Plans changed, now heading up Sunday to BILW with our brood. We don't mind traveling far in this micro zone. Our kids are 8, 5, and 3.

Emphasis is on fishing and swimming. Looking for some solid campsite recommendations. we will likely basecamp for 4 nights.

I am hoping to day trip to all of the campsites and report back. Thanks!

I think DrBob has been there. I'll send him an email and ask him to post a reply (assuming he's been there). He might not be a member of this private forum.

Way nice area....

Here is a link to a map

We stayed on Island on the Big Island Lake ...campsite is at top of hill. Might be tougher for minicampers but it is way nice site. We didn't stay at it but there is also a way nice camp site on townline lake. We just daytripped to the rest of the lakes. Seemed swampier and buggier as you went on... bring skeeter protection.

dr bob

Some pictures... getting there Sunday might be a good thing with folks leaving... we had serious monsoons when we were there in July... but with good equipment we were fine. It is a walk from parking lot to big island lake...

hmmm... taking some time to do this... may check in later.

dr bob

Some pictures of Big Island Lake Wilderness.....

fastest way in short time to show some pictures....

Don't know where you live but Turtle Flambeau Flowage out of Murray's Landing is way nice as well. The eastern part is quieter with nice camp sites.... and free

Thanks Bob, it looks like we will shoot for Townline lake.

what kind of canoe or canoes you using with this herd of minipaddlers?

drbob

One MN3

you should post a picture of that crew! Happy paddling with your herd

Here is a herd we saw at Sawbill daytripping a week ago

We will be close, just added a 7 year old to the team.

well you have a lot of help getting gear from parking lot to the lake...
hope you don't sink.
Last year there was resident swans on the lake.
'
keep your sanity pops

drbob

If you are camping with kids, the best kid friendly campsite is at the far end of Big Island Lake. It's got a gentle sloped sandy beach. The campsite on Town Line Lake is on a point and is nice, but the Big Island Lake site is the best one for kids.

The island one has a slope to the water...(slippery when wet). I can't remember the one he is talking about but that site would save you a portage to Townline.

dr bob

quote awbrown: "If you are camping with kids, the best kid friendly campsite is at the far end of Big Island Lake. It's got a gentle sloped sandy beach. The campsite on Town Line Lake is on a point and is nice, but the Big Island Lake site is the best one for kids.


"

South end of the lake? And thanks!

nice map....only 2 sites on lake... the one on shoreline is it....wish I could remember it.

http://www.uptrails.org/michigan-trail-maps/big-island-lake-wilderness.pdf

Map

South end of the lake. Not far from the portage to Town Line lake. It's a real good kid friendly site.

Big Island Lake wilderness is small and intimate and free (at least it has been). It's about 1/4 mile hike from the parking lot to the put in, but it's pretty easy. There are two very short portages to get to Town Line Lake, but the other portages are more challenging, having some fairly steep ups and downs.

That being said, it's my kind of place. I've been there three times and have only seen four other people, two of whom were rangers. The lakes are scenic, fun to explore and just the right size for canoeing.

OK, so the trip was awesome!!! We got to the lot at about 4pm, and made a bee line to the southern site on Big Island Lake. GREAT site for our three kids (ended up not taking the fourth one). We were wind bound for most of the second day, but the kids had a fun time playing in the water around camp and the rangers stopped by to visit. The third day was gorgeous, and the kids swam most of the day. In the evening we went out and caught some largemouth trolling, which they thought was spectacular. Friday night it rained like a bitch but we stayed dry in our Big Agnes King Creek 6, which is the best tent ever for a family BTW. Saturday was gloomy, and cool, so we fished, made fire, and fished some more. Sunday we exited and ate at Big Boy.

Overall, this is a gem of a place. According to the rangers, it gets used very little and they would like to keep it that way. they said the most they have ever seen is 4 full campsites, and they patrol every Tuesday and Thursday, and have for the last seven years. Couple of really great people. I regrettably was not set up at all to fish in lilly pads, which were covering the shallow half of the lake. We could have killed the Largemouth if we had some spinner baits. We trolled the weed line with rapalas and did pretty well. Don't plan on eating tons of fish because the size limits are a little crazy; largemouth need to be at least 18 inches to keep, which I think is a little backwards, but whatever.

TONS of firewood, OK tent pads, fire grates with peel back grates, latrines equal to BW. All in all a really good option, and free with no permits. We were there 5 days in peak season and we saw 4 other boats.

We didn't get to explore the other lakes much but had a really awesome trip, I can't thank you guys enough for all the advice and for letting the board know about the spot. I plan to use it no more than once every few years to honor the Ranger's request to keep it an under-used area.

Thanks for the report Bud! Glad you had a good time out with the wife & kids. I've added Big Island Lake to my 'where to go canoe camping' spreadsheet, hopefully some day I'll get there.

If anyone needs it, I have the official Waterproof BILW map you can use. OR you can pick one up in Manistique for 5 bucks at the ranger station.

Glad you had a good time. It is a great little wilderness and pretty kid friendly. It's a nice, gentle place to introduce kids to canoe camping.

Is there cell service there? Looking for a place for a first solo so that would be important for my family. Also, any outfitters or solo canoe rental places nearby or would I have to bring one?

No cell service on Verizon. Didn't see any outfitters, but wasn't really looking for one either. GREAT place for a first solo.

quote giddyup: "Is there cell service there? Looking for a place for a first solo so that would be important for my family. Also, any outfitters or solo canoe rental places nearby or would I have to bring one?"

There's an outfitter up in Munising: Exploring the North outfitter

quote bumabu: "OK, so the trip was awesome!!! We got to the lot at about 4pm, and made a bee line to the southern site on Big Island Lake. GREAT site for our three kids (ended up not taking the fourth one). We were wind bound for most of the second day, but the kids had a fun time playing in the water around camp and the rangers stopped by to visit. The third day was gorgeous, and the kids swam most of the day. In the evening we went out and caught some largemouth trolling, which they thought was spectacular. Friday night it rained like a bitch but we stayed dry in our Big Agnes King Creek 6, which is the best tent ever for a family BTW. Saturday was gloomy, and cool, so we fished, made fire, and fished some more. Sunday we exited and ate at Big Boy.


Overall, this is a gem of a place. According to the rangers, it gets used very little and they would like to keep it that way. they said the most they have ever seen is 4 full campsites, and they patrol every Tuesday and Thursday, and have for the last seven years. Couple of really great people. I regrettably was not set up at all to fish in lilly pads, which were covering the shallow half of the lake. We could have killed the Largemouth if we had some spinner baits. We trolled the weed line with rapalas and did pretty well. Don't plan on eating tons of fish because the size limits are a little crazy; largemouth need to be at least 18 inches to keep, which I think is a little backwards, but whatever.


TONS of firewood, OK tent pads, fire grates with peel back grates, latrines equal to BW. All in all a really good option, and free with no permits. We were there 5 days in peak season and we saw 4 other boats.


We didn't get to explore the other lakes much but had a really awesome trip, I can't thank you guys enough for all the advice and for letting the board know about the spot. I plan to use it no more than once every few years to honor the Ranger's request to keep it an under-used area. "

You mentioned that there were a lot of lily pads, so can I assume that most of the lake are eutrophic? I like to throw weedless frogs when I fish the dog days of summer and I would like to add a new destination this August.

Looks like a nice place, but I guess I missed where it is? The UP, Northern WI, MN? Thanks

Its in the middle of the UP between Manistique and Munising. Its a part of Hiawatha National Forest.

quote inspector13: "
Its in the middle of the UP between Manistique and Munising. Its a part of Hiawatha National Forest.

"

Thanks!

quote inspector13: "
Its in the middle of the UP between Manistique and Munising. Its a part of Hiawatha National Forest.

"

Thanks!

First: Sorry for bumping an old thread, but it was the most recent one I could find and my question is related to something posted here anyway:

DRBob, in your big island pictures posted above there is a picture of a small waterfall running down some stones. I was wondering if you could tell me where abouts that little waterfall is located? Think it's in the middle of your 2013 trip pictures.