Has anyone stayed on this lake, has 2 campsites. seems like a risk to go down and check if they are even open.

I understand your thinking. However, I think its the most scenic lake in that area. But, if either of the 2 western moat sites on Canoe lake are available, I'd be hard pressed to continue my search for a site. Thing is, sometimes you have to push on into Crystal. The eastern most site on Crystal is better but, the other (west) site isn't horrible.

Pierz lake also has 3 average sites that I think serve as last resort type sites for that area. Fortunately, aside from the Canoe-Pine & Spaulding Bench portages; all the rest in that area are pretty much straight forward so, if you do need to backtrack....

Do you recall if there were some decent spots to hammock from? Also, do you know if Table, Spaulding, Bench have fish? The DNR lake survey from 1975 says no. Lastly, when looking at the map, the portage from Pine down to Canoe goes close to Table (marshland) I'm curious if one couldn't take kayaks across that go to Table and down.

I think that they were stocking Bench with browns. I went in there one fall with a paddling friend. It's a beautiful little secluded lake that is worth the hike in.

There are reasonably current reports on other sites verifying fish (brook trout) in Bench.

It's been a few years but, I think there would be decent areas for hammocks on Crystal.

I'm certain that traveling to Pine through that route would require some serious bushwhacking.

I camped on Crystal doing a solo several years ago. The site nearest the portage was OK...caught nonstop rock bass in front of camp. The portage trail is convenient to Spaulding Lake where there are a bunch of mine artifacts all around. Be careful if you venture about Spaulding and Bench...they are dead-end lakes with little traffic. I fell while walking the rocks on Spaulding and luckily I landed without a head injury. If I hadn't, it would have been a long time until my corpse was recovered.

Can't speak about hammock trees.

Mike

My son and I camped on Crystal a couple of years ago first week of June. It is a gamble since you can't see the sites from the portage from canoe and you can't tell if anyone is on the eastern most site until you are almost in front of it. We portaged into Crystal and both sites were taken and had to back track to Canoe for the night. We did run into one of the groups camped on Crystal and they told us they were leaving next morning so we got in there and got the eastern site the next day. I think it is a great site, great lake, and there were definitely hammock spots, although we tented. In my opinion it is worth the gamble, as many of the great spots in the BWCA are, but definitely have a plan B. Visiting Spaulding mine and the history of it are cool too.

Crystal is a bit of a risk. We've paddled down there during busy season and found the sites occupied. In the off season - they've been open.

I stayed on Crystal this year the nights of June 21st-22nd. We had the lake to ourselves the whole time. Also portaged into Bench and caught brook trout. This is the only experience I have on the lake so I don't know if we just got lucky. Good luck.