BWCA Campsite #1915

A Number, Not an Address: The Wilderness Identity of BWCA Campsite #1915

To Minnesotans and seasoned Boundary Waters enthusiasts, a four-digit number like BWCA Campsite #1915 is the key to a profoundly isolated experience, not a spot on a map you drive to. This designation places the campsite firmly within the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), a true national treasure within the Superior National Forest. The administrative address, Stony River Township, MN 55731, USA, confirms its location in a vast, sparsely populated area near Ely, which serves as the prime staging and outfitting hub.

Campsite #1915 is one of over 2,000 designated sites scattered across the BWCAW's 1,200 miles of canoe routes. It represents the quintessential Minnesota wilderness camping trip: self-supported travel by canoe, challenging portages, and a commitment to preserving an ecosystem where motor vehicles and technology are all but banned. When you choose a numbered campsite like this, you are committing to a true wilderness ethic, trading modern convenience for unparalleled natural beauty and solitude. The exact lake and features are intentionally not broadly advertised to protect its quiet solitude, demanding visitors engage in the satisfying effort of planning and route-finding that defines a successful BWCA adventure.

Location and Accessibility

The campsite's general location in Stony River Township suggests access via one of the popular entry points on the western or central-western edge of the BWCAW, common in the vicinity of Ely and Winton, MN.

• General Area: Stony River Township is a large, rugged area within Lake County, Minnesota, that borders the BWCAW. Access points in this region often include Kawishiwi Lake (EP 37), Little Gabbro Lake (EP 33), Lake One (EP 30), or the South Kawishiwi River (EP 32). The exact route to Campsite #1915 will depend on which lake it is situated on.
• Access Method: This site is exclusively reached by non-motorized watercraft (canoe or kayak) and the portage trails that connect the thousands of waterways. The journey to the site will be a defining part of the experience, requiring paddling across lakes and physically carrying canoes and gear over the land between bodies of water.
• Distance from Entry: The site number indicates it is one of the designated sites on a specific lake. The paddle and portage distance from the nearest Entry Point (where the car is parked) could be a few hours or an entire day, immediately ensuring the isolation and quiet that the BWCA is famous for.
• Permit Requirement: Crucially, access requires an Overnight Camping Permit reserved in advance for a specific Entry Point and date. This quota system limits the number of people entering the wilderness, thereby guaranteeing the solitary nature of the experience at sites like #1915.

Services Offered

As a designated BWCA Wilderness campsite, #1915 provides the most basic, yet essential, services required for safe and ethical low-impact camping. There are no staff, electricity, running water, or refuse service.

• Designated Fire Grate: A permanent, steel fire grate is supplied for contained cooking fires. All visitors are expected to follow local fire restrictions and use only dead and downed wood. Many seasoned paddlers rely on lightweight cookstoves to minimize their impact on local wood resources.
• Wilderness Latrine: The site includes a basic, unstaffed latrine (often a box or vault toilet) located discreetly away from the main camp area and water source. This is the only acceptable place for human waste disposal.
• Tent Pads: The site will have a cleared area, often with semi-flat ground for setting up tents for up to a nine-person group (the maximum legal BWCA group size).
• Water Source: The adjacent lake or river is the water source. It is mandatory to carry a quality water filter, purification tablets, or boiler to treat all water before drinking or cooking.
• Canoe Landing: The site will have a designated, albeit often rustic, spot on the shoreline suitable for safely landing and securing canoes.
• Leave No Trace Expectation: The fundamental "service" provided by the Forest Service is the preserved environment, and the visitor’s job is to uphold the Leave No Trace ethic, packing out all trash, including food scraps.

Features / Highlights

The highlights of Campsite #1915 are intrinsic to its place in the greater Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ecosystem.

• Deep Wilderness Solitude: The mandatory distance from any road ensures the campsite offers exceptional solitude and quiet, interrupted only by the sounds of the Northwoods—the call of the loon, the rustling of pine, and the lap of the lake water.
• Superior Lake Views: BWCA sites are selected for their natural beauty. Campsite #1915 likely boasts a picturesque view of the lake, offering memorable sunrises, sunsets, and reflective water surfaces.
• Stellar Night Skies: Being miles away from any community light pollution, the location provides one of the best viewing platforms in the nation for astronomy and potential Northern Lights sightings. The BWCA is officially designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary.
• Abundant Wildlife Habitat: This remote area is critical habitat for iconic Minnesota wildlife, providing excellent, though patient, opportunities to observe moose, bald eagles, and black bears, and to listen for the evening concert of the gray wolf.
• World-Class Paddling and Fishing: The site offers direct access to a network of interconnected lakes perfect for multi-day loop trips. The lakes in this region are famous for walleye, northern pike, and lake trout, making it a prime destination for wilderness anglers.
• Undeveloped Shoreline: A guarantee of the BWCA is the pristine, undeveloped shoreline—no cabins, docks, or permanent structures other than the campsite amenities—providing a truly wild, unblemished natural vista.

Contact Information

Since Campsite #1915 is an unstaffed wilderness location, all administrative and safety contacts should be directed to the U.S. Forest Service Ranger District responsible for the Stony River Township area.

• Administrative Address (Closest Designation): Stony River Township, MN 55731, USA.
• Managing District (Superior National Forest): The entry points most likely used to access this area fall under the Kawishiwi Ranger District or the Tofte Ranger District.
• Kawishiwi Ranger District Phone (Ely/Winton Area): (218) 365-7600 (The best resource for permit questions, wilderness rules, and current conditions).
• Permit Reservations: All overnight camping permits for the BWCAW must be secured online via the national reservation service (Recreation.gov). Campsite #1915 cannot be reserved directly; only the entry point and the number of nights are reserved. The specific campsite is chosen on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival.

Safety Advisory: Due to the complete lack of cell service, carrying a charged satellite communication device (like an inReach) is the most responsible safety measure for any trip into the deep wilderness to ensure emergency access.

What is Worth Choosing: The Value of Campsite #1915

Choosing a remote, numbered campsite like #1915 is a deliberate choice for the uncompromised Minnesota wilderness experience. It is worth choosing for the following reasons:

• A Privilege of Exploration: It offers the profound satisfaction of reaching a destination through personal effort and navigation, a feeling of self-sufficiency that defines the Boundary Waters.
• Guaranteed Privacy: The BWCA’s permit system ensures that even on busy weekends, your campsite is legally yours for the night, and the nearest group will be out of sight and sound, preserving absolute solitude.
• A Break from Modernity: This campsite provides a mandatory digital detox, allowing for quality time focused on the trip, the natural environment, and companions, reinforcing the traditional skills of Northwoods travel.
• Authentic Camping: Everything about the site—from filtering your drinking water to building a fire in the grate—is an exercise in authentic, fundamental camping and survival skills, deeply connecting you to the natural world.

BWCA Campsite #1915 is more than a place to sleep; it is a temporary home in the wild heart of Minnesota, offering a priceless opportunity for challenge, reflection, and natural discovery.