BWCAW Quota Permit — Lac La Croix Only (EP12A)

Lac La Croix Only (EP12A): what makes it different

Lac La Croix Only is a restricted twin of the Little Vermilion Lake entry. It starts at Crane Lake like EP12, but you must camp every night on Lac La Croix, day trips to other lakes are allowed, and the Forest Service says to use it only after EP12 is full. Both agencies warn that reaching Lac La Croix by paddle in one day is very difficult.^1,2

Getting to the start

The Forest Service lists EP12A as overnight, paddle or motor, in the LaCroix District out of Cook. Its remarks read enter from Crane Lake, camp all nights on Lac La Croix, with day trips permitted.^1,2

The trailhead is the same water as EP12: Crane Lake, 27 miles northeast of Orr on the county roads. A public launch near Handberg's Marine offers free overnight parking, and BWCA Wild's entry list recommends a shuttle or tow across Crane Lake.^3,4

The first leg

No portage is listed before the wilderness boundary, because the first stage is open water. Recreation.gov and the Forest Service both say it is very difficult to reach Lac La Croix by paddle in one day, so the first night is the planning problem, not the first carry.^2,1

A 2015 party starting at Crane Lake needed two days to get there: Little Vermilion the first night, then the Loon River, a portage into Loon Lake and on into Lac La Croix, where they camped on the second night.⁶

Terrain and difficulty

Lac La Croix is a large border lake. Motors are allowed on the Canadian side, while on the U.S. side motor travel by permit ends at the edge of Snow Bay.^2,1

Campsite reviewers describe a mix of settings: a south-facing site tucked back in Snow Bay, a sheltered private bay with heavy poison ivy, an open island site with red pines and a grass lawn, and a site within sight of private homes.^7,8,9,10

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at Lac La Croix Only (EP12A), overnight paddle: 6 groups a day. This was the most common daily total for the paddle division on Recreation.gov from May to September 2026.²
• 2026 daily quota at Lac La Croix Only (EP12A), overnight motor: 6 groups a day. The motor division has its own quota of 6, separate from the paddle pool.²

Rules specific to this entry point

You must camp all nights on Lac La Croix, and day trips to other lakes are permitted. This is the rule that makes the entry different from EP12.^1,2

The Forest Service tells permit seekers to use EP12A only after EP12 Little Vermilion Lake is full.¹

Motor use or possession needs an overnight motor permit with no horsepower limit.²

Where it leads

Snow Bay holds numbered campsites that reviewers describe in detail. Site 11 sits inside the bay facing south with two good tent pads, and site 18 is a small, wind-protected island site in a private bay.^7,8

Other camps include site 167, an island with red pines and a swimming hole where tow boats can be heard, and site 6, a spacious site close to Zup's resort and private homes.^9,10

Day trips to other lakes are allowed. On day ten of the 2015 trip that party paddled from Lac La Croix through Loon Lake and the Loon River to Little Vermilion in a single day.^1,6

What trip reports say

An October 2022 visitor to site 11 found two good tent pads, a south-facing spot tucked back in the bay and a missing picnic table. A 2008 visitor called it well protected, with shade and wind protection and a table with benches.⁷

A September 2025 reviewer at site 18 said the private bay gives good shelter from wind and probably muffles motorboats, but warned of plentiful poison ivy around the sleeping areas and the latrine trail. A 2020 reviewer rated it four stars apart from the ivy and found an easy landing.⁸

In August 2024, a reviewer at site 167 heard Lac La Croix tow boats in the distance. In October 2024 another saw a motorboat trolling off the camp. A 2020 reviewer found the landing small and gravelly and the site very well used.⁹

Site 6 drew mixed notes: a 2016 reviewer found wind a problem and the motor and generator noise bothersome, a 2020 reviewer reported frequent motorboat traffic because of Zup's, and a 2014 reviewer enjoyed a pleasant westerly breeze.¹⁰

When to go from here

The campsite notes run from June to October. A September 2016 visitor to site 6 called wind a problem and generators bothersome, a June 2020 visitor reported frequent motorboats there, and an August 2024 visitor at site 167 heard tow boats.^10,7,9

Compare with nearby entry points

• Little Vermilion Lake (EP12): Little Vermilion Lake (EP12) shares the Crane Lake start and the 6 and 6 quotas but lets you camp where you like. EP12A is the overflow permit, to be used when EP12 is full.^1,2
• Little Indian Sioux River North (EP14): Little Indian Sioux River North (EP14) reaches the same lake by land and river from the Echo Trail. BWCA Wild calls it the shortest route to Lac La Croix, with a 40-rod carry, a 160-rod portage and a quota of 4.^5,2

Sources

1. Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permit, Lac LaCroix Only divisions, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
3. Crane Lake, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.
4. BWCA Entry Points, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Entry Point 14 - Little Indian Sioux River North, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
6. BWCA West Sept 14-24, Canoetripping.net forum. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Lac La Croix campsite 11 (Snow Bay) reviews, Paddle Planner. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Lac La Croix campsite 18 reviews, Paddle Planner. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Lac La Croix campsite 167 reviews, Paddle Planner. Read 2026-10-15.
10. Lac La Croix campsite 6 reviews, Paddle Planner. Read 2026-10-15.
11. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a Lac La Croix Only (EP12A) permit