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!
May 29-June 4th Nina Moose to Lacroix with plenty of wind
Entry Date:
May 29, 2022
Entry Point:
Moose/Portage River (north)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
4
Tuesday, May 31st. Wind, Wind, Wind. That was the theme for the next few days. While the rain cleared and we saw intermittent spots of sun, the wind remained a challenge, particularly after 10:00 a.m. We paddled to Tiger Bay, seeking warmer water, but found the fish to be uncooperative. A trip over to the Bottle River resulted in some high waves and an eventful crossing back to the campsite, something we distinctly planned on avoiding for the remainder of the trip. We satisfied ourselves hanging around camp, crafting birch bark armor and bows and arrows and trying to call in our resident grouse. An occasional pike or walleye from camp satisfied the craving for fresh fish. We planned to leave early the next morning before the winds might make passage back to the smaller, warmer lakes unwise. Wednesday, June 1st. True to our word, we arose early, broke camp and headed across to Boulder bay before the wind would make that passage more interesting than any of us would have liked. We leasurely paddled up the Boulder River, fishing sporadically, before snagging a nice campsite we had eyed on Agnes 2 days prior. After setting up camp, getting a nap, and finding some fishing areas reasonably protected from the wind, the fish fry we had been planning since December came to fruition. Trolling and jigging Walleye and pike in 10-15 feet of water and in shallow, weedy bays respectively proved to be the ticket. The big meal, one of the true joys of any canoe trip, left all of us in a state of satiated bliss.
Thursday, June 2nd- Wind, again. Our group ventured off to the portage for the oyster river and oyster lake, hoping for a reprieve from the wind and a chance at a lake trout. The disappointment, after the 190 rod portage and upriver paddle, only to find white caps and unsafe boating on Oyster, was palpable. Gladly, this was quickly relieved by a hike around that beautiful lake, and taking a couple of top tier small-mouth bass from the large boulders off the north shore of the lake. The return trip down the oyster river, still windy, was beautiful. After some hard paddling across a windy Lake Agnes, the group settled in for an evening around the campsite of relaxation and designing shoulder harnesses to aid in the next days portaging.
Friday, June 3rd. Again, the plan to break camp early and avoid the wind swells and waves servedus well. A group that was behind us by 30 minutes mentioned some hairy paddling crossing Lake Agnes. The early start afforded the opportunity to again enjoy some great fishing moving up the Nina Moose River with many pike, walleye and even a large sucker coming to hand. This also allowed our second shore lunch of the trip, enjoyed by all. As we settled into camp on a calming Nina Moose, we again enjoyed some great evening fishing before preparing gear for the short paddle and portage out the next morning. Saturday, June 4th. We kept with the theme of breaking camp early, this time to get home to southern MN at a reasonable hour. Of course, as we launched the boat towards the entry point, we were greeted with clear skies, sun and NO WIND. Alas, such is a trek to the canoe country. By being adaptable, using careful timing and selective locations for fishing, and by not taking on too much we all had a wonderful and safe time in canoe country and hope to be back again next year, hopefully with less wind.