclone!!!

Thank you WhiteWolf!!!

EP #24 to Northwestern Basswood area. It's 11-12 miles up but nearly all paddling. Only .5 miles of portage distance. (Figure 4-5 hour trip up)

Nice easy day trip to basswood falls and Native rock paintings. This area is very scenic. (of course, Canada will need to lift their restrictions for this to happen as you have to do a couple small crossovers into Canadian waters to navigate to Basswood falls)

I'm not sure if Rockwell would approve of the campsites as I have never camped up there, just explored the area. Also, I always go in June, so the moose aren't as visible when I go. I have never seen a moose or bear in the BWCA. Still looking for my first sighting.

Scenery - Check
Waterfalls - check
Wildlife - check - but potentially without a moose spotting
Rockwell Campsite - I'm pretty sure you could find one. Bring a couple Saturday Evening Posts with you and you can decorate up any campsite to be Norman Rockwellish:-)

We haven't been canoe tripping in a while, but I am still sure that the Kelly-Jack-Weird Lake area is great for moose watching. We have, in our long history, seen moose many times, but nothing like the "moose show" we experienced in two days on Weird.

The Long Trip

The campsite on Weird isn't fancy or probably particularly scenic, although that is in the eye of the beholder. We were never base campers, and I don't really know if any of the other sites in the area are suitable for that; but we stayed there comfortably for two days. Bull moose, several cow moose, some with calves. It was June, and I suppose that might make a difference, too.

For waterfalls, one suggestion would be the Clearwater to Caribou/Pine Lake area, some nice campsites there. A lot of people love the site on Little Caribou. My favorite happened to be on Pine, but there are some good ones. Johnson Falls is a good side trip; if the weather is warm I am told you can bathe in the pond under the lower falls. We weren't that bold. The hike to get to the falls is rugged, and be sure you explore both the upper and lower falls.


Upper:






Lower falls:








Another nice thing about starting out and ending at Clearwater is that you can find the trail at the bottom and climb up the Palisade, if impressive views are in your mind. Fairly steep trail and no landing place to speak of. You just have to tie your canoe at the bottom. Our granddaughter took a zillion photos there a couple years ago:







This is a view of the Palisades from Clearwater Lodge:

Hey Point Me 2 Polaris... thank you for your detailed response. Really appreciate your insights.

Hi Spartan 2!

Wow...thank you for the detailed commuique, photos, and time answering my query. Really appreciate your comments. Thanks!