BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
January 05 2025
Entry Point 23 - Mudro Lake
Mudro Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 19 miles. Three accesses into Mudro Lake involve portages ranging from 20–185 rods.Easiest access is from private la nd with parking fee.
Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1166 feet
Latitude: 48.0356
Longitude: -91.8301
On the Water- Monday July 20th-
On the water late considering how far we need to go today. Up the Horse river to the falls by 6pm. Started raining and NO campsites available. Mudrow-Alruss-Tin can Mike-Horse Lake-Horse River-Basswood. 13 miles by water. (not counting portages)
Tuesday July 21st-
Rain all night, all morning and all day. Went north by petroglyphs, table rock and the the Crocked Lake Narrows across Thursday bay to campsite. Basswood-Crooked Lake-Wednesday Bay-Thursday Bay. 11 miles in the rain.
Wednesday July 22nd-
Up early and calm winds to take advantage of, considering the big water we have to cross. Found beaver dam to lift over and did a portage from hell between Pandos lake and Chippewa Lake. VERY steep and slippery after rain. Many mud holes. Then the mile portage after Wagosh Lake to Gun Lake. Never saw another soul in a canoe or campsite the entire day! Thursday bay-Friday Bay-Pandos Lake-Chippewa Lake-Wagosh lake-Gun Lake. 11 miles by water.
Thursday July 23rd-
Finally had a dry night. got everything dry!!! A few portages today to Fourtown Lake campsite. Easy day by comparison. Gun Lake-Fairy Lake-Boot Lake-Fourtown Lake. 6 miles. Put the long miles at the first of the week for a buffer for contingencies!
Friday July 24th-
Last day. Stormed last night bad. A few portages today with one bad one between Fourtown Lake and Mudrow lake. To entry point by 1pm. Ready for a hot shower! 4 miles
Total-
45 miles by water
13 miles by portage (3 trips each)
58 miles total.
Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1166 feet
Latitude: 48.0356
Longitude: -91.8301
On the Water- Monday July 20th-
On the water late considering how far we need to go today. Up the Horse river to the falls by 6pm. Started raining and NO campsites available. Mudrow-Alruss-Tin can Mike-Horse Lake-Horse River-Basswood. 13 miles by water. (not counting portages)
Tuesday July 21st-
Rain all night, all morning and all day. Went north by petroglyphs, table rock and the the Crocked Lake Narrows across Thursday bay to campsite. Basswood-Crooked Lake-Wednesday Bay-Thursday Bay. 11 miles in the rain.
Wednesday July 22nd-
Up early and calm winds to take advantage of, considering the big water we have to cross. Found beaver dam to lift over and did a portage from hell between Pandos lake and Chippewa Lake. VERY steep and slippery after rain. Many mud holes. Then the mile portage after Wagosh Lake to Gun Lake. Never saw another soul in a canoe or campsite the entire day! Thursday bay-Friday Bay-Pandos Lake-Chippewa Lake-Wagosh lake-Gun Lake. 11 miles by water.
Thursday July 23rd-
Finally had a dry night. got everything dry!!! A few portages today to Fourtown Lake campsite. Easy day by comparison. Gun Lake-Fairy Lake-Boot Lake-Fourtown Lake. 6 miles. Put the long miles at the first of the week for a buffer for contingencies!
Friday July 24th-
Last day. Stormed last night bad. A few portages today with one bad one between Fourtown Lake and Mudrow lake. To entry point by 1pm. Ready for a hot shower! 4 miles
Total-
45 miles by water
13 miles by portage (3 trips each)
58 miles total.
isabella lake
by uigreyjay
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 22, 2009
Entry Point:
Isabella Lake
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
the rivers on each side of isabella lake was an attraction for me in planning this trip.
they would give us more new area's to explore, while basecamped on Isabella.
Day 1 of 7
Saturday, August 22, 2009 after a horrible night stay, which i ended up sleeping in the car due to the humming of electrical noises in our ceiling, my wife tapped on the window in the parking lot of the voyager's inn in two harbors at 4:30 am to say, let's get the heck out of here, we were headed north to isabella lake. 
after finding most sites occupied, we paddled to the east end to find our dream 5 star camp open. we grabbed it, thrilled to be back in canoe country on a beautiful site. 
camp was set up, a swim on a beautiful sandy beach completed the day.
after finding most sites occupied, we paddled to the east end to find our dream 5 star camp open. we grabbed it, thrilled to be back in canoe country on a beautiful site. camp was set up, a swim on a beautiful sandy beach completed the day.
Day 3 of 7
Sunday, August 23, 2009 sleep in canoe country is incredible. it was good to be back in our tent in complete silence and darkness. seeing the night sky, plus the milky way right over head, is indescribable. we had breakfast and planned our day. a paddle up parent river was the choice. 
it was a perfect aug day.
it was a perfect aug day.
Day 5 of 7
Monday, August 24, 2009 today was the day of wind. with two decent books we got settled into a day at camp.the sun was warm as we would stroll to our beach and enjoy the warmth of the water and the drying sun. 
Day 8 of 7
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 the wind continued during the night into the morning and early afternoon. by late afternoon we were able to paddle to the north and tour north isabella. we paddled around the big island. it was nice to be on the water again. 
Day 10 of 7
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 after breakfast we loaded up our day pack and headed to the west to explore isabella river and points west. on our way across isabella all sites were taken. what a very busy lake. we were fortunate to have our site. stopping at the pow wow trail, we stretched our legs only to be retreating back to the canoe by swarms of skitters. i was not expecting the flying bloodsuckers to be quite so thick this late in the year. the river was beautiful, quiet, and very peaceful. i caught a few small walleyes and northern. we paddled along enjoying another beautiful sunny day making our way to rice lake. what an understatement, and to think there are 2 campsites up there in that rice field somewhere. it was time to head for camp. the sunset was awesome, fewer skitters tonight, a fire and stars, a perfect evening on our granite patio. 
Day 12 of 7
Thursday, August 27, 2009 another wonderful night of deep sleep. we had another awesome breakfast. i went out to fish, caught a northern, the wind picked up as i paddled back to camp. the weather was changing. rain was on the way. i did some tarp work, seems i am always dinking around with the tarp. i enjoy it. my wife is reading in the hammock. we hiked our shoreline as it is a sidewalk of granite from our site to the north. the lake was quiet. due to the east wind we were sheltered from it and the skitters were back sending us to our tent. comfy and cozy we listened to the wind as it serenaded us to sleep. 
Day 14 of 7
Friday, August 28, 2009 it rained all night. no milky way tonight. after coffee we had a break in the weather. it was time to pack up and head home. we had a nice paddle across isabella to the take out. heading up the trail is always bittersweet. loading the car it started to rain. by the time i put the canoe on it. the rain was coming down harder. all loaded up we began our journey home. another great trip.
discuss this trip report (13 comments) - last post on April 13, 2010