BWCA Campsite #1068

🌲 **Introduction / Overview: True Wilderness Camping in the Boundary Waters**

For Minnesota outdoor enthusiasts, the **Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA)** is the pinnacle of a Northern Minnesota experience. Campsite #1068, located on the shore of Lake No. 1, offers a genuine, designated wilderness camping experience within the vast, protected 1.1-million-acre expanse of the Superior National Forest. Unlike developed state park or private campgrounds, this is a **remote, designated campsite** established by the U.S. Forest Service to preserve the area’s primitive character, requiring self-sufficiency and strict adherence to wilderness ethics.

The number 1068 signifies a specific, marked location on one of the thousands of glacial lakes that define this iconic region. It is not a roadside campsite, but a hard-won reward accessed only by watercraft and portage. Visitors here are seeking solitude, a connection to the landscape, and a deep immersion into the quiet, pristine forests and waters of the Minnesota-Canadian border country. User reviews for campsites like this often highlight features such as an "easy landing" and "lovely views," setting the stage for an authentic, unplugged escape.

🛶 **Location and Accessibility: Canoe-In Only**

BWCA Campsite #1068 is located on **Lake No. 1**, a reservoir of the Kawishiwi River, situated in the Ely area of the **Superior National Forest** in northeastern Minnesota. The immediate surrounding area is remote, falling under the regulations of the Kawishiwi Ranger District.

Accessibility is strictly limited to non-motorized travel, upholding the wilderness designation. As a BWCA campsite, it is:

• **Boat-In Only:** The site is accessible solely by canoe or kayak, requiring a paddle from a designated BWCA entry point. The entry point used to reach Lake No. 1 is typically **Entry Point #30 (Lake One)**, which itself involves a boat landing and potentially a short portage depending on the exact route.
• **No Vehicular Access:** There are no roads or driveways leading to the campsite. The journey involves unloading equipment at an entry point and paddling into the wilderness, often navigating multiple lakes and portage trails.
• **Navigating Portages:** Access requires navigating the traditional system of portages—short land trails where watercraft and gear must be physically carried between lakes.
• **Permit Required:** Accessing this site, and any BWCA campsite, requires a valid overnight quota permit obtained in advance from Recreation.gov or a permit-issuing station, with reservations highly recommended for the quota season (May 1 – September 30).

This commitment to paddle-only travel ensures the tranquility and preserved nature of the location, offering a truly remote experience minutes away from the typical hustle of modern life.

🔥 **Services Offered: Primitive and Essential**

Services at BWCA Campsite #1068 are primitive and designed to minimize human impact on the ecosystem. The core philosophy of BWCA camping is **self-sufficiency**—meaning all food, gear, and drinking water must be filtered or treated from the lake, and all trash must be packed out.

The only man-made amenities provided at this and all official BWCA campsites are:

• **Designated Fire Grate:** A permanent steel fire grate is provided for cooking and containing fires, as fires are only allowed in these designated areas.
• **Wilderness Latrine:** An established outdoor latrine (often a pit toilet) is provided, located a short distance away from the main camp area to promote sanitation.
• **Tent Pads/Areas:** The site offers designated flat, rock-free areas for pitching tents. While some sites may have multiple pads (often 2-3 maximum), visitors are required to keep their footprint small and place tents only in these areas to protect surrounding vegetation.

**Important Service Notes:**

• **No Water Hookups:** Water must be sourced from the lake and treated (boiled, filtered, or chemically purified) before consumption.
• **No Electrical Hookups:** The site is completely off-grid.
• **No Trash Service:** All refuse, including food scraps and wrappers, must be packed out entirely. Possessing cans or glass bottles is illegal in the BWCA, except for medicine, fuel, or insect repellent containers.

✨ **Features / Highlights: Solitude and Scenery**

Campsite #1068 and its location on Lake No. 1 offer a host of highlights that define the quintessential Minnesota wilderness experience. This is what draws local users deep into the BWCA.

• **Authentic Wilderness Setting:** The most significant feature is the immersion into a federally designated wilderness area where motorized equipment is banned and natural sounds prevail. This provides a genuine sense of solitude and remoteness rarely found elsewhere in the state.
• **Ideal Canoe Landing:** Campers have noted the site often features a good, easy-to-access canoe landing, frequently including large rocks that serve as perfect staging areas for drying gear or even swimming.
• **Excellent Scenery and Views:** Situated along the waterfront, the campsite offers "lovely views" across Lake No. 1, with opportunities to observe the dramatic forest shoreline and stunning sunsets that paint the northern sky.
• **Wildlife Viewing Opportunities:** The entire BWCA is a haven for Minnesota wildlife. Visitors commonly report sightings of moose, deer, and various waterfowl, including the state bird, the Common Loon, which provides the quintessential wilderness soundtrack.
• **Prime Paddling Location:** Lake No. 1 serves as a starting point for further exploration. It connects to the Kawishiwi River, which offers extensive route options leading deeper into the wilderness area.
• **Unparalleled Stargazing:** Far removed from city lights, the night skies are exceptionally dark, offering spectacular views of stars, planets, and often the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

☎️ **Contact Information: Managing the Wilderness**

Since BWCA Campsite #1068 is a public, designated wilderness site, there is no direct contact for the site itself. All management, permitting, and regulatory information is handled by the **Superior National Forest** and the **U.S. Forest Service**.

• **Managing Entity:** Superior National Forest (U.S. Forest Service)
• **Address (Superior National Forest Supervisor's Office):** 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808, USA
• **Phone (General Information/Permits):** 1-877-444-6777 (Recreation.gov) or (218) 626-4300 (Superior National Forest Office)
• **Permit Reservation Website:** Recreation.gov (Required for overnight visits during quota season: May 1 – September 30)
• **Emergency Contact:** 911 (Please note that cell service is generally unavailable in the deep wilderness.)

💯 **What is Worth Choosing BWCA Campsite #1068**

BWCA Campsite #1068 is worth choosing for the seasoned or aspiring Minnesota paddler who prioritizes an **authentic, rustic, and challenging wilderness experience** over amenities and convenience. It is the perfect choice for groups seeking genuine seclusion on one of the BWCA's highly desirable lake routes.

This site should be chosen because it embodies the unique character of the Boundary Waters: it requires full commitment to the **Leave No Trace** principles, demands self-reliance in the beautiful, rugged Northern Forest, and serves as an ideal basecamp for a multi-day canoe and portage trip. The value lies not in what it offers in terms of comfort, but in what it provides in terms of unforgettable memories: quiet mornings on the water, breathtaking starry nights, and the profound satisfaction of successfully navigating and living within Minnesota’s greatest natural treasure.