Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Lodging night before BWCA
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Withoutapermit |
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Jaywalker |
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EmmaMorgan |
ajbuboltz: "My buddies and I are headed up for our first of many BWCA trips to Entry Point #36 Hog Creek on 5/28 to 6/2. We are planning on driving up after work on 5/28 and staying somewhere relatively close to Sawtooth Outfitters. We are open to camping or hotels. From initial searches, it looks like hotels have a minimum stay of 2 nights and campsites will not let you reserve ahead of time unless it is a 2-3 day stay minimum." You can reserve a campsite on Recreation.gov, at either Sawbill or Crescent Lake campgrounds for just 1 night. I have a 1-night reservation at Sawbill in early June this year for the night before a Sawbill entry, and did the same last year the night before a Kawishiwi Lake entry. That might be a good option for you if they’re not too far from Sawtooth Outfitters (assuming you need to go back down to the shore in the morning because you’ll get to Tofte too late to pick up gear and permit). It looks like both campgrounds have reservable sites available for the night of 5/28. |
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KarlK |
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Speckled |
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sconnie84 |
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Frenchy19 |
sconnie84: "I've done a similar trip the past couple years and ran into the same issue with most hotels not taking guests for 1 night. I have stayed at the Mountain Inn." I believe this is your best bet. If you are willing to pay in advance (no refunds), you can get a 2 Queen room for $133.73 total. Just booked a room for my daughter and me for a mid June Kawishiwi trip. |
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analyzer |
If some are getting there early, they could set up tents for those who are getting there late. If you're having trouble finding it, look on the entry point maps on this website, and pull up baker lake entry. Crescent is across the road. ========== On a separate note, North Shore lodging, trying to stage for one night, when they require 2, is a very common problem. I've mentioned this before, but I think we need a section on this website to form reservation pairs. So in this example, a person would post that they want to share a reservation near Tofte, the day before or the day after 5/28. So if anyone else needs a reservation for 5/27, or 5/29, they could pair up. Theoretically, we could start strings, where several days in row are reserved at the same place. Unfortunately, that means someone is on the hook for the whole reservation, but the other people could venmo or paypal their share. You would just have to have rules, like no sleeping on the sheets. People need to bring their own sleeping bag, or sheets and blankets, to sleep on for the night. I think this could work. Especially if people post months early. You'd have to have a no cancelation policy, or if someone is looking to cancel, they would have to post their intention, and see if someone else will pick up that date. I can see where this site, might not want to do that, as it potentially conflicts with bunkhouse providers. The 2 night minimums drive alot of traffic there way. However, i would imagine it's a problem for the bunkhouse provider, that they are often being reserved by someone who is NOT renting canoes, and packages, and maybe they want to keep their bunks available for that. This could help. In the past, I've called places as I'm driving up, and they are much more willing to waive the two night min, on the day of, if they're facing the possibility of being empty that night. That's going to depend alot on the day you're going. A lot easier to pull that off on a weekday, versus a friday or saturday. Certainly other factors drive demand, like Grandma's Marathon, or fall colors etc. |
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soundguy0918 |
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Z4K |
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ajbuboltz |
Does anyone have any recommendations for a place to crash the night before? The only problem that I could see with a campsite is that most of us are planning on working a bit that Tuesday and would not get up to the area until 8-9 o'clock. We would prefer to not stay in Duluth so that we can get to our entry point and on the water at a decent time. Obviously, if there are no other options, we will end up in Duluth. Any recommendations that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated! |
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MikeinMpls |
1. Americinn in Tofte. Tough to get a one-night stay, but try right now. 2. Maybe (and it's a big maybe), you find a one-night stay at Bluefin Bay. 3. Grand Marais, so you'll be backtracking 27 miles in the morning. There are several hotels in Grand Marais. Again, these hotels may not offer one-night stays, but I think your chances are pretty good that you will be able to find one for one night. 4. Maybe look for a hotel in Silver/Beaver Bay or even Two Harbors. That will get you closer. If you have to be a Sawtooth in the morning, "camping" at the entry point won't work. There may be private camping spots between Two Harbors and Tofte, though it's tough setting things up at 9:00 PM. Hope this helps. Mike |
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quark2222 |
Thinking again, you might try the Solbakken in Lutsen on Hwy 61. The motel rooms are OK to fair, but good enough for a night. Here is their contact info: 4874 W Hwy 61 Lutsen, MN 55612 800-435-3950 or 218-663-7566 Info@solbakkenresort.Com Sawbill Outfitters has a large USFS campground right at the outfitters with toilets and spigots for water. If the reason you need to go to Sawtooth Outfitters is to pick up your permit, you could get the permit pickup point changed to Sawbill Outfitters. From Sawbill, it is around a 30-35 minute drive to Hog Creek EP. Nice drive. Saw some wolves once that were jogging down the road. Sawbill has showers too. Tom |
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Michwall2 |
There is a small campground at Kawishiwi Lake entry just a short way further past the Hog Creek Entry. Small (4-5 sites) means spotty availability. On the way up the Sawbill Trail, there is also a campground along the Temperance River. Again, only a few sites, but since it is not adjacent the BWCA it may be more likely to have a site available. |
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Chuckles |
This might be a bit sketchy finding a spot after dark, but we have reconned spots with map and satellite photos and driven right up to them. We have been on the water by 6:30 after a 6 am wake-up and a 400 yard drive to the entry point. |
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plmn |
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nooneuno |
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billconner |
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Blatz |
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nooneuno |
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