My group of 4 is planning a 3-4 night trip to either of these two EPs in possibly late June or late August. Two of us have a decent amount of experience and the other two are beginners. Any suggestions as to whether one of these EPs is better than another being we have inexperience in our group? Also, ideas on what routes to take or specific lakes/sights to see are welcome.

Both are popular entry points. I have experience with 14 (LIS north). If you click on my trip report icon, you will see a report about a loop through the Beartracks. I recommend the loop, but not for a 3-4 night trip.

If you have 2 rigs, you could paddle through from 16 to 14. I say 16 to 14, because I think you have more camping opportunities coming out at 14.

There are several good trip reports by other authors in the library. You should check a couple of those also. Trip reports give you a feel for the country. Very valuable in planning.

Late June and Late August are also popular. So you probably ought to decide and make a reservation.

EP 14 might be a little easier because the entry portage isn't as long, though it's steep coming out. There's one long portage, 200+ rods into Shell, but it's really not that bad. And from there you have multiple lakes to head into.

EP 16 is a nice route--done it six or seven times. Agnes and that end of Lac La Croix are spectacular. But I think it's a little more work to get up there. The newbies wouldn't be disappointed with the scenery. But if they don't want to work as hard, go with EP 14.

Thanks for the information, I really appreciate it. I'll start looking at more trip reports before the final decision is made. Does anyone have ideas on a few spots to fish throughout either of these routes? Any camp sites which are better than others? Areas to hike ... etc? I've never been to this area of the BWCA so I'm trying to get as much info as possible. Thanks again for the help.

Check out the Maps section. Members have added ratings, comments and pictures to many of the campsites. Some fishing holes are indicated also.

Either works-I like EP 14 a little better because it gets me to some favorite areas.

I went with a group of 4 including 2 newbies a couple years ago, and did a loop from 16 to 14. Stayed 2 nights on Oyster, and then 2 nights on Lynx. Great route. Email me if you want more info.

Both are great. Some long portages if you go by Hustler, But it is awsome. I recommend it. Not a lot of people either. If you fish Hustler I did best on the north lake by the portage to Oyster. Oyster try to stay on the Pennisula if you can. Heard wolves there last time I stayed there two years ago. Co Island is real nice in Shell. I posted info on camp sites in the area.

I have entered 16 several times and it is a good entry point that leads to some awesome fishing areas and neat scenery. Last Year I entered at 14 for the first time and it is a very neat area with fishing and a lot of scenery, and a variety of water. Both are good areas, but with only 3-4 nights I would probably do 16... it takes a while to get around to all of the good lakes on the 14 loop.

Bruce

Thanks for all of the information everyone. It has helped me a ton for setting up this trip. Thanks again and any other info is always welcome.

We are also looking at this area in mid to late June . Hope to have a
five or six day trip . wondering about a loop from EP 14 to 16 or the other way around ,which would be better direction? And we're coming from Iowa with one vehicle is it even a good idea to do a loop .
How far of a hike between the two EP's, that being 14-16.
Thanks for any help

Upper Iowa

We went from 14 to 16 and I think this is easier because of coming down the oyster river. You can go over many of the Beaver dams ect this way. I have done this a couple of times and we seemed to have a easier time than the people we saw coming the other way. Not real sure of the distance between the portages, I was in car and didn't pay that much attention. I would think you could use the map section to figure it out.

Thanks for your help

Agree enter at 14 exit at 16.

Two reasons-

1) prevailing winds are generally from the west so more likely to have wind at your backs.

2) Oyster river.

The walk between the 2 entry points is 8+ miles (I dont recall exactly), but it was a way more than I'd consider walking to get the vehicle. We had two vehicles so we dropped one off while the rest of the guys portaged the gear to the Entry Point. If you want to do the loop with one vehicle, i'd suggest finding an outfitter that will move the vehicle for you.

I have done both, but prefer Moose River. LIS is a nice river but campsites are limited until you get to Shell. I think the portages are more of a challenge on LIS. Water levels can make a difference. LIS is a deeper wider river. Rarely do you have an issue with navigating it while the Moose can get very shallow when there is a lack of rain.

Where would be the best place to pickup a permit for EP 14

We've been using VNO for permit pickup because they open at 5am and have bait. Other outfitters might be open early also, but VNO for sure. If an early start doesn't matter, you can schedule your pickup with any of the permit issuing stations in Ely, including the Forest Service office.

Can the pickup spot be changed?

I have been told that the permit issuing station can't be changed once a permit has been reserved. This was brought up on a thread last spring, I don't remember what finally happened. I think you can always go to a Forest Service station and get your permit.

Fitfr911..Hey I would like to here more about your trip from EP 16 to 14. I am planning my first trip for maybe August or first of September to and have looked at either starting at EP 14 or 16. Any information would be great.

Bowdier

jenrobsdad: "I have been told that the permit issuing station can't be changed once a permit has been reserved. This was brought up on a thread last spring, I don't remember what finally happened. I think you can always go to a Forest Service station and get your permit."

Permit pickup location can be changed by logging into your recreation.gov account (where you reserved the permit). This only takes a minute or two and can be done at any time prior to receiving the permit.

Bowdier-

This is a really old thread (2009). I don't know if you'll hear back from him, but . . .

Here's a tip for you:

Click on the "Planning" tab near the top of the page. On the dropdown menu click "Trip Reports" then click BW trip reports. You'll get a list of trip reports sorted by entry point. Enjoy the reading.

Thanks Bonnie...I sure will...trying to do the map section to see any information there..Been reading alot on here and web searchers..so thinking anout either EP 14 or 16..mainly would like to see multiple of the small lakes...do some fishing..maybe 1 ir 2 camps that stay over a day...but don't mind packing and moving a few miles each day fir a better camp ans view. I do some river camping here in Florida and we pack up each morning and paddle 10 to 18 miles for a new camp. I like exploring.

There are a lot of options between those two entries. You can go from one to the other on either a long or short loop, but when you finish you'll be 8-10 miles from your car. I just ran/walked it; some people have hidden a bike at the exit. That was a loop from #14 north through Little Loon, Slim, North, Eugene, Finger, Pocket, Gebeonequet, Oyster, Agnes, Nina-Moose to exit at #16. It may be more travel and portaging than you want to do. My first trip before that was a loop out of #16 through Agnes to Lac la Croix to see the pictos, then over to Pocket and the same as the previous route.

You can also go from either one to the other across Shell, Lynx, Hustler, Oyster. You'll still be 8-10 miles from your car like my first example.

You can, of course, just do an out-and-back trip from either, which will be simplest since you just travel until you're halfway, however far that happens to be, then turn around - a lot of flexibility and no guesswork about the travel/portage distance you are comfortable doing.

It's been 12-15 years since I did those, but I'll be happy to tell anything I can remember.

If you have definitely decided on Ely vs. Tofte/Gunflint, you may also want to look at a short trip/loop through Mudro EP.

My last 2 trips have been on both of these entries. Both have their pros and cons. What are you looking to do? Fishing? Pictographs? Waterfalls?

We did EP 14 to 16 in July of 2016. 4 travel days and 3 layover days. Stayed on Shell, Hustler, and Agnes. We loved the route. Probably the only one on this site that will tell you we were rather unimpressed by the devils cascade falls as well as Shell Lake. We didn't have good luck on shell fishing. Wish we would have pushed to Lynx on the first day. We absolutely loved Hustler, could have spent a week there. Fishing was awesome, access to the souix hustler trail for some day hiking. And pretty good solitude for July. Yes, the portage into Hustler is a challenge but it is worth it, and keeps people out. Agnes was another great lake, many more people there though. Good fishing allowed for a day trip to LLC. We loved this area so much this summer we are planning on going back into EP16 and doing a loop through LLC to GEBE to Oyster and back down. I've been working on a trip report for 2 years now I have nearly finished. I just need to put pictures with the report on this route and then will post it.