BWCA Camping in the Superior National Forest Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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07/01/2021 12:08PM  
I have a second BWCA trip reserved for mid August, but karma may prevent me from going. I will try to keep the planned trip, but if I can't, the alternate will be to take a trip in the Superior National Forest.

I have purchased the Forest Service map and the Outdoorsman Atlas and it is a bit overwhelming trying to pick which lakes to visit. I hope to either car camp at a lake or river or park and portage and paddle to a campsite on a lake. I know I can't expect a BWCA-type experience, but would like to come close, so avoiding lakes with homes, cottages or campgrounds is a must. Remote and hard to get to, 4-wheel drive truck accessible, is what I'm looking for.

Any info about camping in the SNF is appreciated.
 
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HayRiverDrifter
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07/02/2021 07:25AM  
Check out the Timber Frear loop. The entry lake, Whitefish lake, has a small campground with a few sites and a nice pit toilet. There is also a site just south of the campground you can drive into, and another walk-in site a bit further south. There are also a number of sites on the loop of lakes. It's a mini-BWCA.

Timber Frear loop

If you fish, the walleye on Whitefish lake mostly bite at night. Just troll with a crankbait. The lake is very clear.

I would go in mid-week. It's very busy everywhere there is camping up north, so mid-week would allow for the best chances of finding a nice site.
07/03/2021 05:34AM  
This might fit the bill:

Johnson Lake

Or this one - we did this route and camped at Astrid Lake last September and really enjoyed it. Had the lake to ourselves and the nearby hiking trails are nice:

Astrid Lake - Hunting Shack River entry

If you end up car camping you can't do a lot better than Crescent Lake - there is a campground there but the lake is beautiful, totally undeveloped(other than the campground) and as pretty as any BWCA lake. It has good fishing and is full of islands, points and bays to explore. Just a mile or two as the crow flies from the BWCA, it wouldn't be difficult to base there and do daytrips out of the nearby entry points.
 
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