Don't ask about landing there. Shagawa Lake is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The only USFS seaplane base in the US is located there. US Forest Service can land on the water or on the ice when it's frozen due to their mission of Fire Fighting, Search and rescue and law enforcement, and such in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

tcj wrote:Don't ask about landing there. Shagawa Lake is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The only USFS seaplane base in the US is located there. US Forest Service can land on the water or on the ice when it's frozen due to their mission of Fire Fighting, Search and rescue and law enforcement, and such in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

It’s close but it’s not actually in the BWCA. Lots of private floatplanes up here. You could land the Shagawa ice strip if you wanted as a plain old civilian.

Okay.

Thanks Zzz!
I had thought I posted asking that exact question. Past experience from a fellow float pilot told me they were less than welcoming when he landed his floatplane there several years ago.

WWhunter wrote:Thanks Zzz!
I had thought I posted asking that exact question. Past experience from a fellow float pilot told me they were less than welcoming when he landed his floatplane there several years ago.

He landed and taxied to the FS seaplane base? Was he looking for a kaffeeklatsch? It's not really a place to visit, nor are there any services there. There's a public dock about 300 feet north of it though.

Interesting article about the program a few years ago.

https://backcountrypilot.org/features/c ... ush-flying

I believe that is what happened. He just wanted to do a meet and greet with the FS people and talk about the Beavers. They were not friendly...Said they had quite the power trip going on. If I remember, this was quite some time ago, so things may have changed.

WWhunter wrote:I believe that is what happened. He just wanted to do a meet and greet with the FS people and talk about the Beavers. They were not friendly...Said they had quite the power trip going on. If I remember, this was quite some time ago, so things may have changed.

My buddy Jeremy is the pilot in the video you linked. He’s a pilot’s pilot and is one of the best of us. Owns a Super Cub…he’s the one I’m with in my POV video from a couple years back. Loves flying the Beaver and is happy to chat about it with the public.

So I think you’re right…times and people change.

Zane nailed it on Jeremy. Great guy for sure.

Glad to hear! Might have to get up there this summer.