I picked up a Crocodile River permit a few weeks back for the Saturday of Memorial weekend. As some of you know, there are only four campsites on Crocodile, and just one permit available per day.

Often times, when I have thought about going to Crocodile, i see most permits available for the week, but when I look now, I see all of them are gone that week. I'm a little concerned.

We are just sneaking up for the weekend. We're just going to go in on Saturday, and come out Monday. But if the people who pulled permits tues, wed, thurs, and friday, stay past saturday, we won't have a campsite to stay at. And even if we do, I understand that two of the campsites are less desirable than the other two.

As I understand it, I can't camp on any other lake with that permit.

It's just my son and me. What do you think we should do? What if I get in there, and all four campsites are full. Do we just have to head home?

Unfortunately a legitimate concern. I have never seen Crocodile full but then I have never seen that many permits taken either. You might consider making a reservation for East Bearskin campground for a night or two as a backup plan, if those are even available. That way if it was full you could fish Crocodile for the day and have a 35 or so minute paddle back to your campsite. At least you would be out in the woods in the Gunflint Trail area.

The second campsite, going west to east is the best on the lake with the furthest east site being a close second. The first site is compact and up off the lake but I remember it as being kind of...interesting, but not great. The 3rd site is low to the lake and wooded and not the most desirable but any of these would work for your group of two. If available. Hope it works out.

You don't suppose they just don't have permits available during the week and they show as taken? That's how they do it for Bog Lake, which is also a small, dead end entry lake. Maybe they changed to that system for Crocodile. I would call the Gunflint ranger station and ask them your question.

Just in case, I checked out East Bearskin campground. For Sat 5/29 there are 3 reservable sites available so if this is even a consideration you might want to act fast. There are also some first come first served sites as well but I wouldn't want to bank on them. The downside is it's 48 bucks to reserve for two nights. The upside is you are guaranteed to not have to drive back home that night:)

Some folks might think it's not right to take up a BWCA permit and a campsite at the campground. Up to each individual I guess although it is definitely a different situation from "reserving" two BWCA campsites on the same lake, or multiple permits for the same day.

What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":



TZ

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":





TZ"

I'll be on the Peace River, FL next month!

It’s a legit concern. My wife and I stayed on Croc for 2 nights last June, and we took the 3rd site from the West, as the 2nd and 4th were taken. Talked to the guy who was at the 4th site, and he was spending 5 nights there. The next day a group came by checking to see if anything was open, because the first site looked tough. When we left the 3rd morning the first 2 sites were still occupied as well. I wouldn’t think you’d find 4 groups wanting to spend more than 2-3 nights on that lake, but as Lindy mentioned, a backup at the Bearskin campground may not be a bad idea.

Ps, the walleye fishing is good, not a ton of big ones, but plenty to eat and keep you busy. Good luck!

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":





TZ"

I was actually thinking something more like Crocodile Tears. As in "first world problems".

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":





TZ"

I had the exact same thought!

bobbernumber3: "

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":







TZ"

I'll be on the Peace River, FL next month!"

Sounds great! This 'gator was in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on the GA/FL line. Friends just returned from their 'cross-Florida paddle adventure', which started on the St Mary's River, thru Okefenokee, then down the Suwanee River. We were invited along, but couldn't make it. Have a wonderful trip.

TZ

Watch out for naked old people heading for your campsite!

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":





TZ"

That wasn't my intention, however, after I posted, the thought crossed my mind, and I had to laugh a little bit.

lindylair: "Just in case, I checked out East Bearskin campground. For Sat 5/29 there are 3 reservable sites available so if this is even a consideration you might want to act fast. There are also some first come first served sites as well but I wouldn't want to bank on them. The downside is it's 48 bucks to reserve for two nights. The upside is you are guaranteed to not have to drive back home that night:)


Some folks might think it's not right to take up a BWCA permit and a campsite at the campground. Up to each individual I guess although it is definitely a different situation from "reserving" two BWCA campsites on the same lake, or multiple permits for the same day. "

Thank you for the input. I may have to consider that.

nctry: "Watch out for naked old people heading for your campsite!"

LMAO. We're all scarred for life, after reading that.

Since it is a dead end...hopefully people aren't spending a week there or whatever long period of time. Doesn't seem like the place to spend days among days in there on just one little lake.

A1t2o: "

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":







TZ"

I was actually thinking something more like Crocodile Tears. As in "first world problems"."

rabbit lake sounds much less scary!

analyzer: "

TrailZen: "What I imagined when I read "Crocodile Concerns":







TZ"

That wasn't my intention, however, after I posted, the thought crossed my mind, and I had to laugh a little bit."

We should ALL laugh more often!

TZ

There is a campsite on East Bearskin maybe 30 yards west from the portage to Croc. The land is technically in the BWCA, but the water infront is not. So I'm not really sure who would even use it, but its a backup plan. I wouldn't hesitate to use it, especially if you have a BW permit.

The land across from the East Bearskin landing all the way to the two points is US Gov't owned, not in BWCA. Open to dispersed camping. Not ideal... but I'd say also pretty awesome.

IF entering from the original east entry, (or the bearskin entry), and you find campsites full... adventure down to the vegetable chain, fully in Superior National forest, and open for dispersed camping where ever you please....

I wouldn't even bother with the campground with all these options around you...

THEGrandRapids: "There is a campsite on East Bearskin maybe 30 yards west from the portage to Croc. The land is technically in the BWCA, but the water infront is not. So I'm not really sure who would even use it, but its a backup plan"

That is a pretty nice site, too, and it has Croc Falls right there. It really is in an odd location, but if it were located deeper into the wilderness, it would be a popular one.

nctry: "Watch out for naked old people heading for your campsite!"

You would think the crocodiles would help with this problem.

mschi772: "

THEGrandRapids: "There is a campsite on East Bearskin maybe 30 yards west from the portage to Croc. The land is technically in the BWCA, but the water infront is not. So I'm not really sure who would even use it, but its a backup plan"

That is a pretty nice site, too, and it has Croc Falls right there. It really is in an odd location, but if it were located deeper into the wilderness, it would be a popular one."

Actually, isn’t that campsite outside the bwca so you wouldn’t need a permit to camp there. Could just use day permits to go into crocodile or alder....

Mocha: "

mschi772: "

THEGrandRapids: "There is a campsite on East Bearskin maybe 30 yards west from the portage to Croc. The land is technically in the BWCA, but the water infront is not. So I'm not really sure who would even use it, but its a backup plan"

That is a pretty nice site, too, and it has Croc Falls right there. It really is in an odd location, but if it were located deeper into the wilderness, it would be a popular one."

Actually, isn’t that campsite outside the bwca so you wouldn’t need a permit to camp there. Could just use day permits to go into crocodile or alder...."

The land of the site is inside the BWCA boundary. The water isn't. It makes for an odd situation for anyone trying to comply with the rules of the wilderness.

THEGrandRapids: "There is a campsite on East Bearskin maybe 30 yards west from the portage to Croc. The land is technically in the BWCA, but the water infront is not. So I'm not really sure who would even use it, but its a backup plan. I wouldn't hesitate to use it, especially if you have a BW permit.


The land across from the East Bearskin landing all the way to the two points is US Gov't owned, not in BWCA. Open to dispersed camping. Not ideal... but I'd say also pretty awesome.


IF entering from the original east entry, (or the bearskin entry), and you find campsites full... adventure down to the vegetable chain, fully in Superior National forest, and open for dispersed camping where ever you please....


I wouldn't even bother with the campground with all these options around you..."

I like that idea. Thank you.

THEGrandRapids: "and you find campsites full... adventure down to the vegetable chain, fully in Superior National forest, and open for dispersed camping where ever you please....


"

Have you fished the vegetable chain? Any feedback?

How do you get in there? from Croc, or do you drive around some place?

There is a small place to park off of FS 313 (Shoe Lake Rd) north of Greenwood Lake. I’ve only drove past going from the Gunflint to the Arrowhead Trail.

FYI.

I'm canceling my Crocodile permit for the Saturday of Memorial weekend. We're going to go elsewhere. We'll go to Crocodile another time, when it's less busy.

Meeds came available, so we'll go that route instead.

Thank you for your feedback.

Meeds is a quiet lake with very good fishing for smallies and eyes. 3 campsites, reportedly all decent. We stayed at the second one on an island and it was very nice and we caught some very nice fish right from shore. Not a bad alternative at all.

lindylair: "Meeds is a quiet lake with very good fishing for smallies and eyes. 3 campsites, reportedly all decent. We stayed at the second one on an island and it was very nice and we caught some very nice fish right from shore. Not a bad alternative at all. "

Good to know. Thank you.

We stayed at the far west site on Meeds last September. It's a huge site with lots of trails. Overall nice site; great alternative if the 2 island sites are taken. I only caught 1 fish from shore there, but I only fished for 30 minutes.

Thank you for the headsup.

I passed through the lakes between the entry and Crocodile. Did not fish much but picked up a few small bass as I recovered from the portage uphill from the Crocodile river. There is a semblance of a trail between the entrance to the river but it is overgrown and the last stretch is quite steep. Think I fell three times going uphill in wet conditions. I was told the route would be hard to find but it worked out. Felt pretty remote when I hit the river.