I'm planning on doing a 6 day trip from EP25 into Knife in mid-August. I've heard some reports on here about it being especially busy on the South Arm. Can anyone provide any recent intellegence on this area?

I'm considering ways that we can try to avoid the worst of the congestion by either skirting the border (potentially camping on Ottertrack or Gijikiki), or spending time on some of the smaller lakes south of Knife (ex. Spoon, Dix, Skoota). Has anyone been in these areas in the past month? If so, you're feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

It's been a little more than a month but, I hit most of the areas you refer to in this trip report. Hanging out north of the South Arm

~ South Arm was very busy in mid to late May. I can't imagine it would be less so in August.
~ I think Gijikiki is a good lake to find some solitude but, it's a workout to get there. However, I recommend heading there if you're up for the challenge.








~ Sema is a beautiful lake but, the campsite leaves a lot to be desired.







~ Spoon is another scenic lake that will likely offer an open site.

Knife will be busy in August...no way around that, especially this year. That's not to say there won't be an open site when you're passing by but anywhere in that area I'd be prepared to claim one early if it's in the general area you want for that night.

The north arm is nice too, don't ignore it and it's sites. So are Cherry and Amoeber and the other lakes you mentioned. But those 2 each only have 2 sites so it's always a gamble

Missionary lake has two sites and I think both sites are 3*. We ate lunch in the North campsite on Missionary last year and thought it was a nice site. The south site I didn’t see but it’s rated as a 3* from another source.

I enter this Sunday with a Moose entry and will be on Knife, Cherry,SAK, Ogishgemuncie, Kekakabic, and the Missionary or Vera or Ensign for the final night. That is if all goes as planned.

I’d recommend putting in the effort to know which sites are bad, good, and great for the areas you’ll be in. We’re also getting a tow so we’ve got more time to get deeper and find a campsite on day one.

Yup we’re going to roll the dice on Monday and try for a Cherry campsite. Cherry to Hanson is going to be our worst portage of the trip and I’d prefer to do that on day 3 not day 2.

I’ll post something when I get back,

Ryan

I’ve seen a couple of different times that the campsites on Pickle are all bad.

Kekakabic is amazing though so consider that. Ottertrack Lake is also really amazing. Some very good campsites on the West end of Ottertrack. Also the last campsite on Little Knife lake before you portage into Ottertrack is a great site. Only downside is it is right next to the portage. I had lunch in that site last year and we waited out a minor storm.

Ryan

Gaidin53: "I’d recommend putting in the effort to know which sites are bad, good, and great for the areas you’ll be in. "

I'm heading this way in mid-August as well. Funny, it crossed my mind to make note of all the lowest rated sites in hope they might be more available!?!

Was on Knife recently and passed about 15 consecutive occupied sites...when you include Birch and Carp, it was 28 occupied in a row and a desperate feeling as the sun was going down for my family...

Thank you to everyone for your valuable insight and recommendations! I will take all of this into consideration for the upcoming trip.

I think, as it pertains to campsite availability, we’re going to try to claim sites no later than noon. I also think that we’ll probably avoid the south arm entirely. The chain from Missionary to Spoon looks appealing but it does seem to lack both the quality and quantity of campsites that I’d prefer.

We’ll probably just hang out along the border. Gigikiki would be a cool lake to reach, we’ll just have to see how the group is feeling about the additional mileage.

sns: "Was on Knife recently and passed about 15 consecutive occupied sites...when you include Birch and Carp, it was 28 occupied in a row and a desperate feeling as the sun was going down for my family..."

Wow! Did you see the same occupancy trends during mid-afternoon? I was hoping to have to option of securing a site just inside Knife (Robbins Island area), in the event that we encounter winds/fatigue on the first day. I figure we’ll be in that area around that time, so that’s why I ask.