Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Good basecamp for limited mobility/disabled group
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ockycamper |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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mikerudz |
We've been going to the Gunflint/Saganaga area for several years with our dads, typically canoeing several lakes for 30-50 mile roundtrips. This year is different. My dad has recently recovered from a brain tumor and has some weakness on one side and balance issues. My friend's father has a bad ankle and struggles to get into/out of the canoe although he's great otherwise. We're excited to return this year together but are thinking a basecamp would be best from which we could easily day paddle or do small trips. I'm wondering if anyone has any campsite recommendations that come to mind. A couple stipulations: 1. needs to be able to camp 6-8 2. fairly easy access, no crazy steep portages or longer than 1 mile 3. Fishing! I'm always looking for lake trout and had some luck on Esther last year but no luck on Saganaga. A possibility is the group of campsites near American/Rocky Point on Saganaga, we stayed there for a night last summer and it was great. Only issue I had was the fishing wasn't great and it would require almost no paddling if we get a tow. If it was just me and my buddy, we'd probably do 60 miles and kill ourselves lol. Times are changing. Thanks! |
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MidwestFirecraft |
One very short portage over is Alton for lake trout. |
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TuscaroraBorealis |
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AceAceAce |
http://www.latourells.com/deluxe_boat_tent_camps1.html |
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sedges |
My suggestion would be a campground site on the edge of the BWCAW. Sawbill is ideal. You can reserve a site, so you know you will have an easy place to camp. The lake is non-motor and there are easy portages into adjacent lakes and an easy launch area. You get to spend your days in the wilderness. Pack lunches, stay out all day. You just have to share your camp time with neighbors. |
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Chieflonewatie |
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JohnGalt |
If I recall the correct site, this one is nice & open (if not this one, it was the one a bit north of the one mentioned). The path to the latrine is up a slight hill, though the rest of the site is nice & flat, very open with a great deal of space. It's pretty too, nice cedars. When I stayed the night there I noted to myself that it could be a good site for folks with mobility issues. If not for the hill to the latrine, it would be dang near wheelchair accessible. Sucker is also accessible without portaging & you could get a tow directly to/from the site of needed (I had food delivered to me there & it felt like wilderness doordash haha). |
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lindylair |
Enter at Slim Lake near Ely, or Baker Lake off the Sawbill Trail, or Homer Lake from the Sawbill, or the number lakes (1,2,3,4 and possibly to Hudson) near Ely or Crocodile Lake from East Bearskin (Gunflint, with a #66 permit) or Lizz Lake from Poplar off the Gunflint. All of these basically meet your criteria. I could talk about each of them but this would be a long post. If any interest you let me know and I can elaborate much more on those particular spots. But all offer few/moderate portages, daytrip opportunities and opportunities for some decent fishing. Some are better for fishing, some less portaging, some more daytrip options, some are less busy than others. I am particularly partial to the Homer Lake entry(easy entry, fishing and a cool daytrip exploring a small wilderness river) and the Lizz Lake entry(classic area with Horseshoe Lake being a very unique lake and known probably better than any other lake in the BWCA for moose sightings, great daytrip options), as well as the Crocodile option if you are willing to stay on that lake the entire trip. But there is a cool river to explore at the east end and the walleye fishing is so good that you might not feel the need to go anywhere:) After re-reading your OP I realize that none of these areas have Lake Trout so if you can be content with Walleyes, Pike and SMB(large Perch in Crocodile too) they would work. Also realized I left out East Bearskin to Alder or the small lakes to the east of there. Nice area, super easy entry and Alder has Lake Trout. Ask away if you have any interest or questions. |
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lindylair |
LaTourell's base camp trips |
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billconner |
lindylair: "Here is the link for AceAceAce's post. Gotta admit that would be a bit of a dream trip but it's pricey. Looks like fun! |
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timatkn |
T |
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AlexanderSupertramp |
Sawbill would be my second choice, since Alton portage is short and flat, and there's some great sites on Alton.. also close to outfitter should you need it. |
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Northwoodsman |
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analyzer |
https://clearwaterhistoriclodge.com/campsites/saganaga-lake/ |
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Captn Tony |
Basswood, Big Saganaga, Seagull, Moose, Lac La Croix, Trout, Snowbank, and Clearwater, Bearskin have tows. Lake One, Sawbill, East Bearskin Fall Lake, Basswood, Alton, Hog Creek, and the numbers chain have easy portages that are fairly level and road like. We use these lakes for our old man trips. That's just my experience, I'm sure I'm missing some. |
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Hockhocking |
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gravelroad |
My second suggestion is use Trails End campground as a basecamp cum jumping-off point. Both the Seagull landings are suitable for your needs (Blankenburg Landing even has a dock.) You could camp at Trails End, scout the available Seagull campsites and snag a permit at Way of the Wilderness or another outfitter if the stars come into alignment. If they don’t, you’re still camped at a location suitable for daytrips into Seagull and Saganaga. |
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OldGuide2 |
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Z4K |
Seagull, Saganaga and Sawbill have plenty of permits still available. Brule also has plenty of permits available and at least a dozen no-portage sites big enough for your group. It would be a big day trip to find a laker, with Davis and Winchell (4/5 portages north) being the closest, but there is a great little brookie lake named Wench just one portage west of Brule. There are a handful of permits still available for East Bearskin, which has easy portages to bigger campsites on Alder, Pierz and Canoe. Lake trout can be found in Alder, Pierz and Crystal, and then there are brookies in Bench. Day trip opportunities abound with an old silver mine just to the east of Spaulding and Johnson Falls off the west end of Pine. If you'd be willing to go over to the Ely side, there are still plenty of Moose permits available. You'll find a couple bigger campsites on just about every lake within 2 portages but you'll only find lakers along the border. I'd recommend Windy for a basecamp, or Birch if lakers are a deal-breaker. Hope this helps! Zac |
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Michwall2 |
sedges: "The problem with planning this is expecting one of these preferred sites to be unoccupied when you arrive there. If the site is not available will you be able to deal with a more difficult site? +1 |
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Northwoodsman |
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