Planning on headed up with four guys and my dog, mid-May. We just got the ok from our 4th so we havent looked into getting our permit yet.

Looking for a 4-5 day loop out of west side (Ely). Preferably not in a burn area. Two of us are seasoned vets and two BW rookies. Both know how to canoe though. We plan on fishing so we'll be heading up after the opener.

I realize this will be a busy time, but I am looking for advice on some routes. We don't mind portaging, but we are thinking maybe sticking and moving, but staying at one camp two nights. Good fishing is a must. Due to a couple of first timers, I would like to keep any 300 rod-plus portages out of our route, but we will do it for more seclusion.

I appreciate any suggestions and will reply in the morning. Thanks as always.

Enter #14 Little Indian Sioux - Exit #16 Moose River North.

Camp 1: Little Shell or Lynx (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)

Camp 2: Oyster (Lake Trout, Northern, Smallmouth)

Camp 3: Agnes or Nina Moose (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)

Route has a variety of Rivers and Lakes, pretty area and good fishing. Travel Days are manageable and no portage more than 280 rods. If you only want 2 camps, you can exit from Oyster Lake in one day.

quote BigCurrent: "Enter #14 Little Indian Sioux - Exit #16 Moose River North.


Camp 1: Little Shell or Lynx (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)


Camp 2: Oyster (Lake Trout, Northern, Smallmouth)


Camp 3: Agnes or Nina Moose (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)


Route has a variety of Rivers and Lakes, pretty area and good fishing. Travel Days are manageable and no portage more than 280 rods. If you only want 2 camps, you can exit from Oyster Lake in one day.


That sounds great. I will be looking into that for sure. I'd like to be able to get out where we put in though if possible as to not have to shuttle.

"

Look into the Mudro Lake access up into Fourtown and head towards Boot, Gun and Fairy lakes...great area and fishing .

quote BigCurrent: "Enter #14 Little Indian Sioux - Exit #16 Moose River North.


Camp 1: Little Shell or Lynx (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)


Camp 2: Oyster (Lake Trout, Northern, Smallmouth)


Camp 3: Agnes or Nina Moose (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)


Route has a variety of Rivers and Lakes, pretty area and good fishing. Travel Days are manageable and no portage more than 280 rods. If you only want 2 camps, you can exit from Oyster Lake in one day.


"

Little indian Sioux is an awesome entrance, Mudro is nice, fairly tough portages (like 2-3 ithink if I remember right.) But once through that its all easy

We did a 5 day loop going in at ram lake ep 44 I think. easily one of the toughest portages I have encountered in the BWCA. back out at ep 43 bower lake. But not a lot of canoes were encountered.

quote kbm: "

quote BigCurrent: "Enter #14 Little Indian Sioux - Exit #16 Moose River North.



Camp 1: Little Shell or Lynx (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)



Camp 2: Oyster (Lake Trout, Northern, Smallmouth)



Camp 3: Agnes or Nina Moose (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)



Route has a variety of Rivers and Lakes, pretty area and good fishing. Travel Days are manageable and no portage more than 280 rods. If you only want 2 camps, you can exit from Oyster Lake in one day.



"

Little indian Sioux is an awesome entrance, Mudro is nice, fairly tough portages (like 2-3 ithink if I remember right.) But once through that its all easy


We did a 5 day loop going in at ram lake ep 44 I think. easily one of the toughest portages I have encountered in the BWCA. back out at ep 43 bower lake. But not a lot of canoes were encountered."

How does everyone coordinate getting back to your entry point if you come out at a different area?

quote

We picked our ram lake entry because the next entry point is like 1.5 miles of road away, and that is an easy hike. Others end at an outfitter, and then have them drive you out to a starting point and loop back around.


How does everyone coordinate getting back to your entry point if you come out at a different area? "

quote



How does everyone coordinate getting back to your entry point if you come out at a different area? "

We picked our ram lake entry because the next entry point is like 1.5 miles of road away, and that is an easy hike. Others end at an outfitter, and then have them drive you out to a starting point and loop back around.

Bird - I have done some where it is walkable like kbm said, or runnable if you are a runner. Some have stashed bikes at an exit. If you have more than one vehicle you can do your own shuttle, or you can pay an outfitter for a shuttle. I find it easier to leave my car at the exit and have outfitter shuttle to entry so that I don't have to try to coordinate exit pick up time. Or you can finish a trip at an outfitter after a shuttle to entry. I have finished trips at Rockwood and Sawbill for example.

quote boonie: "
Some have stashed bikes at an exit.

If you have more than one vehicle you can do your own shuttle

I find it easier to leave my car at the exit and have outfitter shuttle to entry so that I don't have to try to coordinate exit pick up time.
"

These are the options if you enter and exit at different EP's. Cost of a shuttle the day you enter split between 4 people is pretty manageable. Obviously it not necessary if you have 2 vehicles.


Echo Trail Outfitters is probably the best for shuttle services for the trip I outlined. They can follow you to the exit point at #16, drop your car and then take you to #14 with all of your gear. They run about 1/2 the cost of outfitters in Ely, just because of their proximity to this area.

quote CanoeingHarry: "Look into the Mudro Lake access up into Fourtown and head towards Boot, Gun and Fairy lakes...great area and fishing ."

+1 - Awesome route!

quote Birdknowsbest: "

quote kbm: "

quote BigCurrent: "Enter #14 Little Indian Sioux - Exit #16 Moose River North.



Camp 1: Little Shell or Lynx (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)



Camp 2: Oyster (Lake Trout, Northern, Smallmouth)



Camp 3: Agnes or Nina Moose (Walleye, Northern, Smallmouth)



Route has a variety of Rivers and Lakes, pretty area and good fishing. Travel Days are manageable and no portage more than 280 rods. If you only want 2 camps, you can exit from Oyster Lake in one day.



"

Little indian Sioux is an awesome entrance, Mudro is nice, fairly tough portages (like 2-3 ithink if I remember right.) But once through that its all easy



We did a 5 day loop going in at ram lake ep 44 I think. easily one of the toughest portages I have encountered in the BWCA. back out at ep 43 bower lake. But not a lot of canoes were encountered."

How does everyone coordinate getting back to your entry point if you come out at a different area? "

I usually bike or run. Drop the truck off at the takeout EP and run or bike back. Doing that this year for EP 19/16.

Ram to Bower Trout is a short walk on a gravel road if I recall correctly. Nice to stretch out the legs.

Mike

Mudro entry north to Fourtown and west to Boot Lake. Head north from there and camp on Thunder or try and get the 5 star campsite on Beartrap. Backtrack a couple lakes to Gun and head east to Moosecamp. Take the Moosecamp River down to Fourtown and back out to Mudro.

True loop route
Mix of lake and river canoeing
Beautiful lakes
Great campsites
Very good fishing possibilities
Easy portages past the first few
A few beaver dam pullovers on the Moosecamp River
Busy entry point but most folks go east up the Horse River or stay on Fourtown
Could easily do the whole route in a couple days if you were detemined but 4-5 days allows for leisurely pace and/or a 2 night basecamp at your favorite spot.
No burn


Boot Lake - sleeper lunker walleye lake
Fairy Lake, cool little lake with 2 nice campsites, bet they are rarely both occupied. Good fishing and really neat place.
Gun lake - gin clear water, very pretty, several nice sites and good fishing
Beartrap Lake - if you get this 5 star site you will have the lake to yourselves.
Moosecamp lake - kind of remote, good campsites and fishing.
Moosecamp River - very scenic, expect a few beaver dam pullovers, only takes a couple hours
Fourtown - gorgeous lake, good fishing but busy. Snag a site on the north end for your last night and have an easy out on your last day.


Permits can be hard to get for this popular entry point but if one is available you won't find a better area than this.







On the way to Fourtown







Boot Lake walleye







Gun Lake sunset







Wake up view on Fourtown Lake

quote lindylair: "Mudro entry north to Fourtown and west to Boot Lake. Head north from there and camp on Thunder or try and get the 5 star campsite on Beartrap. Backtrack a couple lakes to Gun and head east to Moosecamp. Take the Moosecamp River down to Fourtown and back out to Mudro.


True loop route
Mix of lake and river canoeing
Beautiful lakes
Great campsites
Very good fishing possibilities
Easy portages past the first few
A few beaver dam pullovers on the Moosecamp River
Busy entry point but most folks go east up the Horse River or stay on Fourtown
Could easily do the whole route in a couple days if you were detemined but 4-5 days allows for leisurely pace and/or a 2 night basecamp at your favorite spot.
No burn



Boot Lake - sleeper lunker walleye lake
Fairy Lake, cool little lake with 2 nice campsites, bet they are rarely both occupied. Good fishing and really neat place.
Gun lake - gin clear water, very pretty, several nice sites and good fishing
Beartrap Lake - if you get this 5 star site you will have the lake to yourselves.
Moosecamp lake - kind of remote, good campsites and fishing.
Moosecamp River - very scenic, expect a few beaver dam pullovers, only takes a couple hours
Fourtown - gorgeous lake, good fishing but busy. Snag a site on the north end for your last night and have an easy out on your last day.


Permits can be hard to get for this popular entry point but if one is available you won't find a better area than this.







On the way to Fourtown







Boot Lake walleye







Gun Lake sunset







Wake up view on Fourtown Lake"

Thank you for your detailed info. It is appreciated. Great pics as well. I just need to check if permits are available on mudrow as it is a popular entry point.

At entry point 14 and 16 which way do the rivers run? If you enter via entry point 14 or 16 are you going with or against the current?

Thanks

Is there a way to tell on the maps which ways the rivers run? I know most rivers run south, but I know of some that run north.

quote Birdknowsbest: "At entry point 14 and 16 which way do the rivers run? If you enter via entry point 14 or 16 are you going with or against the current?


Thanks


Is there a way to tell on the maps which ways the rivers run? I know most rivers run south, but I know of some that run north.


"

Both rivers flow North. Either way you enter you'll be exiting against the current, but they are not strong and easy to paddle against.

quote BigCurrent: "

quote Birdknowsbest: "At entry point 14 and 16 which way do the rivers run? If you enter via entry point 14 or 16 are you going with or against the current?



Thanks



Is there a way to tell on the maps which ways the rivers run? I know most rivers run south, but I know of some that run north.



"

Both rivers flow North. Either way you enter you'll be exiting against the current, but they are not strong and easy to paddle against. "

Thank you. Do most rivers up there flow north?

Yes, the majority of them do.

Does moosecamp river flow north or south ? I'm doing the loop in August and trying to figure out which way I should go.

The Moosecamp River flows South from Moosecamp into Fourtown.

Do you think a three night trip is enough time to do the loop? We would move camp everyday and would like to still have a decent amount of time to fish and explore the lakes.

quote IcePaddler: "Do you think a three night trip is enough time to do the loop? We would move camp everyday and would like to still have a decent amount of time to fish and explore the lakes. "

Yes, assuming you don't do more than double portage ;), it'll be around 20-25 miles and probably no more than 10-12 hours travel.