The BWX Base Camp is located on “Mine Lake” near Ely, Minnesota. The beautiful home of the base camp boasts many wonderful qualities; including, a small private lake, many different types of mature trees, it is within one mile of the BWCAW, and three miles of Ely. The camp is also very accessible to people that are participating on trips, or coming for a visit!

Our primary work building is named “Nimaamaa” after the Ojibway word meaning “mother.”  It was given this name in honor of Lois Andrusko.  Nimaamaa has a large room that is shared for the communal work of cooking, packing trail food, maintaining trail gear, shop projects, and the camp office.

Mine Lake

From 1910 until 1922 our base camp served as one of the largest iron-ore mines in Minnesota. The miners of “Section 30″ dug out a huge hole looking for ore, which thanks to springs and rain has subsequently created our lake. The lake is beautiful and useful to the BWX. It is a place to learn to canoe, to swim, and to enjoy the view.

Basecamp Photos