Site and Location
In high-use areas look for a campsite at least by mid-afternoon or you may be out of luck! Look for clean sites (dirty ones are more buggy and the smells could attract bears), with an adequate landing and are exposed (i.e., points of land) for more bug protection. Small islands, well away from shore, may be less buggy. Note, however, islands provide no bear protection, bears can swim!

Campsites off the main travel routes or in back bays are more likely to be available and will be quieter. Tents should be set up in protected areas to avoid wind exposure but away from large trees to reduce the chance of injury from lightning strikes. It is common for lightning to strike a tree, the bolt travel down the tree trunk and then fan out on its extensive root system. Tents pitched beyond this root system are more safely positioned. Observe site topography to avoid pitching the tent in depressions that could fill with water in a heavy rain. Watch for and avoid tenting under widow makers (loose limbs or leaning trees that might fall in a wind). Cutting of boughs for bedding material and tent perimeter trenching is illegal.

Before landing your canoe at your chosen campsite dig out the water containers and fill them well away from shore for that day’s campsite use. Doing this chore now saves the time and effort of re-launching the canoe later to accomplish this same purpose. Never take drinking water near shorelines or stream outlets (in the Canoe Country giardia is often called “beaver fever”) as giardia often resides in bottom sediments. It is still common practice not to treat most water in the Canoe Country, however filtering or halide treatment of the water is prudent. Halidated water is unpleasant unless "neutralizing" tablets are added.

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