Beaver Basin Wilderness

President Obama signs the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 into law on March 30 at the White House. Also pictured from left to right: Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) (White House Photo, 3/30/09, Chuck Kennedy) — President Obama signs the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
White House photo

On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 into law. Among other actions, this Act created the Beaver Basin Wilderness within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The 11,740 acre Beaver Basin Wilderness was proposed as part of the 2004 General Management Plan, and provides permanent legal protection for this part of the lakeshore.

The Beaver Basin Wilderness includes 13 miles of stunning Lake Superior shoreline from Spray Falls on the west to Sevenmile Creek on the east. The wilderness is some 3.5 miles deep.

The Beaver Basin Wilderness offers opportunities for quiet, solitude, wilderness recreation, and spiritual renewal. Individual and small group recreation is available along 8.4 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail and 8.5 miles of connector trails as well as 6 backcountry campsites.

Visitor to the Beaver Basin ponders the edge of a peaceful pond. — Visitor ponders a beaver dam
NPS photo / Gregg Bruff

Traditional recreation uses will continue including hunting, fishing, day hiking, overnight backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more.

Electric motors are permitted on Little Beaver and Beaver Lakes. Motor boats on Lake Superior are free to beach along the Lake Superior waterfront adjacent to the wilderness area.

No road closures will occur under this new wilderness area, and no lands will be added to the lakeshore.

Vehicle access and car camping will continue at Little Beaver Lake Campground because it is outside the wilderness boundary.

Clear waters of a pond in the Beaver Basin Wilderness — Pond within the Beaver Basin Wilderness
NPS photo / Gregg Bruff

More about the Beaver Basin Wilderness

Three beautifully clear lakes: Beaver Lake - 762 acres, Trappers Lake - 45 acres, Legion Lake - 35 acres.
Five cold water streams: Lowney Creek, Arsenault Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and Beaver Creek.

Green springtime forest view from the Beaver Basin overlook. — Overlooking the Beaver Basin Wilderness
NPS photo / Gregg Bruff

Extensive wetlands and clear streams providing habitat for native coaster brook trout and other fish. Old growth cedar swamp exhibiting healthy regeneration, an important browse species for white-tailed deer.
Popular fish species including brook trout, largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass, northern pike and white sucker.

The bridge over Beaver Creek in the frosty winter. — Beaver Creek bridge in winter
NPS photo / Gregg Bruff

Extensive beech-maple upland hardwood forest habitat for numerous mammals, birds, and flowering plants including black bear, timber wolf, American marten and fisher, migrating songbirds, raptors (such as bald eagle, barred owl, peregrine falcon, waterfowl and upland game birds), and spring wildflowers.
An interesting pattern of glacial geology including post-glacial meltwater channels, escarpments, and Lake Nipissing beach ridges.