Is the question related to a hiking trip or a canoeing trip ?

If canoeing, you must use the designated campsites, though there is an exception for the Primitive Management Areas, which do not have designated sites.

I never thought about hiking in BWCA - are there enough designated sites away from the water trials for someone to go backpaking for a week or so ?   What about hunting season ?  What about that winter camping thread where people were talking about camping on the lake ice ?

I'd think that for hikers, there would be differnt rules, but maybe not.

Best to call the Forest Service and ask them for sure.