We (group of 3 or 4) are taking a quick weekend trip from EP 16 from July 18-20. None of us have been in this area of the BWCA, but we've read that it can be quite busy. Our current plan is to leave the EP no later than 8:30/9am and head for LLC, but will take a site on the far end of Agnes if we see one.

Does this seem like a feasible plan or should we expect to push farther into LLC to find a site?

That’s one of my favorite areas of the BW!

Loons on Lac La Croix

There’s generally something open on LLC. Agnes and Bolder Bay are usually fairly full. There’s been bear issues though on Agnes the last couple years so maybe that’s keeping people away.

Just got back and didn't have an issue with finding any sites

Agnes can get extremely busy in July. We've paddled through it and didn't see a single open campsite. Boulder Bay has fantastic campsites, any of the island ones are pretty good. Have a great trip!

Thanks for all of the information! It sounds like we should be prepared to get all the way into LLC, but we may get lucky with a site on the north end of Agnes.

Get an early start - hit the water at sunrise. Then you can be at the north end of Agnes by lunchtime and decide if you want to push over those last two portages. They aren't particularly long or difficult. Agnes is a pretty lake but LLC is where the really good landmarks are.

Agnes can be full. We were just in Boulder Bay and it was real nice. Go past Agnes, take the two portages into Boulder Bay. You'll find a place. We saw people but found our spot easily on the last two nights of our trip. We enjoy that area a lot.

With going into LLC, is it better to take the one 113 rod portage or the 2 shorter (23 rods and 69 rods)? Any insights?

WhitePine1: "With going into LLC, is it better to take the one 113 rod portage or the 2 shorter (23 rods and 69 rods)? Any insights?"

Have done both multiple times and I wouldn't say there's a better, but my observations may help. I mostly take the longer portage if I'm turning east towards Iron and the two shorter portages going to or from Tiger Bay/Fish Stake etc.

The longer portage is flatter, and I haven't run into any people along it. Can be a little swampy but manageable. If the water is high, you can run into some current along the boulder river, no class II rapids but enough to mess with your steering.

The shorter portages I may just dislike more because each time I have used them I have had to wait (patiently) for multiple groups to clear in both directions. Most of the landings are pretty tight and wouldn't really accommodate multiple groups. Also, unless there's a drastic difference in portage length, I'd rather just unload once vs twice.

pastorjsackett: "Agnes can be full. We were just in Boulder Bay and it was real nice. Go past Agnes, take the two portages into Boulder Bay. You'll find a place. We saw people but found our spot easily on the last two nights of our trip. We enjoy that area a lot."

We must have missed you. We rolled into Boulder bay from the river last Wednesday and camped on the first site after the river. We were there a week and came out Tuesday. We took the 25 out of Agnes and took the river all the way to Boulder bay skipping the 65 rodder. Same on the way out. When the water level is up you can get away with it.

With this being your first time I would suggest doing the two short ones. They are easy to find, not very difficult, and as the previous poster said the only downside is you have to unload/reload twice. The longer route is less navigable when water levels are low or high, and not as obvious. Once you drop into LLC head to the island sites just south of Warrior Hill. Recommend you do a day trip across Iron to visit Curtain Falls, they aren't to be missed. Leave your canoes on the Iron side of the portage around Curtain and have lunch at the falls.

mr. barley--we were in the third one up from the river. The other two were full when we rolled in. We had been in Fish Stake Narrows for two nights, then came down on Tuesday night, Wednesday night and out on Thursday.

As for the portages, if I were tripping I'd take the two shorter although the 65 into LLC has made me crabby before--I think it was the bugs. And some elevation as I recall? It's been a while. The long flat one is great to access the river to go fishing up there.

Make sure you are looking for a site between 11-2PM. This is when most people are traveling and have left their previous campsites. You are more likely to find an open site during these hours.

My motto (I have a bunch) ‘Leave camp early, find a new one early’.

None of this 4pm looking for a campsite!