In October of 2001 I discovered I had a long enough weekend to do a trip but not long enough to justify a trip to the BWCA. My chiropractor told me about a little place he knew of in Washburn County (WI), the Birchwood Canoe Trails (BCT).

There are two primitive canoe routes within the BCT: Sawmill Lake Primitive Canoe Route, and Loyhead Lake Primitive Canoe Route. There are marked portages between the lakes, but no campsites with the exception of a 25-unit County campground on Sawmill Lake. The County calls the campground "primitive". It is a drive up campground but with vault toilets and a hand pump for water.

I self registered at the campground. The ticket left on the post identifying my campsite as #5, showed that the previous camper at this site was there on 9/1/2001, a month earlier, so the campground must not get a lot of use, at least in the fall. The trees in the campground are almost all maples though I pitched my tent under an oak.

The Sawmill Lake Primitive Canoe Route consists of 9 lakes, with very short and easy portages. I did the entire route in less than 3 hours.

The next day I drove about one-mile to reach the Loyhead Canoe Trail. This trail consists of 7 lakes again with short and easy portages. I never saw another soul on either route.

If you are looking for a BWCA experience you will be extremely disappointed with the BCT. At best this may be like camping on a NFS rustic site and taking a couple easy day trips on tiny lakes ... very tiny, puddles compared to the BWCA. You should take time to paddle the lakes. If you simply go from portage to portage you'll fly through this route.

I could see taking kids there so they could see what portaging and paddling were about, catch some bluegills, and car camp in a primitive campground. Kind of give them the smallest taste of what the BWCA might be like to see if they want more or if they turn their noses up at it. Or for an old guy like me who just wants a couple of days alone outside to stretch his paddling and portaging muscles.

My hat's off to Washburn County for creating and maintaining this canoe-only trail. For more information see Washburn County Camping and Washburn County Canoeing .

Awesome, I have seen something about this but not enough to take a trip over. I live an hour from there and it could be a great AM trip.

Thanks for sharing I will check this out in '08.

Thanks for the info Bannock, sounds like a possible first trip for my wife and kids.

I really don't think anyone will like it there... Sawmill's trout are typically small, the road in is not that well maintained, and the bugs over here can be just as bad as in the BW and Q. Just not worth it ;-)

Welcome to NW WI folks!