BWCA Fall trip with 4 year old Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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ryanstewart
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12/07/2022 08:16AM  
Looking at EP 50 to take my 4 year old on her first trip. Two adults…one kid. Likely early September.

What is campsite availability like on Ham, Cross Bay, and Snipe? Planning to make a two-three day loop and out through Missing Link. Could go the other way around and try for some Missing Link trout for the first day.

I day paddled this years ago, but don’t recall how busy it was. I don’t think the tot is up for the Tuscarora portage from Missing Link.
 
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12/07/2022 12:55PM  
It's been a while since I went through there (late Sept.) - before they reduced permits - but it wasn't terribly busy. I have no experience there around Labor Day. Most people are going farther south. I've camped on Snipe, even Missing Link, but Cross Bay has always been full - only 2 sites and 1 would be south of your proposed route. Ham is outside the BW boundary.

My plan would be to enter at Missing Link and head to Snipe. If no sites are available - unlikely - you could head back to Missing Link. Exit at Cross Bay and you could spend a final night at Ham if necessary/desired.
TuscaroraBorealis
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12/08/2022 06:53AM  
Of course there are never any guarantees but, in my experiences on several trips through that area, there has always been multiple open campsites.
12/08/2022 11:41AM  
The picture in TB's post is the island site on Snipe. I've stayed there when I camped on Snipe. It's an OK site and as nice as any on that lake. Landing is so-so and options for tarp setup are limited. You'll need pole(s) for anything near firegrate or lots of cordage. Not much protection from wind. I don't hang so don't know about that.
THEGrandRapids
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12/08/2022 02:42PM  
We did a 4 night 5 day lollipop route out of EP50 down to Long Island, with day trip to Gordon. Had our 1 and 3 year old boys with. Stayed on the southern site on cross the first 2 nights and caught a ton of walleyes just down from the inlet. Oldest boy got his first walleye on a bobber. I like the tight lakes from Cross to Long. Once on long, stayed in SW corner, and ended up going to Gordon (which is an awesome lake, but didn't catch a dang thing). Gordan did get extremely windy, as the high cliffs extenuated the already high gusts that day and with an unloaded canoe we were at the mercy of the wind. I'd do this route again. Could do in 3 days 2 nights. Not exactly what you were asking, but a close alternative. Of course staying at T with their french toast send off was also a highlight.
 
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