So my big plan for my 15 year old sons 1st BWCA trip was to basecamp on Long Island Lake and fish & explore. Having recently learned this lake fills up quickly what's our best bet for a option B? Diverting to Snipe or pushing to Frost seem the likely possibilities. Our needs are minimal so we'll take whatevers available. We should be on the water by 7am June 7th and staying until the 12th. I appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
martian

Make note of the campsites on Karl as you go through. Those are often empty because people are pushing through to LIL. You can go back there without a portage. Also check out the east and west ends of LIL. People tend to take those central campsites first. There is one island site that is often open because the latrine is so far from the camp that people never find it and think it is a closed site! There are some real nice sites off the beaten path. I have been through Gordon a bunch of times and have never seen either of the two sites occupied.

I'd be really surprised if there is not a decent site available on a Monday early in June even with the inceased traffic. You'll be there before noon. The sites on Karl are decent too (and are esentially the same lake). I'd say just plan on going for it and not worry. Frost is a fantastic plan B if sites are open.

I was going to mention Gordon too. If one's open, I'd take it. If you're on Gordon, it's only a short paddle, very short portage to Cherokee, which has a lot of sites. Yeah, it can get busy, but . . . if nobody's on the NW site, take it, if occupied check out the NE site. Not a great one, but certainly OK for 2 people.

I’d go to frost. Same species fish, beautiful lake, sand beaches.... perhaps bugs

Thank you for all the valuable suggestions. I'm excited to get this adventure underway, nervously hopeful I can develop a lifelong tripping partner. I can't wait to get North.
martian

Just got back from that area but decided not to push down to Long Island. Stayed a couple nights on Snipe and it is a beautiful lake, but on at least one of the nights, all 4 sites were taken. Rumor has it that Snipe is fishless but judging by the number of smallies we saw jumping I would say that is not the case at all. may not be a great lake though but the scenery is worth it. Access, which can get tough in low water was super easy on May 23rd and the same on May 25th.

Also stayed a few nights on the primo peninsula site on Ham Lake - one of the nicest sits I have seen up there - if you don't have a lot of wind. Unfortunately we got one of those rare stretches where the wind howled for 2 days which made it a challenge. Once it calmed down we were able to enjoy the great site, fire area and views. BTW, all 4 sites were full on Ham too for at least a night or two.

It's already plenty busy up there, if you are making camp early in the day you should be okay.

lindylair: "Just got back from that area but decided not to push down to Long Island. Stayed a couple nights on Snipe and it is a beautiful lake, but on at least one of the nights, all 4 sites were taken. Rumor has it that Snipe is fishless but judging by the number of smallies we saw jumping I would say that is not the case at all. may not be a great lake though but the scenery is worth it. Access, which can get tough in low water was super easy on May 23rd and the same on May 25th.


Also stayed a few nights on the primo peninsula site on Ham Lake - one of the nicest sits I have seen up there - if you don't have a lot of wind. Unfortunately we got one of those rare stretches where the wind howled for 2 days which made it a challenge. Once it calmed down we were able to enjoy the great site, fire area and views. BTW, all 4 sites were full on Ham too for at least a night or two.


It's already plenty busy up there, if you are making camp early in the day you should be okay. "

Thank you for the heads up. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst I guess. An early start and single portaging may help us. I sure hate missing the experience while doing the drag race from point A to B. I do miss the 80's. You could almost call your sites before you left. It'll be a matter of luck now. Thanks again.
martian

Your hardest portages are early in the day. The bouldery landing on the river and one steep one. After Ham they are easy and short.

Cross Bay Lake is interesting, though I guess not if fish is your goal. Probably the best place to see moose and kind of fun to explore. If the site on the east side right before the portage out is open I would stop there the first night. It is a real cool site tucked into the rock outcrops. It would mean a short easy morning to LIL on day two leaving lots of time to search for and select a campsite there.

Doing the run from LIL out could be leisurely since you are not needing to find a campsite at the end.

Martian, how was the trip and the campsite situation on Long Island? I'm headed up that way later this week and would love to hear how things went.

Hey greenergrass thanks for asking. The trip went awesomely. Maybe a little warm for my taste. The paddle in is simply gorgeous. Especially when the river does a little chicane walled by trees/rock on both sides. Awesome! Your bow paddler may want polarized lenses so they can observe the many boulders right under the surfaces. Sadly my son missed a couple but oh well. Some of the landings are pretty poor but that's the price we pay. We saw a moose,pair of swans,beaver,loons & watched turtles laying eggs. Neat stuff.
In terms of campsites we didn't have issue finding open ones. We were on the water each time we moved by 7am. We did see a bunch of folks coming in late in the day. Not sure how they faired site finding wise. Also, the drive from Grand Marais does take some time. Enjoy & have a safe trip!

Glad to hear you had a good trip! Any time you see wildlife like that makes for a memorable trip. I never seem to get in a moose sighting...maybe this is the time. Thanks for the heads up on the terrain, I'll keep an eye out for hull gougers from below.

Sounds like it was a great first experience for your son and here's to hoping you have a lifelong paddling partner. Our trip is like yours in reverse. I'll be taking my old man out for his first trip in BWCA. Staying at Rockwood the night prior and will get out on the water as early as possible to hopefully get a jump on campsites. Day 1 will be Saturday morning which I suspect might be a busier entry day. Thanks again for your thoughts!