What's the scuttlebutt on numbers returning to the BWCAW?

I don't know about numbers, but Gabbro was EMPTY on the 30th. I think we had the lake all to ourselves. The 31st through 2nd were quiet, but saw a few groups. Most campsites on Gabbro and Little Gabbro were open when exited.

We’re heading into Little Gabbro next week. I’m ok if numbers in that area are down a bit then! I’ve been worried that those lakes would be really full because some adjoining lakes will still be closed for overnights( Kawawishi) so people might not go as far in. Guess we’ll see…

4keys: "We’re heading into Little Gabbro next week. I’m ok if numbers in that area are down a bit then! I’ve been worried that those lakes would be really full because some adjoining lakes will still be closed for overnights( Kawawishi) so people might not go as far in. Guess we’ll see…"

As of today everything outside the main fire areas are open to overnight camping.

I had several cancellation notices set for the month of August. I never turned them off. There are a lot of cancellations still coming through. Mostly Tofte thorugh mid Gunflint. Spots that were opened first. Perhaps people grabbed open permits for this area and then canceled when the chance to get some of their more favored sites opened?

Admittedly, I have my concerns for a stampede for an end of August trip on a 1-permit quota per day EP. I wouldn't normally have any concern but being it's me and my two younger kids I'm hopefully we won't we have to travel significantly further on day 1 to find an open camp site.

I've got permit cancellations setup for the EP as well just out of curiosity.

In my thinking, I would assume the same numbers as if there never were closures.

The quota system caps the number of permits that are available for any given point on any given day and I don't think the F.S. has changed those quotas. Assuming the permits were sold out, then the same number of people will come in that were going to come in in the first place. There may be a few less if the threat of continued closures caused some permit holders to cancel "prematurely" or there may be more day-trippers as folks now day-trip wherever they can because they missed out on their overnight trips. But, day-trips will not affect campsite availability.

Please correct me if I'm not considering this properly.

bottomtothetap: "In my thinking, I would assume the same numbers as if there never were closures.


The quota system caps the number of permits that are available for any given point on any given day and I don't think the F.S. has changed those quotas. Assuming the permits were sold out, then the same number of people will come in that were going to come in in the first place. There may be a few less if the threat of continued closures caused some permit holders to cancel "prematurely" or there may be more day-trippers as folks now day-trip wherever they can because they missed out on their overnight trips. But, day-trips will not affect campsite availability.


Please correct me if I'm not considering this properly."

No, you're right. Some people just love to catastrophize.

I'd like to think most folks that come up here are good people, but I think with the sheer volume of cancelled permits and area closure, a more realistic concern is bad actors entering without a permit, or entering somewhere other than their permitted entry.

I also suspect more congestion around Seagull and Saganaga since a large number of groups entering there go up to Knife. Probably the same for the Moose Lake and Fall Lake entry points.

portagerunner: "Admittedly, I have my concerns for a stampede for an end of August trip on a 1-permit quota per day EP. I wouldn't normally have any concern but being it's me and my two younger kids I'm hopefully we won't we have to travel significantly further on day 1 to find an open camp site.


I've got permit cancellations setup for the EP as well just out of curiosity."

I’m thinking the same things. I’m going in at a 2 permit per day EP with my 7 year old. I don’t mind paddling all day when I’m solo, but I don’t want to go too far with a little along. I hope there are not people out there that missed out on their trips and decide to just go without a permit.

One year I entered at Homer (2 permits per day)with one of my daughters and counting us, at least 4 groups entered that day.

Let me know how your trip goes. If you are still going where I’m thinking, I have it on my list for a future kid trip to a new place.

ducks: "

portagerunner: "Admittedly, I have my concerns for a stampede for an end of August trip on a 1-permit quota per day EP. I wouldn't normally have any concern but being it's me and my two younger kids I'm hopefully we won't we have to travel significantly further on day 1 to find an open camp site.



I've got permit cancellations setup for the EP as well just out of curiosity."

I’m thinking the same things. I’m going in at a 2 permit per day EP with my 7 year old. I don’t mind paddling all day when I’m solo, but I don’t want to go too far with a little along. I hope there are not people out there that missed out on their trips and decide to just go without a permit.


One year I entered at Homer (2 permits per day)with one of my daughters and counting us, at least 4 groups entered that day.


Let me know how your trip goes. If you are still going where I’m thinking, I have it on my list for a future kid trip to a new place. "

Great. I'm going into Homer on September 10. Uggg

Mike

I asked this as the best gauge for the response in Quetico when it re-opens. My outfitter notes that generally there's a pretty noticeable drop-off in business into Quetico, at least on the north side, as August wanes.

MikeinMpls: "

ducks: "

portagerunner: "Admittedly, I have my concerns for a stampede for an end of August trip on a 1-permit quota per day EP. I wouldn't normally have any concern but being it's me and my two younger kids I'm hopefully we won't we have to travel significantly further on day 1 to find an open camp site.



I've got permit cancellations setup for the EP as well just out of curiosity."

I’m thinking the same things. I’m going in at a 2 permit per day EP with my 7 year old. I don’t mind paddling all day when I’m solo, but I don’t want to go too far with a little along. I hope there are not people out there that missed out on their trips and decide to just go without a permit.



One year I entered at Homer (2 permits per day)with one of my daughters and counting us, at least 4 groups entered that day.



Let me know how your trip goes. If you are still going where I’m thinking, I have it on my list for a future kid trip to a new place. "

Great. I'm going into Homer on September 10. Uggg


Mike"

But, the year prior to that I went to Homer on a solo the exact same weekend (3rd weekend in May) and I didn’t see anyone else the whole 3 day trip. On that trip, I was only one of 2 vehicles in the lot, and on the trip with my daughter, the lot was almost full.

I guess you have a 50/50 shot at either seeing nobody or fighting for a campsite. LOL. I do like the area with the small and intimate lakes.

I fished Isabella Lake on a day trip today. There were a couple of day trippers heading and two overnight groups heading out of the bwca. When I left at five, there were no other cars in the lot. All of the campsites were open! I don’t think I’ve ever been on Isabella where no campsites were taken.

We thought we would have the place to ourselves. Wrong. Entered Lizz Lake on 8/3 with a first time paddler in the bow. Outfitter reported that permits had been checked two days before on the dock at the first portage. Was surprised to see so many people. Met a party returning (after what, three days?) from Gaskin with reports of multiple wolf sightings — apparently feeding on moose kill? We were fairly early out on the water and expecting Caribou to be quiet but were left with dregs by noon. After we settled on that crappy campsite, which would barely earn one star, with literally multiple children wailing night and day at the nearby site on the western point that they had occupied the day before (planning to stay through the week), Caribou was full with several parties disappointed in having to push on. A few times during our trip, there were three parties converging at a portage. The bottlenecks reminded me of the campsite scarcity stress back in 2021 with too many people for my taste, and paddling partner agreed. I would say only one in three parties we met were made up of what I would call “experienced” canoeists. Never got to Gaskin. But we heard the wolves. Anybody else notice that overall there seemed to be less wildlife active than usual for early August? Last minute extension of visit has meant that I’ve seen up close and personal how there have been no vacancy signs on every hotel in Ely for the past 2 nights. Not sure if this is the stampede you’re looking for?

egknuti: "I fished Isabella Lake on a day trip today. There were a couple of day trippers heading and two overnight groups heading out of the bwca. When I left at five, there were no other cars in the lot. All of the campsites were open! I don’t think I’ve ever been on Isabella where no campsites were taken. "

My Nephew day Tripped July 31 or August 1 on Isabella at daybreak-5 cars in the lot than, when they left later that morning there was 10 cars. interesting on how it can change so fast.

8/3 my first time in at Sawbill. Sawbill was half occupied, Alton less than half and Kelso not occupied at any campsite. Day trippers abound. Bugs almost zero. By the weekend there were a few more people. I expected to see more campers and was quite happy to find it not so busy for a popular, easy EP.