BWCA Horse or Fourtown? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      Horse or Fourtown?     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

AnnieCat
member (6)member
  
08/22/2018 08:59AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
We are planning a late September trip. I know it's just a short paddle in, but are there any issues to consider for camping 3 nights on Horse or Fourtown? Water level, bugs, crowds, wind, fishing?? Any outstanding camp sites to look for?
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Kraut88
senior member (53)senior membersenior member
  
08/22/2018 12:35PM  
I can't say much about the sites, water levels, etc. as I haven't camped on either lake or been through there in September, but the portaging between Horse and Mudro seemed much easier than what it was getting into Fourtown.
eroom
distinguished member (122)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/22/2018 01:33PM  
I went through Mudro/Fourtown last week. The water level on the creeks were low, especially the creek between the EP and Mudro. Many of the sites on Fourtown were vacant as we passed.
08/22/2018 06:57PM  
Personally we LOVED the site that is on Fourtown that is basicaly on the Horse Portage. Great white noise at night.

The downside is that you'll FOR SURE see people, and might even have people come into your camp because its easier than the portage... but I had people offer us things... got a nice Johnson lure out of it. ;-)
08/22/2018 07:54PM  
There are also two good sites on Horse just north of the Horse River entry. The Fourtown sites on the horse portage and just passed it looked good and there shouldn't be a lot of traffic at that time of year. The portages into Fourtown from Mudro can be a rocky, strenuous way to start your trip but you've probably already factored that into your trip plans.
AnnieCat
member (6)member
  
08/23/2018 11:15AM  
HighnDry: "... The portages into Fourtown from Mudro can be a rocky, strenuous way to start your trip but you've probably already factored that into your trip plans."


The last time we were in this area we went in through Angleworm. After that, anything else seems easier. :-)
08/23/2018 08:14PM  
You have a point there! :)
08/23/2018 08:48PM  
It will take you a little longer than you think. Don't be fooled by the portages between Mudro and Horse. They can be butts. Also don't let the 160r portage between Sand Pit and Tin Can bother you. It's as flat as a railroad bed. Actually and easy stroll. My favorite site on Horse is the one at the mouth of the Horse river. The one just north of that is ok but the landing kind of sucks
bri
member (43)member
  
08/24/2018 10:42AM  
Recently stayed one night at a nice site on Fourtown, on our way out of EP23. First site on the west side as you head South out of Boot:

48.07623609,-91.80178831

Some cool rock structures, great view and a little cove that's protected to pull up your canoes.
hawleycanoeguy
senior member (95)senior membersenior member
  
08/24/2018 11:00AM  
Blatz: "It will take you a little longer than you think. Don't be fooled by the portages between Mudro and Horse. They can be butts. Also don't let the 160r portage between Sand Pit and Tin Can bother you. It's as flat as a railroad bed. Actually and easy stroll. My favorite site on Horse is the one at the mouth of the Horse river. The one just north of that is ok but the landing kind of sucks"


+1
jamdemos
distinguished member (104)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/26/2018 11:12AM  
We were just up that way about a week ago, the only issues that we ran into was low water levels in the smaller river/lake of Fourtown from horse. There are I believe two portages between Horse and Fourtown, one 80 rod and one 10 rod. However when we were there we had to do two extra small maybe 10-20 rod portages because of low water levels and to many rocks in the narrow areas. Both right after the 10 rod portage on Fourtown...also the two campsites on Fourtown on the way to Horse, the southern most one of the two ended up being a portage, literally had to walk through that campsite to the other side, luckily no one was there.
08/26/2018 06:28PM  
We just came back last week and we did the loop from mudro thru horse, basswood river, crooked lake and back down thru friday bay gun and bullet into moosecamp lake and river and eventually fourtown. Our goal was to stay in Friday bay and moose camp lake on our way back through. Friday bay was full and so was Moosecamp Lake. We ventured down the Moosecamp river which was very low and required nonstop paddling to progress forward. The back up plan was to stay on fourtown lake. It was getting very late and every single site on fourtown was full. We ended up having to go all the way back to the entry point at Mudro and loaded the truck at 930pm. Our last day of paddling had us starting in Wednesday bay at 7AM and finishing back at Mudro at 9pm.

There was one site left on Horse when we came through and we just passed it up and headed to an open site below Lower Basswood falls.

Fourtown was packed on the way out as I stated above. Even though it was late at night when we paddled through I can only imagine what it looked like during the day when every site was out paddling on the lake. The portages from #23 to Fourtown were tricky. Not a welcome site when it was that late and we were that tired.

If you're looking for easy I would go to Horse and you can always shoot down the Horse River for fun and go see the falls in just a few hours.
September should be better for you. I won't ever go in August again - not that entry point anyways.
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/26/2018 07:39PM  
Going in same EP end of September. By that time, I don't expect crowds.
08/27/2018 08:01AM  
HowardSprague: "Going in same EP end of September. By that time, I don't expect crowds."
We our heading in the 28th of September and heading up to Crooked, Horse 1st then Fourtown coming back.
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/27/2018 12:40PM  
that should be our last full day out there, exit the 29th. There's a chance we might cross paths.
08/27/2018 05:17PM  
The portages between Mudro and Fourtown are super annoying, while all the portages between the entry and Horse are like highways except for Mudro to Sandpit, which has a good deal of elevation change - it drops from Mudro to Sandpit. It's still not a difficult portage, and way better than the boulder fields between Mudro and Fourtown. Based on portages, I'd go to Horse, personally. Both have so many sites that you should be able to find one that suits your tastes that late in the season.
mc2mens
distinguished member(3311)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/29/2018 12:19PM  
I've camped a couple of times on Fourtown. Both were nice campsites on the east side of the lake, with dramatic views toward the sunset. Fishing was better on Horse than Fourtown.
09/02/2018 07:17AM  
Stayed at 4town a few years ago. Fishing was good, pretty lake, good campsite. A little crowded by bdub standards but if you compare it to a Iowa state park it wasn't crowded at all. The campsite was 1105 and the only issue is a poor landing site. As stated earlier 1106 is a great campsite but you will have other travelers walking next it or right through it.
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/04/2018 09:22AM  
TominMpls: "The portages between Mudro and Fourtown are super annoying, while all the portages between the entry and Horse are like highways except for Mudro to Sandpit, which has a good deal of elevation change - it drops from Mudro to Sandpit. It's still not a difficult portage, and way better than the boulder fields between Mudro and Fourtown. Based on portages, I'd go to Horse, personally. Both have so many sites that you should be able to find one that suits your tastes that late in the season."


We're going to camp on Boot, so will most likely take the "annoying portages"...but I feel like I've looked at them on the maps so many hundreds of times, that I have a need to take that route anyway!
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/04/2018 10:43AM  
Both lakes are good options. I don't think the portages are significantly harder one way or the other.
My choice, however, would clearly be Fourtown. You have a much larger lake to play around with. You have many, many more campsite options as well as several very nice sites. And I think you have a few more options for day trips, although a day trip to Lower Basswood Falls is obviously easier from Horse.
northbounder
  
09/09/2018 08:16AM  
Would you mind posting a followup when you get back. We are planning the same trip October 4th. I've never been this way due to the reported high traffic in the summer, hoping a bit more quiet this late in the year. Thanks!
09/11/2018 08:41PM  
Know the camp site on the east side of Horse lake just north of the river looks like a great site, but never stayed there due to the fact that its always been occupied when we go by it. I have stayed on the island site on the north end of Horse and it is a great site, with plenty of room. There is also a trail around the whole island that was pretty nice if memory serves me.
I have not stayed on Fourtown as it's always seemed too crowded, but that was always in the summer. We always pushed on to Boot or gun.
Nice area either way, have a great trip!
paul folsom
Guest Paddler
  
09/12/2018 11:55AM  
Spend a couple nights on both and figure it out
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Trip Planning Sponsor:
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters