BWCA Campsite #720: A Minnesota Wilderness Escape in East Cook

**Introduction / Overview: Your Solitary Slice of Minnesota Wilderness**

For Minnesotans seeking the deepest level of solitude and a truly challenging backcountry experience, BWCA Campsite #720 represents the untouched heart of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Located within the sprawling, million-acre protected area of the Superior National Forest, this isn’t your typical accessible campground. This designated campsite is part of a vast network of over 2,000 official campsites scattered across more than 1,000 lakes and streams, offering an authentic, self-reliant wilderness trip. It is specifically designed for the intrepid canoeist or hiker who values absolute isolation over convenience and amenities. The BWCAW, established in 1964 as Federally Designated Wilderness, is globally renowned for its pristine waters, towering boreal forests, and rugged terrain, providing a historic experience that harkens back to the journeys of fur traders and indigenous peoples.

The very nature of this location speaks to a commitment to "Leave No Trace" principles, ensuring its primitive character is preserved for generations. Campsite #720, like all designated BWCA sites, requires a permit—a system designed to manage the number of visitors and maintain the area's wild integrity, particularly during the quota season from May 1 to September 30. Unlike public campgrounds with drive-up access, this site is reachable only by paddle and portage, cementing its status as a remote haven. It is a place where the sounds of the city are replaced by the call of the loon and the rustle of the wind through the pines. However, as noted by local adventurers, its extreme isolation comes with the caveat of being "very buggy and rather isolated. If you’re a people person this is not for you." This site is a clear choice for experienced outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize privacy above all else.

**Location and Accessibility: Deep in the North Woods**

BWCA Campsite #720 is situated deep within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a federally protected zone in the northern part of Minnesota. The official address provided, **East Cook, MN 55604, USA**, serves as a general geographic marker for the area but is not a physical, drive-up destination. The BWCAW is an immense wilderness spanning nearly 150 miles along the Canadian border, making pinpointing a campsite's exact location—especially one designated by a number—challengably remote without specialized BWCA maps (such as W.A. Fisher maps) and detailed route planning.

Accessibility is strictly by watercraft (canoe or kayak) and portage, reflecting the wilderness nature of the region. There is no vehicle access to Campsite #720. To reach it, visitors must first secure a limited overnight quota permit for a specific BWCA Entry Point. Given the geographical location in the eastern part of the BWCA, entry points along the Gunflint Trail (such as Entry Point 54 on Seagull Lake or Entry Point 55 on Saganaga Lake) are common starting points for trips into the surrounding area, though the exact entry point to reach #720 will depend entirely on the planned canoe route and the body of water the campsite is located on. The journey will involve paddling across one or more lakes and streams and performing physically demanding portages (carrying all gear and the canoe overland between waterways). This requires comprehensive pre-trip planning, including advanced map and compass skills, as there are no signs pointing directly to the campsite. This remote nature ensures that only those committed to a true wilderness experience will reach this highly secluded destination.

**Services Offered**

As a designated wilderness campsite within the BWCAW, the provided "services" are intentionally minimalist to maintain the area’s primitive character and adhere to wilderness ethics. The focus is on providing essential necessities for safe, responsible camping while demanding full self-sufficiency from the visitors.

A designated, rock-ringed fire grate for campfires, provided current fire restrictions allow.
A designated wilderness latrine (a primitive, open-air pit toilet, typically a wooden box set back from the main campsite) for waste disposal, which helps minimize human impact.
One or more cleared, relatively flat tent pad areas for pitching tents.
Drinking water is not provided; all water for drinking and cooking must be sourced from the adjacent lake or stream and purified (filtered, boiled, or chemically treated) by the visitor.
No trash disposal is available; all garbage must be packed out—a key principle of the "Leave No Trace" philosophy.

**Features / Highlights**

Campsite #720's features are defined by its authentic wilderness setting and extreme lack of development, which, for the right Minnesota adventurer, are its ultimate selling points.

Ultimate Seclusion: The primary feature is its profound isolation, as confirmed by visitor feedback. It offers a rare chance for complete solitude, far removed from other campers or motorized traffic.
Unspoiled Boreal Landscape: Direct, immersive access to the pristine ecosystem of the Superior National Forest, characterized by rocky shorelines, mature pine and birch forests, and clear, glacial-carved waters.
Authentic Canoe Camping Experience: Positioned along a canoe route, the campsite allows for traditional, historic travel via paddle and portage, connecting visitors directly to the area's heritage.
Designated Site Infrastructure: Despite the primitive nature, the site includes a US Forest Service-approved fire grate and latrine, ensuring that a minimal level of necessary camping structure is present.
Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: Due to its deep isolation, the area offers increased potential for viewing native Minnesota wildlife, including moose, black bears (requiring proper food storage), bald eagles, and the iconic common loon.

**Contact Information**

As a highly remote, specific numbered site within a federally managed wilderness area, there is no direct phone number or visitor center *at* Campsite #720. For all trip planning, permits, regulations, and emergencies, contact should be made with the U.S. Forest Service office responsible for the BWCAW. Given the address is East Cook, MN, the LaCroix Ranger District or the Gunflint Ranger District would be the most relevant offices, depending on the chosen entry point.

Address (General Area): East Cook, MN 55604, USA (BWCA Campsite #720)

For Permit and General Inquiries (Gunflint Ranger District - Closest major administrative office to the eastern BWCA):

Phone: (218) 387-1750

**Conclusion: Why BWCA Campsite #720 is Suitable for Minnesota Locals**

BWCA Campsite #720 is perfectly suited for experienced Minnesota locals for whom the Boundary Waters represents a revered, challenging, and essential part of the state's identity. This site is not for a casual weekend; it is a pilgrimage into Minnesota’s ultimate wild space. Locals who have the necessary outdoor skills—canoeing, portaging, navigation, and wilderness survival—will appreciate the intense privacy and the genuine sense of escapism that this specific site provides. Its primary feature is the very lack of modern convenience, offering a deep, quiet communion with nature. For the Minnesotan seeking to escape the "people person" crowds and fully embrace the self-reliant ethos of the North Woods, Campsite #720 offers an unparalleled, isolated base camp. It’s an opportunity to live the history and legacy of Minnesota’s greatest natural treasure, far from the madding crowd, relying only on oneself and the beauty of the vast, silent wilderness.