BWCA Campsite 1223 on Ensign

The landing for this campsite is pretty nice. It is a narrow gravel landing, but it is easy to pull the canoe up. The site is raised about 10 feet above the lake and set back a little into the woods. From camp, there is a window out to the lake because you can see over the tops of the small spruce trees along shore. The main campsite area is mostly flat, striated rock that is somewhat slanted. It makes a good open area for chairs or lounging, but most of it cannot be used for tents. Behind the fire grate there are a couple of tent pads that looked like they could get muddy. When I visited, the mud had dried out, but if it were wet, those spots might get soft. There are also a couple of other possible tent pads down a trail, though they are uneven, slanted, or rooty. I am calling it two good tent pads and four maximum tent pads. Around the main camp area there is a lot of brush, with spruce along the shoreline and back in the woods. Shade may be limited until late afternoon because most of the taller trees are behind the main camp area.

It is more private than most of the campsites on the lake and has a nice landing. There is good fishing nearby. The firepit and area around it is subpar. The not many good logs near the firepit and not a good lake view. I imagine it would be buggy in the summer. The toilet is very close to the campsite.

Agree with previous reviews. In late May though, the campsite felt overgrown with brush leading up from the landing. At least 2 of the tent pads had heavy growth of what appeared to be poison Ivy. The landing was above average.

Campsite is solid. Nothing terrible, but nothing great either. Biggest complaint is lack of tent pads and quality hammock sites that are central to the campsite, and the path back to the latrine can lead to interactions with anyone who is on the campsite on the opposite site of the peninsula (campsite 1222). The little bay/cove is nice, and you are protected from the wind (which can be good and bad depending on the flies/mosquitoes). Ultimately wasn't my favorite campsite, but it wasn't terrible either. The landing and lakefront was my favorite part.

East-facing campsite on a small, protected cove. This turned out to be our favorite site of our trip, with a lovely sunrise on a very frigid morning. Decent gravel landing, with 25 yards up a small hill to the kitchen. Nice flat rock for cooking with well-placed logs around fireplace. Nice flat rocks near fireplace to dry out gear. Best (flattest & largest) tentsite is just behind kitchen, with a more protected one in the trees to right. A decent bear-bag tree to left above shoreline. Privy is straight back from fireplace; perhaps 35 yards away. Path to right eventually goes straight uphill to bluff overlooking northeast portion of Ensign, and may hook up to Campsite #1222.