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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 12:06PM
Moose Camp River in fall

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Ho Ho 09/17/2017 09:23AM
We went down the Moosecamp on a day trip in late September last year. I had done it in a loaded canoe on a solo in June several years before. In late September, the channel was much more choked with vegetation, so it was a bit harder paddling compared to my recollection of the June solo. But it was still totally navigable. You do have to get out on most or all of the beaver dams and pull your (loaded) boat over, then hop back in. The river and dams are wide enough to get a solo canoe parallel to them which makes this pretty straightforward. Possibly one or two of the lower dams will have enough water flowing over them to paddle over without getting out. Water is very high in the area this fall so I don't think you will have any problem. Plan on 2-3 hours of travel from Moosecamp Lake to Fourtown. Have fun!
RetiredDave 09/17/2017 06:34AM
I just returned from a similar trip (Mudro, Boot, Fairy, Gun, Gull, Thunder, Bear Trap, Moose Camp, Fourtown).


The river was no problem going down from Moose Camp to Fourtown. I counted 7 beaver dams, but only 4 were pull-overs. Two of them I could paddle right over, and one was broken and was a paddle-through. It took me just under 1 1/2 hours to get into Fourtown from Moose Camp. That was on Thursday, September 14.



Big storms hit just after I got out, so the water level may be even better for your trip.


Hope this helps.


Dave
RetiredDave 09/09/2017 07:17AM
I'm heading in (Mudro) in two days (Monday) and I'm still trying to decide if I want to make a loop that includes Moose Camp River. Thanks to those of you who have added your knowledge of the area. Anybody else have last-minute (for me) input on water levels and Moose Camp River?


Thanks!


Dave
ducks 09/08/2017 07:22PM
Day 1 I got to the Mudro parking lot at 9:00 and got to my campsite on Moosecamp around 4:00 going up to Fourtown, over to Boot and then up and over to Moosecamp through Fairy and Gun. I hung out at a campsite on Fairy for about an hour w/ the original plan of camping there but after eating lunch I had an urge to keep going. Day 2 I woke up and headed down to Fourtown through the Moosecamp River w/ plans on camping there but after an early 11:00 lunch on Fourtown I felt like moving on (beautiful sunny, no wind, 60 something degree day on May 6) because I was going to take advantage of the beautiful day. Decided to keep moving when I hit Horse and Tin Can so I ended up staying on Sandpit my second night. Day 3 I had a short paddle to Mudro and spent that whole day hanging out at that campsite and was out to my van by 8:00 am on day 4.


My original plan was to camp on Fairy, then Moosecamp or Fourtownon night 2, and then Tin Can or Sandpit the last night. That's one of the great things about solo tripping.......... it's so much easier to adjust on the fly and let your mood during the trip lead the way.


The Moosecamp campsite I stayed at was the one near the mouth of the Moosecamp River on the eastern end of the lake.


Here are a couple more pics of the site.....


The campsite had a lot of artifacts from the logging days laying around
thompsona 09/08/2017 09:39AM
quote ducks: "I don't know how the river will be in the fall as I did that loop in the beginning of May before fishing opener for my solo trip. I will say this.... Moosecamp is my new favorite lake and I loved the campsite I stayed at and the 1hr45 minute paddle down the Moosecamp is my favorite part of any trip I've done. I agree that the beaver damns are an over and down, not an around. "


Awesome, thanks for the info and pictures. Where did you camp on Moosecamp? And how long did it take you to get up to Moosecamp from the EP? I'm assuming you went thru fairy, gun, etc..
ducks 09/08/2017 06:26AM
I don't know how the river will be in the fall as I did that loop in the beginning of May before fishing opener for my solo trip. I will say this.... Moosecamp is my new favorite lake and I loved the campsite I stayed at and the 1hr45 minute paddle down the Moosecamp is my favorite part of any trip I've done. I agree that the beaver damns are an over and down, not an around.


thompsona 09/07/2017 07:12PM
quote ayudell: "I did the Moose Camp river over Labor Day last year. There was plenty of water then, but not sure what the averages are like a month later. You might call the Ranger District to see if they have/will have that kind of info. Also, outfitters might have an idea.



The dams are more like 'go over' rather than 'go around'. It is very swampy on the shore. Be careful where you put your feet. We got a warning from another group that someone went through up to their armpits in a soft spot in the dam."



Calling the ranger station is a great idea!! Thanks, I didn't think of doing that.
ayudell 09/07/2017 03:45PM
I did the Moose Camp river over Labor Day last year. There was plenty of water then, but not sure what the averages are like a month later. You might call the Ranger District to see if they have/will have that kind of info. Also, outfitters might have an idea.


The dams are more like 'go over' rather than 'go around'. It is very swampy on the shore. Be careful where you put your feet. We got a warning from another group that someone went through up to their armpits in a soft spot in the dam.
thompsona 09/07/2017 11:10AM
Hey all,

Doing a solo from Sept 29 -Oct 2nd at Mudro. Planning on doing Mudro to fourtown and up to Fairy the first day. Second day, planning on going thru Gun and Moosecamp and then down the river again to Fourtown. Third day, cut over to horse and fish. Last half day, make my way out.

My question is, how navigable is the Moose Camp river this time of year? I've heard of plenty of beaver dams... is it simple enough to pull off to shore and go around them?

Also, anything else I should be aware of or check out while I'm on this trip? Heard good things about the area!

Thanks all!