Looking for suggestions for a 4 day 3 night trip to take my boys (10 and 13 yr old). Last year we went in at Baker and up to Weird and back. Looking for something new this year. Needs to be good for fishing and opportunity for seeing moose would be a plus.

EP 47. Head thru Lizz then Caribou and start looking for campsites on Horseshoe. If you paddle toward Vista, you may be entertained by a Moose or two. Pretty easy portages and really good fishing. Once you hit the first portage, water is pretty small so you don't have to worry too much about wind. I recommend Rockwood Outfitters as well. They are the best! Good luck.

That route sounds great, however there is no availability on the dates i have open. Looking at the EP map, i'm curious if i could enter at EP 49 and cut over and through the EP 47 into Lizz Lake, or there were any other options for hitting this route?

Given your schedule I'm with BigTim, Horseshoe. Go down to the south end and if possible camp on the far southeast camp just before the Brule River. If you can't do that, just get in that area and cruise the southeast arm early every morning and have your camera ready. The first camp on the southwest arm is also ate up with moose.

You could use EP 48 to Meeds then head east to Caribou. The Meeds portage is a challenge, but probably much drier as the season heads to fall. Of course, you can exit anywhere - so heading back thru Lizz would be a breeze. We've traveled thru Meeds quite a few times and hit the little lakes toward Gaskin. Good fishing there as well.

I'm doing a 3 night down to Long island Lake this fall. If you like splake go into alder and then on to Pierz. Easy walk to Johnson Falls too.

Yeah that EP48 portage seems too long for the boys with our heavier canoe. I'm curious if there is a permit that allows access via the Brule river from the east. That might be an option?

You might look at something over off of the Echo Trail - Littler Indian Sioux river North or Moose River North - but, it all depends on permit availability. Check your dates and what is open.

The Ely side usually has either a Fall or Moose Lake open -
Moose up to Thunder Point
Fall up to Basswood - With a tow you could get farther faster.

Or - this one is great if you can get a permit - Slim #6-off the North Arm of Burntside - start with the portage into the lake then on to Rice or Hook. Drive around past the gravel pit and Y camp to the entry.