We’ve been getting a lot of calls recently asking about campsite availability, because, after you get your permit, the campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area are on a first come-first serve basis. The good news is that in 2022 the forest service reduced the number of overnight permits available throughout the wilderness area by 13%, meaning there are fewer groups heading for those campsites. The other good thing is that the forest service maintains all the campsites, making the difference between a one-star and a four-star campsite subtle preferences on views and landings.
Campsite availability
The area around Lizz, Horseshoe and down to Winchell has over 34 campsites, more if you include the surrounding lakes like Meeds, Pillsbery, Henson, Otto and Omega. You can read about nearly every campsite on bwca.com or paddleplanner.com, and come away with your own conclusions based on the trip reports of paddlers in years past.
All members of a permit group must camp together; only one campsite per group. I recommend to people to spend some time on the social media sites reviewing campsites and their ratings, but not to put too much stock in the star number. Paddlers who frequent the area may be downplaying their favorite sites, trying to keep a pristine campsite off of the radar, while others may be blowing small problems out of proportion to hear themselves talk.
Your campsite selection should be determined by several personal and practical factors. What is your group size? Do you need one, two, three or four tent pads (a flat surface that is appropriate for tents)? Does your group have hammocks? Does your site have a well maintained central space for cooking and socializing? Is it comfortable, does it have a view or is it secluded? My number one site selection criteria is the latrine – is it well maintained and easy to get to?
Which day or month
Timing is a controlling factor on campsite availability. In what month are you planning your trip? Late July to early September will see the largest number of paddlers, as do holiday weekends: Memorial, 4th of July, Labor Day. But the weeks leading up to or immediately after can show a drop. May, June and late September are the quieter times. What day of the week do you plan to take your trip? Weekends (Thursday – Saturday) are popular entry days. You may have better campsite availability starting Monday through Wednesday.
Again, the time of year is a huge player in campsite availability; June and September have less groups trying to find their oasis.
Watch each campsite as you paddle by, and note if it’s occupied; even if it is—are the current occupants packing up, getting ready to move on? Have a few marked on your map before you travel, but don’t feel bad if they are taken. A lot of effort goes into each campsite to make it worthy—you may even find a hidden gem.
The bottom line
By far the biggest piece of advice I have is not to focus on campsite availability but instead on the fact that you are on vacation, in a gorgeous wilderness, away from traffic and the daily noises of the cities. Relax.
When you decide to get your permit, the US Forest Service recommends that you have three travel options (dates and entry points) in mind before making your reservation. They ask if you know that you aren’t going to use the permit that you’ve purchased, please cancel it as soon as you know you won’t use it. Read the BWCAW Trip Planning guide and watch the three leave no trace videos.
Call us at (218) 388 – 2242 or send us a message on the contact page. We’d love to help you get your trip planned.
