Greetings!

I know this is NOT BWCA related - but it is canoe camping related. I am always curious about canoeing and camping opportunities not in the BWCA - and I've stumbled on some watercraft campsites on Lake Winnibigoshish. I've never been on this lake or even seen it in person - but what strikes my interest is that it's all in the Chippewa National Forest - and mostly undeveloped.

My plan would be to either camp on a site on the Mississippi River and paddle to check out the big lake - OR - put my canoe in at an access on the east/northeast side and paddle to one of the watercraft sites on that side of the lake. I would just base camp for a couple of days in October, I WILL NOT be dumb enough to paddle across the lake, and would like some solitude on BIG WATER. I'm guessing this lake sees a lot of traffic in the summer, but would be much quieter in the middle of October.

Has anyone spent time on this lake? OR even better - been on one of these watercraft campsites?

I've fished 15-20 years ago every spring opener. Fishing was ok then they put a slot limit on we went few years after that then quit going the group I went with are lives started to change with family and stuff.

But we use to stay at Four season down by where the river comes in fished that Side of the lake. Up to Sugar bay and the Highbanks. I Did go up one fall and fish around in the cut-foot area. I think you'd be better off staying in the cut -foot area as the main part of the lake can get very rough with very little wind.

Thanks for the info! Yeah - that's the area I'm looking at - that's where those watercraft sites are - I am a Minnesotan thru and thru...yet I can't believe I've never seen this body of water - just looking for any info about this area. Thank you!

I fished a few openers near cutfoot Sioux... but the lake can be tough...

One guy out of Duluth I hauled boats (mainly surf skis) had some folks on Winnie. One guy was new and he stayed with him. But the newbie flipped and unable to help on his own went to get others to help. When he got back the guy had drown. He never got over it and eventually took his own life. The upper Mississippi has good paddling options. Respect the water...

Crappies been biting on Cutfoot lately.

Minnesota has some great canoe rivers really used sparingly. Big and Little fork river, Crow Wing river-the list goes on.

I've camped at that campsite by the Mississippi. It's a nice site.

I was also dumb enough to paddle across the big lake. Never again.

The predominant wind direction is west to east, but wind from the north and northwest is also common. This means surf at that campsite. I know because I landed there in heavy surf and heard it crashing all night long. So, launching can be tricky, depending upon wind speed and direction. However, I'd still do it. Once you're launched, you should be able to paddle and fish in the lee of something.

I used to go there. I had an old 14' alumacraft with a 20 horse outboard. That lake was scary when you got out in the middle with that little boat. It had that sharp bow that would spear into the waves. So I'd plan on camping on small water and checking out the big lake on a calm day/morning.

Lots of nice areas up there. I always like the north shore up around Cutfoot. Endless pines on sand soils. Lots of federal land too. My father in law used to go to Third River a lot. Don't know if theres camping up there but it's on the right side of the lake on a west or northwest wind.

The area with all its maples has some of the best fall colors in the State.

podgeo: "I've fished 15-20 years ago every spring opener. Fishing was ok then they put a slot limit on we went few years after that then quit going the group I went with are lives started to change with family and stuff.


But we use to stay at Four season down by where the river comes in fished that Side of the lake. Up to Sugar bay and the Highbanks. I Did go up one fall and fish around in the cut-foot area. I think you'd be better off staying in the cut -foot area as the main part of the lake can get very rough with very little wind. "

Thanks for the info - appreciate it! I think if I check this area out, I'll certainly be in that cut-foot area - base camp there maybe - and only venture out if the wind is calm. Is the lake itself (Winnie and Cut-Foot areas) largely undeveloped? Would it be a semi-wilderness experience at least to camp here? Is this lake boat crazy?

nctry: "I fished a few openers near cutfoot Sioux... but the lake can be tough...


One guy out of Duluth I hauled boats (mainly surf skis) had some folks on Winnie. One guy was new and he stayed with him. But the newbie flipped and unable to help on his own went to get others to help. When he got back the guy had drown. He never got over it and eventually took his own life. The upper Mississippi has good paddling options. Respect the water..."

Yuck - tragic story!! Uff-da. Respect that water certainly each and every time out there! Yeah - I'd never risk anything on big water and waves - never. I've never paddled on the MIssissippi - only camped on it - at the Mississippi High Banks campsite in Beltrami County last MEA Break - was total bliss - no canoeing tho - but it was quiet all four days I was up there!

Pinetree: "Crappies been biting on Cutfoot lately.


Minnesota has some great canoe rivers really used sparingly. Big and Little fork river, Crow Wing river-the list goes on. "

I love the Crow Wing river - paddled and camped on it many a night! Shell River is nice, too! Shell City Campground might be my all-time NON-BWCA campsite of all time!

In your opinion, is the cut-foot area too "busy" to seek a little solitude or no.

missmolly: "I've camped at that campsite by the Mississippi. It's a nice site.


I was also dumb enough to paddle across the big lake. Never again.


The predominant wind direction is west to east, but wind from the north and northwest is also common. This means surf at that campsite. I know because I landed there in heavy surf and heard it crashing all night long. So, launching can be tricky, depending upon wind speed and direction. However, I'd still do it. Once you're launched, you should be able to paddle and fish in the lee of something.


"

Good to know - I really would like to see this lake - and what better way than to camp on it for a night or two. And the site you're talking about - is it the one on the northeast side of the lake? Out on the point? If so - that's the one I'm most curious about.

marsonite: "I used to go there. I had an old 14' alumacraft with a 20 horse outboard. That lake was scary when you got out in the middle with that little boat. It had that sharp bow that would spear into the waves. So I'd plan on camping on small water and checking out the big lake on a calm day/morning.


Lots of nice areas up there. I always like the north shore up around Cutfoot. Endless pines on sand soils. Lots of federal land too. My father in law used to go to Third River a lot. Don't know if theres camping up there but it's on the right side of the lake on a west or northwest wind. "

Great info! I love pines - so this sounds perfect! I'm picturing you out in the middle of that lake in your boat.....scary for sure!!

Pinetree: "The area with all its maples has some of the best fall colors in the State."

Is WINNIE predominantly surrounded by maples/deciduous trees? Any pines?

Do some research. Lakefinder or just google Winnie.

hawleycanoeguy: "

Pinetree: "The area with all its maples has some of the best fall colors in the State."

Is WINNIE predominantly surrounded by maples/deciduous trees? Any pines?"

I think maple is really a great northern Minnesota deal. Everywhere... that and birch together along with the greens of pine really make it up here. Lake Winnie area would be beautiful during the peak of the color season. A great fall is shaping up...

I camped at both ends of the lake, where the Mississippi enters and exits. Both were fine campsites. I don't remember a campsite in Minnesota that wasn't fine.

I'm pretty sure that Canoearoo has been in there a bunch with her family. Maybe she'll chime in at some point.

There is a nice maintained Federal camp grounds where Cutfoot enters Winnie lake.

Yes the area has some huge White Pine scattered throughout the forest that loggers spared. But much of the forest is Aspen-Maple and Tamarack swamps.

missmolly: "I camped at both ends of the lake, where the Mississippi enters and exits. Both were fine campsites. I don't remember a campsite in Minnesota that wasn't fine. "

Good info - and yes...I agree with your campsite in Minnesota opinion! :)

Pinetree: "There is a nice maintained Federal camp grounds where Cutfoot enters Winnie lake.


Yes the area has some huge White Pine scattered throughout the forest that loggers spared. But much of the forest is Aspen-Maple and Tamarack swamps."

Thank you for the info!

With the 70 temps last weekend, I made a quick trip with my 11 year old son into this area. We camped in Menagha, MN, last Saturday, and explored a bunch of areas last Sunday. We visited Chippewa National Forest campgrounds in Federal Dam and Lake Winnie Dam areas - very clean, big pines, and great views of big water. I had never been in FEDERAL DAM before - so that was a bucket list item for me.

Then we out some of the remote sites. We checked out two remote sites on the north east side of Winnie. With winds from the south at 30-40 MPH, there were some impressive waves! Whoa! The sites themselves there were OK - nothing too spectacular - other than the views and solitude - one of them was pretty trashed. It's unreal the S#&! people leave behind. One site had a cool bluff you could throw a tent up on.

I did not get up into the cut foot area - that will be next time. A couple of other remote sites up there were GRADE A.