BWCA Campsite #1611

**Introduction / Overview: Your Highly-Rated Island Paradise in the BWCA**

For Minnesotans seeking the ultimate, quintessential Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) experience, **BWCA Campsite #1611** on **Basswood Lake** stands out as an exceptional choice. Known by experienced trippers as one of the finest sites in the entire BWCA system, this campsite offers a combination of spectacular beauty, practicality, and crucial seclusion that is highly coveted. The BWCAW, encompassing over a million acres of protected boreal forest and pristine lakes, is Minnesota's most treasured wilderness area, and Basswood Lake is one of its largest and most historic lakes, straddling the US-Canadian border.

Campsite #1611 is a designated, primitive site located on an island, a feature that inherently provides a greater sense of privacy and more expansive views than shore-based camps. While some map notations may show its location incorrectly, it is highly rated for its **west-facing views**, guaranteeing incredible sunsets over Basswood Lake. Visitors praise its versatility, noting its large, flat tent pads, excellent swimming areas, and a naturally breezy environment—a bonus for minimizing the impact of summer bugs.

This destination is accessed via the popular Ely entry points, such as Fall Lake (#24), but requires a significant paddle and portaging to reach Basswood Lake, ensuring that those who make the journey are committed to the wilderness experience. The rewards are immense: mature red pines, comfortable seating, and an overall superb base camp for exploring the vastness of the central BWCA.

**Location and Accessibility: Deep in the Basswood Wilderness**

BWCA Campsite #1611 is located on an island in the massive **Basswood Lake**, situated within the **Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness** near the outfitting hub of **Ely, MN**.

The general administrative address for the region is: **Ely, MN 55731, USA**.

**Accessibility:**

• **Canoe Access Only:** This is a strictly paddle-in site, requiring a canoe, kayak, or boat (Basswood Lake is in the motorized travel zone) to reach the island.
• **Primary Entry Point:** The most direct route to this area of Basswood Lake is typically via **Entry Point #24 (Fall Lake)**, requiring a sequence of paddles and portages through Fall and Newton Lakes to reach Pipestone Bay on Basswood.
• **Intermediate Journey:** Reaching this island site is a multi-day paddle for most groups, making it an excellent destination for longer, interior trips.
• **Motorized Zone Note:** The eastern parts of Basswood Lake, including the area around this site, are within the permitted motorized travel zones of the BWCAW. Visitors should expect to see and hear some motorboat traffic during the day, particularly during fishing opener and peak season.
• **Permit Required:** All overnight stays in the BWCAW require a reserved quota permit (May 1 - September 30), specifying the entry point and date. This site is first-come, first-served once inside the wilderness.

The journey is challenging but leads to a highly rewarding destination, considered one of the best sites on the entire lake for its comfort and scenic qualities.

**Services Offered**

As a designated BWCA campsite, #1611 offers essential, primitive services that facilitate camping while ensuring the preservation of the surrounding ecosystem, strictly following "Leave No Trace" guidelines.

**Campsite-Specific Services:**

• **Ample Tent Pads:** The site is highly rated for its space, with previous visitors noting an "abundance of possible tent spots" and up to 5 designated, flat, "Good Tent Pads," ideal for larger groups (up to the BWCA maximum of 9 people).
• **Steel Fire Grate:** A permanent, designated fire ring with a steel grate for safe cooking and campfires. The kitchen area is noted to be "Great" with "plenty of seating."
• **Wilderness Latrine:** A rustic, box-style toilet (often called a "thunderbox") discreetly located a proper distance from the camp and water.
• **Excellent Canoe Landing:** The site features a **"wonderful beach in a protected cove"** that acts as a great landing spot for canoes, ensuring safety from wind and waves.
• **Hanging Trees:** Plenty of "sturdy trees" are available for hanging tarps, clotheslines, hammocks, and—most importantly—bear-proof food packs.

**BWCA Wilderness-Wide Requirements & Notes:**

• **Water Source:** All drinking and cooking water must be sourced from the lake and **filtered, purified, or boiled** before consumption.
• **No Garbage Collection:** All trash must be packed out—the BWCA is a 'Pack it In, Pack it Out' zone.
• **Firewood:** Only dead and downed wood may be collected; cutting live trees is strictly forbidden.

The quality of these primitive services contributes to its high rating among experienced BWCA travelers.

**Features / Highlights**

Campsite #1611 is celebrated for its blend of natural beauty and practical features that maximize the enjoyment of a deep-wilderness stay.

**Campsite Highlights:**

• **Spectacular Sunset Views:** The site is correctly oriented to face west, offering "spectacular views" and "great sunset viewing" from comfortable sitting rocks—a truly sought-after feature.
• **Protected Swimming Cove:** The "wonderful beach" and "protected cove" provide one of the best landing and swimming spots available, essential for safe water entry and cooling off on hot summer days.
• **Breezy and Bug-Free:** The island location ensures that "The breeze mostly comes in off the lake from the west, keeping bugs away," which dramatically improves the quality of the wilderness experience during the bug season.
• **Fantastic Camp Kitchen:** Features "plenty of seating around the fire grate" and flat surfaces for meal prep, making cooking and group dining comfortable.
• **Island Seclusion:** Its location "in the middle of a huge lake" naturally provides a high degree of privacy, limiting traffic to those paddling past on the main lake channel.

**Basswood Lake / Regional Features:**

• **Superior Fishing:** Basswood Lake is renowned among Minnesotans for its excellent fishing, including Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike.
• **Historic Area:** The lake is rich with history, including links to early voyageurs and logging, adding a layer of depth to the experience.
• **Connecting Routes:** A central location for accessing other major BWCA lakes like Jackfish, Knife, and Crooked, perfect for extended circle routes.

**Contact Information**

Since BWCA Campsite #1611 is a primitive, non-reservable site deep within a federally managed wilderness, contact should be made with the U.S. Forest Service or the local Ranger District.

**Permit and Information Contact (Kawishiwi Ranger District):**

1393 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731

**Phone (Kawishiwi Ranger District):**

(218) 365-7600

**Reservations/Permits:**

Overnight quota permits for the BWCAW must be reserved well in advance via the U.S. Forest Service through Recreation.gov. Specify Entry Point #24 (Fall Lake) as the intended access. Campsite #1611 itself is **first-come, first-served** once you enter the wilderness.

**What is Worth Choosing: The Apex of BWCA Camping**

Choosing BWCA Campsite #1611 is choosing a "five-star" experience in the Minnesota wilderness. It is the type of campsite that veteran trippers specifically seek out and remember fondly.

**The essential advantages of selecting this highly-rated island site are:**

• **Unbeatable Comfort and Views:** The combination of breathtaking sunsets, protected swimming, ample flat tent pads, and a breezy, bug-deterrent atmosphere delivers an exceptionally high level of comfort for a primitive site.
• **Ideal for Groups:** Its spaciousness easily handles the maximum BWCA group size, making it a reliable choice for family or friend trips without feeling crowded.
• **Ultimate Privacy:** The isolation of being on an island in a large lake provides a level of quiet solitude that is hard to match on the mainland sites, ensuring a deeply restful and restorative experience.
• **Self-Contained Destination:** It’s such a fine site that it can serve as a destination in itself, allowing groups to base-camp for a few days, enjoying fishing, swimming, and exploring the immediate vicinity without continuous paddling.

For Minnesotans planning a signature canoeing adventure and seeking one of the premier spots the Boundary Waters has to offer, BWCA Campsite #1611 on Basswood Lake is a highly recommended target, well worth the paddle to reach its pristine shores.