Do any of you here enjoy elevated campsites overlooking lakes? I am looking for more elevated campsites in the BWCA / Quetico parks. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes. Love them. Not many.

I prefer elevated campsites, even just some elevation is better than low down by the lake. They don't necessarily have to overlook the whole lake. How much elevation are you looking for?

You can review sites on the Maps & Entry Points tab above. Sometimes it will be noted. Some people don't like to carry their "load" up there . . . ;)

I've stayed at an elevated site in Quetico. Once. Not doing it again. Too much up and down for water, fishing, gear, opps forgot something...

Becoosin Lake BWCA - about 50 feet above the water.

I don't know the BWCA near as well as some others but from my limited travels, these come to mind:

Campsite 58 on Loon Lake. We didn't camp there, but it gets 5 stars and is well elevated.

Campsite 90 on Gun lake. Nice view, good lake trout lake.

Campsite 105 on Finger. We called this God's Chair. Nice view of the lake.

Campsite 66 on Lynx. Careful if you have little kids. The over look has a steep drop to rocks below. Maybe 10-12 feet ish.

Campsite 1910 on Sagus.

Campsite 1909 on Wisini.

Campsite 771 on Vista (I haven't been to this one, but I've heard from others it's a nice elevated site)>

There are a few that come to mind. We stayed at the northern most site on hustler a few years ago. Definitely a hammocking site, but nice elevated view of the upper bay, and easy access to the soiux-Hustler trail.

I stayed at site 1053 on Malberg lake and loved it. It is very well elevated with gorgeous east west views from the fire pit and a couple of the tent pads. It also sits on a peninsula with good off shore fishing. The only downside is that it sits on a choke point so there will be canoe traffic but I was there right after ice out so it wasn't an issue.

dschult2: "I stayed at site 1053 on Malberg lake and loved it. It is very well elevated with gorgeous east west views from the fire pit and a couple of the tent pads. It also sits on a peninsula with good off shore fishing. The only downside is that it sits on a choke point so there will be canoe traffic but I was there right after ice out so it wasn't an issue. "

I frequently think about the puppy lottery. When a dog is adopted by a family, depending on the type of family, their lives can be worldly different. That looks like a lucky lab to me.

analyzer: "

dschult2: "I stayed at site 1053 on Malberg lake and loved it. It is very well elevated with gorgeous east west views from the fire pit and a couple of the tent pads. It also sits on a peninsula with good off shore fishing. The only downside is that it sits on a choke point so there will be canoe traffic but I was there right after ice out so it wasn't an issue. "

I frequently think about the puppy lottery. When a dog is adopted by a family, depending on the type of family, their lives can be worldly different. That looks like a lucky lab to me. "

Thank you, yes she is. She lives her best life and has had some grand adventures in the BWCA, U.P., and Canada.

Site 4U below Rebecca Falls.

Site 1549 across from Lower Basswood Falls.

Single sight on Little Caribou is a classic.

Site 496 on Bat Lake is another.

Site 297 on Korb Lake

Campsite 58 on Loon Lake. We didn't camp there, but it gets 5 stars and is well elevated.
"
+1
Loved this site

503 on Gillis. 531 on Lil Sag

25 on Loon (near the previously mentioned site on same lake) is also a very nice, roomy, elevated site.

The Good Lake site on the narrows is elevated and is a personal favorite site of mine. It’s not the easiest hike up, but everything else is top notch.

Seagull site 460 is slightly elevated but the real bonus (and for some, drawback) is the long uphill hike to the latrine. The views are amazing on the way to it.

Others that come to mind that are elevated are 1816 on Agnes (just a so-so site), 908 on South Temperance (arguably the best site on the lake) and while only slightly elevated, you could add the single site on Fat and 410 on Red Rock to the list.

Ensign Lake - Camp Site #1233

Trying to give you some other options here…

Cross Bay Lake 557

Snipe Lake 554

Little Sag 531 is the best.

Bat Lake 498

Horseshoe Lake 675

Vista Lake 771

Ahsub campsite 1206
Campsite info

Northern site on Slim (south of Lac LaCroix), southern site on Steep.

A number in Quetico on Kahshapiwi, Tuck, Suzanette, McNeice, Yum Yum.

The most dramatic site I've stayed at was on Kahsh, some 75' above the lake (maybe more) with another small rockbound lake accessible behind. Burned to rock around 07. I tried to revisit a few years ago and couldn't find any evidence- the area dense with head high jack pine, like an uber prickly wheat field.

Everyone already listed most of my favorites but I'm not going to let everyone else's incredible knowledge ruin my time here.

Ahsub 1206
Gillis 503
Little Sag 814 >

My wife and I enjoy sites that are elevated. The views have made it so worth the extra steps up and down in the campsite.

LLC - 173 also an island site
Lower Pawness - 43 - slightly elevated with big rock plateau
Lake Three (all pre-Pag fire visits) - 1493 on east side and 1484 in northern section
Rush - 613
Snipe - 554

Snipe from the island across from site and looking at the island

bottom photo is Rush 613 looking east

Used to be a great one on Pietro, but I think its still closed since the fires.

LesliesDad: "Ensign Lake - Camp Site #1233


"

I’ve tried for that site many times, always taken. Looks fantastic

Most of my favorites have already been mentioned. There’s nothing better than starting the day with some coffee from an elevated campsite in the bwca and Quetico.

A couple that I don’t think have been mentioned are the Southwest site in the northern bay of Insula, and the island site on the west end of Kawa bay in Kawnipi. Both only have maybe 10’ or so of elevation, but it’s enough to feel like you own the lake if you know what I mean.

The cliff site on Makwa is pretty high up if I remember right. Great views to the east for sunrises.

Tony

Here are a few I have either stayed at or passed by a few times.

Little Sag
539
531
537

South Temperance
908

Ogish
786

SAK - This one has a hill behind the campsite with a great "chair" in the granite to sit, read, and watch the world pass by underneath you.
1431

Afton
864

cburton103: "Most of my favorites have already been mentioned. There’s nothing better than starting the day with some coffee from an elevated campsite in the bwca and Quetico.


A couple that I don’t think have been mentioned are the Southwest site in the northern bay of Insula, and the island site on the west end of Kawa bay in Kawnipi. Both only have maybe 10’ or so of elevation, but it’s enough to feel like you own the lake if you know what I mean."

There is a high site on the north side of the northern channel on Kawnipi that leads to the bay that holds the portage to Montgomery.

WOW! Thank you all for the suggestions. I have been to a few of these camp sites but it looks like we have a lot more to look forward to. Thank you!

The best one I have ever been at is in Quetico, on Montgomery Lake.

I didn't see Fishdance site 2199 mentioned. It's probably 30 feet above the lake and has a view across to the pictographs cliff. Site 1045 on Adams is elevated as well, but I wouldn't recommend it. The firegrate is both tucked back away from any view and has a line of sight to the biff not more than 50 feet away.

Site 3F, island site on Cirrus lake at the South end of the channel between the lower tier and middle tier. I have not stayed there, just visited. Spectacular views and I would imagine sunsets.

I can't believe the one on fat lake hasn't been mentioned yet. That one is a great site


Though I've never stayed there, the campsite on gun by LLC is supposed to have a fantastic one at the narrows

I enjoyed one on a small island on the west half of Russell Lake. Land on west side of island, then it’s up a level or two. Not bad fishing either. Worked out well in two days of heavy rain.

I stayed at Swan Lake, campsite 769, which I would estimate is 20-25 feet above the water and has a nice view across the lake.

Minnesotian: "
The best one I have ever been at is in Quetico, on Montgomery Lake. "

The crow's nest fire pit. Can't believe I left that one out.

dschult2: "I stayed at site 1053 on Malberg lake and loved it. It is very well elevated with gorgeous east west views from the fire pit and a couple of the tent pads. It also sits on a peninsula with good off shore fishing. The only downside is that it sits on a choke point so there will be canoe traffic but I was there right after ice out so it wasn't an issue. "

Love this site on Malberg. As you said, the one downside is the canoe traffic going by because it's a pinch point. The evening and early morning time around the fire pit and the view is something special when you're up high.

LesliesDad: "Ensign Lake - Camp Site #1233


"

One time when we were staying across the lake on Ensign a group of four guys was staying at this elevated site. Each night for a week, right at 10:00 pm, a guy played taps on his trumpet. After the first night we looked forward to it the rest of the week. It was powerful.

You get a bit of an elevated view on Gaskin Site No. 628 - the Eisenhower site.

Suzanette Lake has an elevated campsite. Poor landing and only one decent tent pad but great view of a fantastic lake.

There's a fantastic site on an island on Montgomery Lake in Quetico with an interesting pictograph on it.

Crooked (the one just west of Tuscarora), site 514. It kind of overlooks the burn from the Cavity Lake Fire, but you can either turn your back to that or appreciate that the forest is coming back. Either way, the elevated view was a favorite part of my stay there.

I don't think anyone mentioned campsite # 1835 on Iron Lake. Sits on top of a huge rock bluff overlooking the lake. Stayed there last year and overall it was a decent site. Awesome lake!

Hey Springer... great photos of a couple excellent-looking campsites in Q.

How could I forget Brent Lake's mid-lake island campsite in Quetico? I have heard it burned in the big fires of 2021. I would love to see some recent post-fire photos. These were taken in early June, 2011.

My favorite was Elton as we had a full moon night and Bernie woke me up and we went out and watched a bull moose walk right by us. I think that was Bernie’s favorite thing to see… moose. Who says you’ll see less with a dog along… we always had to have a site with a rock that sloped to the water. She’d go find the biggest log she could handle and spend hours rolling it down the rock into the water. Picking it out, bring it to the top and roll it down… over and over. I’d make her quit in time to dry off for bed.

nctry: "My favorite was Elton as we had a full moon night and Bernie woke me up and we went out and watched a bull moose walk right by us. I think that was Bernie’s favorite thing to see… moose. Who says you’ll see less with a dog along… we always had to have a site with a rock that sloped to the water. She’d go find the biggest log she could handle and spend hours rolling it down the rock into the water. Picking it out, bring it to the top and roll it down… over and over. I’d make her quit in time to dry off for bed.



"

Very cool story.

Our golden retriever rookie would spend most of the trip waist deep in the water.