Hey everyone! Hope winter finds you well.

Planning for this years trip. We usually go in July some time. Canoeing buddy suggested a Clearwater Lake entry this year to Caribou, Pine, Table, Bench, Spaulding, Crystal, Alder, East Bearskin, Mon Lake and back out.

I've never been to the East side and kind of had my heart set on #14 this year.

What is the area like in comparison to the west side (generally speaking)? Crowds? Campsite availability?

I've done Mudro twice, Moose River North once and was going to hit Little Indian Sioux before venturing east.

I've worked with VNO all three times and have had the best of luck with them.

I know this is kind of general but any info would be appreciated. When I get some extra time I will be doing research on the area, but permit day is looming and I like to be one of the first in line.

TIA
Bushman

In my experience the Clearwater has less crowds and more available campsites than Mudro and MRN. The portages are also rockier and have more elevation change.

Fish species also lean more SMB and LT than the western side. Hopefully that helps and let us know if you are looking for any other info as I and many others have been to all of these entries as they are amongst the most in demand reservations.

Check with Erik @ Clearwater Lodge (or listen to his Tumblehome podcast that's a sponsor here) and either way you'll learn everything you'd ever want to about the area. That table/bench/spalding isn't as common of an area so ask about that for sure.

But yes...generally you'll have much larger hills rising from the shorelines (Clearwater Palisades, Johnson Falls, Rose Falls, etc) and the lakes like Pine tend to be long east to west. All is well unless you're on the east end of Pine and need to go west into a 25 mph west wind. However the same is true on Basswood, LLC, or others you're familiar with on the west side. If that's the forecast, get up early and beat the wind that day. The podcast reviews the campsites and fishing very in depth of Clearwater, Caribou, and Pine I know so far of your listed lakes...I don't recall if any of the others have made it on the lake reviews yet. (maybe East Bearskin?)

Jeffrey, just a thought...check out this trip report as an option for the trip. Still allows you to see most everything in the area but with a more user friendly agenda. Great outfitter for any equipment needs, launch from their sand beach, avoids the long portage from Pine to Canoe but you still see Johnson Falls. I am a little unclear as to access to Table Lake but if that's a priority it could still be done. The walk back at the end of the trip was kind of nice. Our trip did not include Canoe, Crystal, Table, Bench, etc. and the lakes east of Alder but it certainly could have depending on time available.

Clearwater area

Generally, this area has campsites available, but still don't wait until late in the day to find one. This summer it was more crowded than normal, but so was everywhere else. Not sure what this summer will bring.

I love that area, and did many trips all around there in my youth and when I worked at Camp Menogyn over on (West) Bearskin Lake. The topography is sawtooth...long gentle slopes that end at a sheer cliff. Makes for lovely scenery. Lots of big, gorgeous pines. When you travel east/west, the elevation changes are pretty minimal. But when you travel north/south the portages have major elevation changes, though many have switchbacks which eases the effort a bit. Johnson Falls is a must see and there are other lovely day hikes in the area both in the BWCA and just outside it.

I have never gone into the smaller lakes you mentioned west of Canoe Lake so I can't speak to those, but I expect they are the road less traveled. I will be interested to hear from others that have visited them.

Thanks for the info!
I'm hoping to research this a lot more this weekend.

It would be weird launching right from the outfitter. It would make the early start much easier for sure.

Apparently I wasn't signed in when i posted this topic. LOL