The morning sky on Seagull Lake are unmatched. If you’re looking for a way to disconnect and relax, going to the BWCA is your ticket.

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The BWCA’s Seagull Lake offers quiet and relaxation

Dylan Hansen, Journalist

September 18, 2025

It’s hard to really do the beauty of nature justice with a photo. This panoramic image is close though. (Dylan Hansen)

100 Islands, 100 feet of water – A simplified description of Seagull Lake MN, which is Nestled near the Canadian border in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area; it is a fairly unique location compared to other areas of the state. I recently camped on the lake for a few nights, with a couple family members.

Our stay at Seagull lake started at the outfitters. We were able to pull the truck up close to the lake to unload our camping gear. While we were starting to do so, our vacation kicked-off with a kind gesture; someone offered us some leftover fishing bait.

After loading the canoe, we began to navigate our way towards the campsite that we were hoping to find; it was on one of the many islands on the lake. We found it challenging to weave our way through the lake and ended up going a little ways in the wrong direction. At one point, we ended up quite close to a loon near the canoe (Image in gallery below). After about two hours of paddling, we finally staked claim on the campsite we were planning to stay at.

The campsite had a large, sloped rock which was useful for swimming and other activities. The island had many “mini palisades” or small rock cliffs which were fun to climb and look out from; this helped to create a bit of a divide between the campsite we stayed on and the neighboring site which had people on it from time to time. The campsite had approximately five tent pads which varied in appearance. The tent pad I was on was flat enough, but it was fairly firm. Additionally, the fire grate area was laid out well, and it was useful for cooking fish.

Additionally, there was plenty of firewood near the campsite. There were multiple trees on the ground around the campsite, and it was handy for cutting firewood with a handsaw.

Another aspect of the island we camped on was that the woods and scenery had a cool, eerie vibe. The island also had indications of some moose and beaver activity that may have occurred within the year. There were also seagulls, eagles, red squirrels, toads, and other wildlife. At one point, a squirrel got into a bag of chocolate chip cookies and took one out of the bag. Additionally, the campsite had mice that would typically hang around more in the evening.

The weather was predominantly good during the trip, and we did not have too much rain until our paddle back to the outfitters. The sights from the shore of the site were good for seeing the sunset, stars, and moon. On our last night of camping I briefly laid on the rock and looked at the big, starry sky.

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Gallery • 10 Photos

Dylan Hansen

Taking a nature picture in 0.5 zoom enhances the perspective.

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About the Contributor

Dylan Hansen, Senior Journalist

Grade: Senior Favorite Season: Fall Favorite Music Genre: Metal Favorite Sport: Football Favorite Food: Steak

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The BWCA’s Seagull Lake offers quiet and relaxation