BWCA Are there waterfalls in the BWCA? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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CedarPaddle
member (21)member
  
03/05/2012 09:20PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm planning a trip for a group of ladies again and just wondered if there are any waterfalls in the BWCA, or other things of interest that I might be able to plan in our route.
Entry point has not been chosen yet, so nothing is set in stone. But probably drive up to Ely.

 
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03/05/2012 09:56PM  
Yes there are. Stand by, I'm sure you'll get lots of info on this one. I have seen a couple but can't think of the lake names they were at.
Welcome to the board.

Thannks to Tuscarora below - Cattyman was the last falls I was at a couple years ago. The other one was a long time ago and don't recall which it was.
Jackfish
Moderator
  
03/05/2012 10:01PM  
Welcome to the board, CedarPaddle. :)

The answers will come flocking in shortly, but one waterfall that is absolutely worth the price of admission to see is Curtain Falls on the border with Quetico. It's located at the far western end of Crooked Lake.
03/06/2012 04:15AM  
How much water has to fall how far before the falling water is considered a waterfall?

Devil's Cascade on the Little Indian Sioux, EP 14.
TuscaroraBorealis
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03/06/2012 06:43AM  
Mueller falls

Cattyman falls

Eddy falls





Elm portage

Alpine ~ Jasper portage

Mora ~ Lil' Sag portage





Lower Basswood falls

Rattle lake

Sioux falls







Stairway portage

Mug falls

Winchell lake










Johnson Falls

Johson Falls, upper tier

Vernon lake

Plus, I left out some of the main ones. Curtain Falls, Devils Cascade, Basswood falls.....
03/06/2012 06:53AM  
Johnson Falls on the far east end. Near Pine Lake.

Upper Basswood, Wheelbarrow, and Lower Basswood. All 3 are where the Basswood River flows from Basswood Lake into Crooked.
03/06/2012 08:15AM  
Jackfish
Moderator
  
03/06/2012 09:15AM  
Nice job, TB. Well done.
03/06/2012 10:06AM  
curtain falls are a special treat, they remind you of being on a big northern canadian river. i rarely encounter other groups here. the fishing in the rapids is first class.

Curtain Falls

Curtain Falls

Curtain Falls





Curtain Falls

I can't remember which falls these are, on the Basswood many years ago.

Johnson Falls





Rose Falls
03/06/2012 10:24AM  
arg!! hello TBorealis, (nice photos by the way) how do you get your text to line up with your photos? i don't have a clue.
TuscaroraBorealis
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03/06/2012 10:34AM  
After each photo I type in the text then hit enter so there is a blank line before entering the next photo. After 3 photos you'll need to hit enter 7 times (7 blank lines) so the next 3 will line up. Rinse & repeat. :)
03/06/2012 10:46AM  
thanks, i wouldn't have guessed that in a million years. now to give it a try.
Mustangt125
senior member (89)senior membersenior member
  
03/06/2012 10:58AM  
Those are some great pictures. Where are the Curtain Falls located?
03/06/2012 11:05AM  
curtain falls is on the border route between iron lake and crooked lake. it is possible to make it to iron lake in one day, the campsite on the northeast corner of the lake, #1841, gives quick access to the falls. be very careful as you approach the minnesota side portage from iron lake, there is a tricky bit of current that has swamped many a canoe.
03/06/2012 11:10AM  
There are also a lot of nice waterfalls outside the BW along the North Shore on the way to Gunflint if you go that way and have time.
TuscaroraBorealis
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03/06/2012 11:12AM  
quote Mustangt125: "Those are some great pictures. Where are the Curtain Falls located?"

Along the Canadian border between Iron & Crooked lakes.

Curtain Falls
CedarPaddle
member (21)member
  
03/06/2012 11:20AM  
Thanks guys this really helps
I'll have to get back to this tonight after work and take notes :)
03/06/2012 03:36PM  
Great photos guys. I hope you don't mind if I steal them for my screen saver show.
schweady
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03/06/2012 04:24PM  
There is a "falls" marked on this site's map, on the creek between Horse and Fourtown, closer to Horse. Anyone have a photo or comment on it? There is a 31 ft difference between lake levels...
billconner
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03/06/2012 05:20PM  
You didn't say Quetico - though Rebecca is in the Q - but hard to beat Louisa Falls and a dip in the Devil's Bathtub.



CedarPaddle
member (21)member
  
03/06/2012 10:41PM  
Just the BW. Isn't quetico a lot more expensive? I mean I would like to go someday?
Jackfish
Moderator
  
03/06/2012 10:59PM  
quote CedarPaddle: "Isn't quetico a lot more expensive?"

Yes it is. More expensive. No fish. Hassle of crossing the border. It's a good place to stay away from. ;-)

(tongue firmly in cheek)
03/08/2012 02:41PM  
quote Jackfish: "
quote CedarPaddle: "Isn't quetico a lot more expensive?"

Yes it is. More expensive. No fish. Hassle of crossing the border. It's a good place to stay away from. ;-)

(tongue firmly in cheek)"

Fish, you forgot all the terrorists camped up there figuring out a way to sneak into the US.
Rapid Runner
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03/12/2012 12:45PM  
I think TB and the others summed that one up pretty well! nice photos!
06/15/2012 06:09AM  
Many moons ago I visited Johnson Falls. Here is a watercolor painting I did of it when I got back. Sorry about the glare on the glass.



Ingvald
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06/15/2012 08:11AM  
quote Unas10: "How much water has to fall how far before the falling water is considered a waterfall?


Devil's Cascade on the Little Indian Sioux, EP 14."

That's the $64,000 question right there. Considering that many lakes are connected by rivers or streams and there is an elevation change between most lakes, one could find a waterfall between almost any bodies of water.
Mike5914
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06/15/2012 08:44AM  
Now is a neat time to see these waterfalls too - water levels up so high the water going over the falls is very very power. Its cool to watch.
MeatHunter
distinguished member (424)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/15/2012 12:08PM  
WOW. Some awesome pics. Never knew that many falls existed up there. Will take in our first this year, Johnson falls.
06/15/2012 12:44PM  
quote Goldenbadger: "Many moons ago I visited Johnson Falls. Here is a watercolor painting I did of it when I got back. Sorry about the glare on the glass.



"


I like it. I love water colors and dabble in them a bit myself from time to time.
06/15/2012 02:09PM  
06/15/2012 02:12PM  
Check out the difference in the 2 cattyman falls pics
06/15/2012 03:10PM  
thanks to everyone for the awesome pics. GREAT JOB !!
06/15/2012 10:35PM  
quote TuscaroraBorealis: "After each photo I type in the text then hit enter so there is a blank line before entering the next photo. After 3 photos you'll need to hit enter 7 times (7 blank lines) so the next 3 will line up. Rinse & repeat. :) "

TB - you are one crazy dude. Thank you brother.
TuscaroraBorealis
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06/16/2012 08:44PM  
quote IBFLY: "
quote TuscaroraBorealis: "After each photo I type in the text then hit enter so there is a blank line before entering the next photo. After 3 photos you'll need to hit enter 7 times (7 blank lines) so the next 3 will line up. Rinse & repeat. :) "

TB - you are one crazy dude. Thank you brother.
"


I do what I can. ;-)

High water thread

similar thread.
11/16/2012 03:09PM  
not a great falls but pretty cool canyon, devils cascade on the little indian sioux.


11/16/2012 09:24PM  
Yet another Curtain Falls photo...



I have this photo as my wallpaper on my computer at work. It's been helping me to keep my sanity of late. (only 8 more months...)
dmpaul
senior member (83)senior membersenior member
  
05/09/2013 01:51PM  
Where are the Lousia Falls & the Devil's bath tub located?
05/09/2013 02:24PM  
my photo just above is devil's cascade. i didn't see any devils though.
05/09/2013 07:14PM  

Wow, a picture speaks a thousand words! Truly some beautiful pictorials of Quetico-Superior waterfalls here. Especially those by jwartman59 and Tuscarora Borealis.

Thanks for sharing.

Hans Solo
05/10/2013 01:36PM  
Curtain falls with very high water spring 08 Curtain falls clip
07/03/2018 09:02AM  
The short answer is yes indeedy. But: My response also would say rather than over plan, take the gifts that the boundary waters gives you every minute. The BWCA as a whole is the place to see and waterfalls are just a small part. The early morning mist rising off the still water, Star viewing like nowhere else, clear lakes with over 20 feet of visibility down, loons calling, bald eagles fishing, the chance to see a moose, a beaver slapping its tail telling you that this is his territory, the deep satisfaction after a day of paddling and portaging and the contentment after dinner sitting by the fire, the camaraderie of the crew sharing the trek, fresh fish on the fire, camp coffee, headwinds, tailwinds, spectacular sunsets and sunrises and so much more make a BWCA trip, a trip of a lifetime.
anthonyqh
member (11)member
  
07/03/2018 12:50PM  
There are also indian pictographs on lac lacroix and the basswood river
GeoFisher
distinguished member(1460)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/04/2018 10:43AM  
Not in BWCA, but Quetico, and if you enter from Saganaga, it is an easy daytrip to the Ranger, and then to the falls....

Yea, I'm talking about Silver Falls........OM.......very, very, very nice.

I cannot find a great pic, but it is worth the trip.
BAWaters
distinguished member (123)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/26/2018 01:45PM  


Camped next to the top of Lower Basswood Falls during a solo in early May last year. The water was high, and they were impressive. Will never forget the sound of rushing water as I drifted off to sleep, and having my morning cup of coffee while sitting next to them.
07/27/2018 04:51AM  
BAWaters: "


Camped next to the top of Lower Basswood Falls during a solo in early May last year. The water was high, and they were impressive. Will never forget the sound of rushing water as I drifted off to sleep, and having my morning cup of coffee while sitting next to them."




And also the main basswood falls you can camp just off the long portage. Kind of a fun spot...
All the times I've gone by Devil's Cascade I've only once seen any real amount of water in it.
Curtain falls is a nice one. And yes, as one who has flipped on the iron lake side, your better off portaging to or from the south side of the point to avoid that spot. There is two entries to that portage off iron lake. The shorter is better going toward iron but the longer is better coming off iron in my opinion.
 
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