BWCA Campsite #921

- Tofte Township, MN 55604

For Minnesota residents seeking the deep quiet and restorative power of the Northwoods, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) remains the ultimate destination. This incredible expanse of over one million acres of preserved wilderness in the Superior National Forest offers an unparalleled opportunity to disconnect from the frantic pace of modern life. Our focus today is on a specific spot within this vast network of lakes and portages: BWCA Campsite #921, a designated backcountry location that promises solitude and authentic wilderness camping.

Unlike conventional drive-up campgrounds, Campsite #921 is a true wilderness destination. It is one of over 2,000 designated sites across the BWCAW, each offering a primitive experience complete with a fire grate and a latrine—the only human-made features you'll find. This particular site is a prime example of the BWCAW's commitment to maintaining its primitive character, requiring a true paddle-and-portage effort to reach. This effort is the reward itself, filtering out casual visitors and ensuring a genuinely secluded experience for those who make the journey.

The BWCAW is characterized by its rugged, glacier-sculpted landscape: a stunning mosaic of water, rock, and boreal forest. The entire area is renowned for its water-based recreation, including canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing. A trip to Campsite #921 is a chance to live by the strict, but essential, principles of Leave No Trace, reinforcing our local commitment to environmental stewardship. Here, the challenge of self-reliance—navigating by map, purifying drinking water from the lake, and storing food securely—transforms a simple outing into a meaningful adventure. For a Minnesotan, accessing and enjoying a campsite like #921 is a tangible way to engage with the natural beauty and outdoor traditions that define our state's identity.

As a designated wilderness site, it operates on a first-come, first-served basis once you have secured the necessary Entry Point Quota Permit. This system encourages early starts and a spirit of adventure, a core aspect of the BWCA experience. The surrounding area is rich with the native flora and fauna of the Superior National Forest, offering excellent chances to spot moose, hear the howl of the timber wolf, and be lulled to sleep by the haunting call of the common loon. The journey to and stay at Campsite #921 is more than just a camping trip; it’s an immersive, multi-day retreat into the heart of the North Star State's most cherished natural resource.

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BWCA Campsite #921 is located on the eastern shoreline of Smoke Lake, a mid-sized lake in the Tofte District of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The geographic address, Tofte Township, MN 55604, USA, situates it firmly in northeastern Minnesota, close to the famed Gunflint and Sawbill Trails.

Access to this campsite is typically achieved through BWCA Entry Point 38 - Sawbill Lake. To begin your journey, travelers must first drive to the end of the Sawbill Trail (Cook County Highway 2), which runs approximately 24 miles north from Tofte on the North Shore of Lake Superior. This trailhead is where you will register, pick up your permit, and launch your canoe.

To reach Campsite #921 from Entry Point 38, paddlers must first traverse the entirety of Sawbill Lake, then portage into Smoke Lake. The campsite is situated on the eastern shoreline of Smoke Lake. The journey to this site requires both paddling and at least one portage, marking it as an interior destination that requires a committed effort of a few hours of travel time from the entry point, depending on wind conditions and portaging speed. Because it is further into the interior than the Sawbill Lake sites, #921 often offers a greater sense of seclusion and deep wilderness quiet, which is highly sought after by local users. The distance from motorized access ensures the only sounds you hear are those of nature.

The site is positioned southward down the eastern shoreline of Smoke Lake from the initial portage entry from Sawbill, making it a viable target for a first-night stay or an ideal base camp for a longer trip exploring the chain of lakes that flow from Smoke Lake, such as Burnt Lake and beyond.

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In keeping with the Federal Wilderness Designation of the BWCAW, Campsite #921 provides only essential, rustic facilities to minimize human impact and preserve the area’s primitive character. Visitors are responsible for bringing everything they need and packing out all waste.

The basic, provided facilities at this designated campsite include:

• Designated Fire Grate: A steel fire ring is provided for containing campfires and cooking. Campfires are strictly confined to this grate.

• Latrine: A wooden-box latrine is positioned a discrete distance from the main camp and water’s edge for the proper, low-impact disposal of human waste.

• Established Tent Pads: The site features multiple, flattened areas cleared of brush for pitching tents, helping to concentrate impact and prevent damage to surrounding vegetation.

No other services are available on-site. Visitors must be prepared to: treat or filter all drinking water from the lake, pack out all garbage and refuse, and practice proper bear-safety by storing all food and scented items in bear-resistant containers or hanging them appropriately. The nearest developed services, including outfitting, showers, and a small store, are located back at the Sawbill Lake Entry Point, making this a true self-support camping experience.

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BWCA Campsite #921 on Smoke Lake is valued by those who have stayed there for its key attributes that enhance the wilderness experience:

• Secluded Location: Located on the eastern shore of Smoke Lake, slightly set back from the main thoroughfare, the site generally feels more private than those closer to the entry point or on main travel routes.

• Convenient Access for Base Camping: Its placement on Smoke Lake is excellent for groups looking to establish a secure base camp for a multi-day stay, offering easy day-trip access to lakes like Burnt Lake, while being far enough from the bustle of Sawbill Lake.

• Good Water Access: The campsite is noted to have a functional canoe landing that, while rustic, allows for safe and efficient loading and unloading of canoes and gear.

• Ample Tent Space: Like many well-established BWCA sites, #921 provides sufficient flat ground for a moderate group (up to the maximum of 9 people) to set up multiple tents comfortably.

• Excellent Fishing Opportunities: Smoke Lake, like many lakes in this chain, offers strong opportunities for fishing species such as Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass, adding a rewarding activity to the camp experience.

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As an unstaffed wilderness campsite, direct contact information for Campsite #921 does not exist. All administrative and reservation inquiries must be directed to the federal managing authority for the area:

Managing Ranger District: Tofte Ranger District (Superior National Forest)

Address (for Tofte Ranger District): 7355 West Hwy 61, Tofte, MN 55615, USA

Phone (for Tofte Ranger District): (218) 663-8060

BWCA Permit Reservations (Required May 1 - September 30): Reservations for Entry Point 38 (Sawbill Lake) must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service (Recreation.gov).

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For Minnesota residents, Campsite #921 on Smoke Lake represents a readily accessible opportunity to engage with the state’s most iconic and protected landscape. This is not simply a vacation; it is a cultural and physical immersion into the tradition of Northwoods canoeing and camping. The relative ease of entry via the Sawbill Trail, a well-maintained gravel road, places the trailhead within a reasonable drive for much of the state, making this wilderness experience attainable for a long weekend or a full week's trip.

By requiring a paddle and portage past the entry point, Campsite #921 provides the essential solitude that locals seek in the BWCAW. It is far enough into the wilderness to shed the noise and sights of the developed world, yet close enough to an established entry point to offer peace of mind, especially for groups new to the interior BWCA.

The unique, rustic nature of the site, complete with only a fire grate and latrine, challenges Minnesotans to embrace the self-reliance that is a hallmark of the North Star State's pioneering spirit. It is a place to teach the next generation essential outdoor skills—from map reading and navigation to proper bear-aware camping techniques. The rewards are immense: nights under a sky untainted by light pollution, mornings greeted by the calls of the loons, and the unique satisfaction of catching a fish for dinner from a lake teeming with life. Campsite #921 is a quiet corner of the BWCAW that invites Minnesotans to reconnect with the timeless beauty and profound peace of their own backyard wilderness.

BWCA Campsite #921

Tofte Township, MN 55604, USA