Any good tips on finding the best hanging sites? I have convinced 3 of my friends to hammock with me this year so we won't need a tent at all. I am looking at some the sites for a single pad as a good place to check out when the BWCA is busy. I also have been checking the photos posted on the campsite reviews to get a good idea on what the site may be like.

Is there anything you look for when you plan your trip for hammocks?

I usually let the tenters and less experienced hammockers pick then find a spot.
I can use some small trees if I use the tarp ridge line to brace the hammock trees.
MagicPaddler

Hopefully moving forward, hangers who trip in the B'dub will begin to add hammock-specific information on the campsite review write ups located on the google maps here on this forum. That would be a good and helpful step in the right direction.

So maybe I was not clear enough but none of will be using a tent.
I am the guy who does our route planning but I have little to go on because there are very few comments on the campsite map pertaining to hammock camping.

I was just thinking we should stay away from blow down and fire areas.

Mort - I like your suggestion of adding the comment when ever possible on the campsite map and maybe a picture or two so we can tell if is suitable.

quote Mort: "Hopefully moving forward, hangers who trip in the B'dub will begin to add hammock-specific information on the campsite review write ups located on the google maps here on this forum. That would be a good and helpful step in the right direction."

Good idea!

You probably want to find reviews of the sites on the lakes you plan to camp on then go with the 4 and 5 star sites. A lot of these are mature forests with a clear understory.

Do you know your route? The BWJ has rated sites on many lakes and you might be able to get an issue that has your route.

Best spots is kinda like the best beer, to me they mostly are all good but I have my preferences. Having traveled through the Pagami area the sites still open had trees, not so sure about the blowdown areas.
I prefer places that feel less used and hammocking clearly gives me options to find smaller sites or ones on irregular and sloping terrain. The site needs enough cleared space and with four hanging you will need to consider that just because there are trees, it is tough to hang when their are small shrubs and branches filling the space between desirable trees.
I planning my routes I am looking at the campsite reviews for photos and then scan for good hanging trees. Trip reports can have similar information.
Good hanging to you.

hw -You are already on the right track. Avoid blowdown/burn areas. But you may want to do some historical research on fires. Be cautious about any area that has burned over during the last 15 yrs or so.

Google Earth could be a resource in that regard. I am not aware of other free sat image sites, but they must be out there.

quote jcavenagh: "Google Earth could be a resource in that regard. I am not aware of other free sat image sites, but they must be out there. "

I have also had great luck with the Bing search engines maps. Their satellite images zoom in very nicely and are quite clear.

I have never had a problem finding a spot to hang my hammock. I don't like to camp in Blowdown or fire areas. Sometimes I find a spot way out in the woods and set it up. The biggest problem I have is after I find two trees to hang from is all the brush or small trees in the way between. I look for two trees and nothing in the way in between.

I figured I've made 18 camps in the BW and Q and only on Finger Lake in the BW did I find 2 sites where I couldn't hang. However I was the only one hanging and with multiple hangers it might be best to start looking early the afternoon for a site.

quote TomT: "I figured I've made 18 camps in the BW and Q and only on Finger Lake in the BW did I find 2 sites where I couldn't hang. However I was the only one hanging and with multiple hangers it might be best to start looking early the afternoon for a site.


"

Since I started hanging, first trip was a solo, I'm made about a dozen camps. I've never had a problem finding trees to hang between but as my trip partners start to move from tents to hanging it takes a little searching for camps that can accomadate two, three, or four hammocks.

Last summer we stayed on the island site on Tuscarora. There were only two hangers but we were forced to find trees way back in the woods due to lack of good trees and tents being set up in the way of hanging. I actually liked being set back in the woods away from the group. I walked down the shore and back up into the woods to set up shop. Threre are almost always trees, you just have to search for them.

A few guidelines I follow in the now 12 years I've been hanging:
- Try not to disturb the underbrush when hanging and practice LNT principals
- Watch your overhead space for dead limbs / widowmakers
- If going to areas not previously scouted, make sure you know how to do a ground set up
- When using small diameter trunks when it's your only option, cinch up your tie outs tight, as you will get much more sag and don't want to risk punctures or tears of your hammock/underquilt. By morning, you will have enough slack to undo your lines/straps
- Try not to hang over any sharp rocks/stumps/ brush someone has been cutting on. I've seen some pretty nasty looking punji sticks created by others that could be a hazard, especially in BWCA.
- Always remember that wind is the enemy of the hammock camper, instantly robbing you of heat. It's better to set up deeper in the woods than along the shore when finding alternative places to hang.
- Always half hitch your lines/straps....Always.

What I have seen in the past 2 years is that the tent sites are almost always good hanging sites so it should not be hard to find a few more good trees.

I was looking at this really cool site planning site that has the burn area mapped out but not sure about blowdown. The areas around knife that were blowdown looked pretty poor for hanging.

I am really looking forward to having a refreshed morning group with no complaints of snoring and more smiling faces from a great night sleep since all of us will be hanging.

My hope is that as people share more/better information regarding hammocking possibilities at various campsites, more sites that had previously received low ratings (and thus not used very often) might receive much higher ratings for hammock use, thereby spreading out and reducing overall pressure for campsites. A win - win! I think that would be most helpful!

I guess I'm one of the odd ducks who doesn't want much advance info. I like figuring out a loop and then exploring on the way. Did 30 days last summer in BW and Q and found only one site that was unhangable because of widowmakers. I'll scout hotels in advance when vacationing with my family, but choosing campsites in advance just seems strange.

I enjoy knowing my options so I plan a little bit ahead with which sites are good options. Some in my group my have less endurance to keep going if the site won't work and I would rather not take a bad site if I don't have to. If I was solo I would just wing it however and just explore the loop I am on until I feel like stopping.

I usually research sites on most of the route I'm on and assign a number by each one on my map. It turns out that when you are solo sometimes a site rated 2 or 3 stars by other people is really a great site. These are usually small underused sites with poor tent pads. Well, for a solo hanger these can be just the ticket.

For example, on Finger Lake there are 4 sites. The site on the north side of the island was my favorite of the entire trip and I had it rated at 2 stars by others. The 4 star on the south side was really great for a big group but it was overused and the views were inferior.

Then again, if you need trees for 3 or more hangers you probably want the bigger sites.

When I go solo and don't have to account for several other hangers, I try and pick out campsites that are perhaps small but good for hanging, rather that take up a 4 or 5 star rated site (by tenters) just for myself. I know the MO is "first come/first serve", but it just doesn't feel right to me.