BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
January 05 2025
Entry Point 16 - Moose/Portage River (North of Echo Trail)
Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1348 feet
Latitude: 48.1230
Longitude: -92.0991
A favorite route offering many trip options and memorable things to see including;
World Class fishing for all four BWCA Species
Pictographs
Soaring granite hills and cliffs
Small lakes
Small rivers
Tumbling rapids and waterfalls
Wildlife, including Moose
Vistas from high points across the region if you're willing to climb. Rating Easy to Moderate. Day One. Get to EP16 off of the Echo Trail early. The initial portage is long, but well worn and smooth, sloping gently downgrade to the launch area. Load your canoe and head North. You'll be paddling with the slight current on this narrow winding river. The water is clear and make sure to tell the bowperson to watch for looming rocks!
Extreme
Entry Date:
September 24, 2010
Entry Point:
Moose/Portage River (north)
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
2
Canoe: Minnesota II, stuck once on the damn beaver dam
New equipment: Ultra-plush sleeping pad, Kokatat paddling boots
Portages: 18 total, all terrain including one mucky exit
Sustenance: Contemplation, Starfire, salmon, sulfite-free gorp, pancakes
Stuff lost or almost lost: 1 jalapeño pepper to the fire, 1 headlamp and GPS – both rescued before fading into the abyss
Ultimate scenery: Curtain Falls, Ontario, Canada
Weather: 70s to below freezing, rain and 35 mph gusts, 2 sensational days, thunderstorms and a black wall cloud returning to civilization
Wildlife: Beaver, crawfish, duck, Canadian Gray Jay, eagle, grouse, hawk, one large loon, owl (heard), Pileated Woodpecker
Wildlife not seen: MOOSE – they were all hanging out at Oyster Lake
Etcetera: Neither chased by a bear or the Canadian border control Nina Moose Lake, Agnes, Lake 