BWCA Campsite 40 on Upper Pauness

On paper, this is a poor, brushy campsite, but it has some special features from the elevation to the rocks to the rushing rapids nearby. It may not be the primo site on the lake, but it could be a cool site for a small group in the correct season.

This is a small site right between Upper Pauness and Lower Pauness. We were able to find 2 tent pads for our 3 person tents. Easy landing and a nice view from the fire grate area.

Decent landing. There are landings on both sides of the rapids. Nice view from the rocks by the kitchen, but not from the kitchen itself. There are not any great tent pads, but there are a couple that will work. You can hear the sounds of the rapids constantly since they are right out front of the camp.

Very worn site with not much shade and no bear tree visible. Only redeemable thing about the site is the quiet rushing of the rapids next to it.

After going to three sites that were occupied, we found this site and decided to stay there. It ended up being my favorite site at the end of a 9 night trip. It was a bit different from the others in that it was not on a rock on a promontory. It is accessible from both sides of the rapids. The access is a bit steep (so we left the canoe below), but it has a nice view of Upper Pauness on one side, and rapids right below it. It had much better shelter from the wind than other sites we had visited. This was the site we saw the most birds and wildlife, probably because it was on the passageway between the two lakes.

This site has almost no redeemable value. Very bad tent pads and is very steep to access from either side. We looked at it but did not stay here in spite of a long very hard day. Only if you are desperate!