Birchcliffe Ranger Cabin

Birchcliffe Ranger Cabin is a 16-by-20-foot log rental cabin on the south shore of Birchcliffe Lake. It sleeps four and is available by reservation; this is not a public drop-in building. You can paddle in from Kawawaymog (Round) Lake, Kiosk, or the Tim River. Depending on the access point and route, the trip takes one or two days; the cabin's park page recommends allowing at least two days and camping in the backcountry on the way. Low water can make Birchcliffe Creek difficult to navigate.

The cabin has an open kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms with bunks, a table, chairs, and a wood stove. There is no running water, electricity, indoor bathroom, cookware, or dishes; bring food and drinking water, cooking gear, sleeping bags, and pads. An enclosed outdoor toilet is provided. Pets and tents outside the cabin aren't allowed.

Plan for a rocky landing and a steep carry uphill with your gear. A visitor account describes two landing spots, including one with a rope-assisted climb; the exact footing can vary with the landing and water level.

Built in 1962 for the towerman at Osler Township Fire Lookout Tower, the cabin was part of a network watching for lightning-started fires. The tower's site was chosen for a ten-mile visibility circle, inside an area with frequent lightning fires. Rangers built the cabin for $2,900 and the tower for $2,800. The lookout program ended in the early 1970s, and the former tower site is still an uphill walk of about two miles from the cabin.