I'm considering a trip with my 2 boys (8 and 11) years old. They are good fishermen, and are good for a couple hours straight in the canoe. However, based on non-BDub camping experience, I know I'll need to mix up activities to prevent the "I'm bored" mantra. Our prior camping trips quickly develop a good rhythm of fish, breakfast, hike, lunch, swim/canoe, relax, dinner, fish, fire, bed...
OK - I'll get to my question. By when does the water approach tolerable for swimming, and are there lakes that lend them selves more to swimming (clear/not muddy, easy entry/exit, no current, warm quicker, etc.)?

July and Aug should be a good time. Smaller lakes warm faster, while deep clear lakes take much longer. Stay away from rapids and falls, Ie basswood ralls, wheelbarrow falls, as people have drown there while swimming, even with lifejackets on. Common sense applies

I wouldn't count on it every year, but I have gone swimming comfortably in early June. I have also gone for a quick dip to cool off in late May.

I would second the other guys. Your average boy doesn't much care if the water is 65 or 80 degrees, they're goin' in.

My advice is bring those rubber soled swim shoes that you can get for cheap at Wal-Mart. We always do. They double as halfway decent camp shoes as well. Most lakes have enough bottom rock to make that a good idea. There are sandy campsites around, but they are not the norm. My daughters HAD to have life jackets on always-no exceptions.

It's never really bath water up there, but I agree with those that say the kids will swim in anything. I always do. Also, the water shoes are good advice, the rocks can be sharp.

We swim and bathe in June.July.August & September....water is much warmer than in Oregon, not bad at all.

Water shoes are a must for lake swimming, you never know whats on the bottom....sticks, brush, slime???? Takes all the worries away.

Agree on water shoes--wouldn't let kids go barefoot at any time, if for no other reason than the danger of the errant fishhook.

I sometimes swim in June, but I don't mind cold water that much.

I agree with everything previously said, and I'll reinforce the footwear idea. We had swim goggles along last year, and at two campsites, right at the swimming area, we found 3 treble hook lures at each. And that granite is sharp, and once you get a cut or good scratch and the slime gets in, you are well set up for an infection. The cheapy water slippers at Walmart are a good deal.

In terms of the part of your question about whether there are better and worse places to go if you are looking to swim . . . there are, but you have to zero in on an specific area of the BWCA to get info on the best spots. Best just to keep your eyes open as you travel. Some lakes are crystal clear and many are "bog stained." I like swimming in the bog stained ones just fine, but some kids don't like it as much (you can't see your feet as they dangle down . . . maybe a Northern is about to bite your toes off!). A few lakes are mucky and stinky . . . mostly the smallest ones.

Usually the best swimming spots vary by campsite. The biggest factor is whether there is a good place to get in the water. A few choice sites have beaches. Rock domes sloping into the water are more common. A few spots also have some rocks off shore you can swim out to and play king of the mountain. One of the things you can focus on as you pick a campsite is whether it's a good swimming site . . . and let the kids weigh in on that.

Northallen- there are a few really nice sand beaches in several lakes that I am aware of. Sand beaches are rare in the BWCA. If somewhere without a good entry/exit we always had our girls wear their PFD's when swimming. Email me if you want to know some sites with good beaches.

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll definitely add water socks to the check list. Hadn't considered those as footwear for the BW.

I’m weighing the pros/cons of a sandy site.
Sand in the tent v. trying to get out of the water on a rock (these are often quite slick below the water line). I’m leaning toward it’s easier to sweep the tent than to deal with scrapes and bruises from falling on a rock, plus I guess the shallow entry from a beach will lend to warmer water.

I'll scan the maps site for campsites in the areas I'm considering (gunflint trail entry); looking campsites with notes re: swimming/easy entry. No cliff diving.

I suggest Horseshoe Lake just south of Lake Three:

1. Decent fishing
2. Nice campsite of a the north side of the lake's western lobe has an moderately elevated outcropping (8 ft or so) that is great for jumping into the lake - my kids did this for hours
3. Lots of blueberries to pick along the channel separating the two lobes of the lake
4. The Pow Wow Trail runs right between Horseshow and Lake Three and makes for a great hiking adventure

Have a great time!

Alice Lake is a good sized lake with some nice sandy beaches and also good fishing. You can reach it going through the Numbered Lakes and Insula from the west.

I concur with thoughts on footwear when swimming.

I would be cautious of swimming anywhere where a beaver lodge is located as I wouldn't want to pick up giardia. A couple of years back my partner and I were working our way through the lady chain which included some streams and ponds where we noticed lodges along the shoreline. On one "pond" area there was a campsite with lots of kids swimming as it was a hot day. They were having a good time laughing and hollering. I couldn't help but wonder how many parasites they were ingesting with mouths open in that kind of water. Of course, in a few days, they would know.

Just look out for this! Monster

Might want to look into Clearwater Lake. It's off the Gunflint, has very clear water, and easy daytrip portages to some of the other lakes in the area.

Gutmon,
I stayed at that site last year. Cool site!

Ya after seeing many big fish and snappers I wouldnt swim up there. Im just saying if you value your junk. I havent had kids yet, so to preserve that opportunity I dont swim.

2 weeks ago. :)

cold water, but felt very refreshing in the hot weather.

Anyway, if they're anything like I was at their age, they'll be happy swimming in any temp water.


definitely wear shoes though.

quote bradcrc: "


2 weeks ago. :)


cold water, but felt very refreshing in the hot weather.


Anyway, if they're anything like I was at their age, they'll be happy swimming in any temp water.



definitely wear shoes though."

Brad- shrinkage, I assume?

A little story about swimming. My three girls all are very good swimmers but I make them where their PFD's. Last year (age 12, 11 and 11) they were begging me to let them swim w/o them. I said only if you take my test. We went out into deeper water where they had been swimming and one at a time I took their PFD's from them and let them tread water a few minutes. Long story short they asked for the PFD's back, my good swimmers were tired! I also worried about leg cramps that would make it impossible to swim back to shore.

quote gutmon: "Brad- shrinkage, I assume?"

don't know. I forgot my yardstick.


;)