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#6 on this list
Boundary Waters
Minnesota
Warmest water and fewest bugs as nights cool late month.
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- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
#7 on this list
Sawtooth Wilderness
Idaho
Granite peaks and alpine lakes in prime condition.
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Boundary Waters | Sawtooth Wilderness |
|---|---|---|
| Managing Agency | U.S. Forest Service (Superior National Forest) | U.S. Forest Service (Sawtooth National Forest) |
| Total Area | 1,090,000 acres | — |
| Permit Season | Quota required May 1 to September 30 | — |
| Primary Travel | Tandem canoe and foot portage | — |
| Average August Temps | Highs low 70s, lows mid-50s F | — |
| Campsite Type | Primitive designated sites with latrine and grate | — |
| Total Acreage | — | 217,088 wilderness acres |
| Highest Elevation | — | Thompson Peak (10,751 feet) |
| Permit System | — | Free, self-issued at trailheads |
| Peak Season | — | Mid-July through late August |
| Primary Gateway | — | Stanley, Idaho |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Boundary Waters
- Bug pressure drops dramatically compared to June and July
- Surface water temperatures are ideal for backcountry swimming
- Deep solitude and dark night skies once past entry-lake bottlenecks
- Established rustic campsites include fire grates and latrines
- High-demand entry permits book out months ahead of time
- Sudden lake wind can pin down paddlers for full days
- Carrying canoes and gear over rough portages requires hard physical grit
Sawtooth Wilderness
- No competitive advance lottery required for wilderness permits
- Hundreds of pristine alpine lakes stacked within short trail distances
- Trail passes fully clear of winter snowpack by early August
- Pristine granite scrambling options accessible right from camp
- Trailhead parking lots fill before sunrise on August weekends
- Vulnerable to intense late-summer wildfire smoke events
- Popular lake shores face significant crowding and strict site limits
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