BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
January 08 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 - 35 to Kawishiwi River - 32
by aj1959
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 29, 2018
Entry Point:
Isabella Lake
Exit Point:
South Kawishiwi River (32)
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
1
Trip Introduction:
I decide to do a partial visit of my first BWCA adventure.
Report
I took my annual canoe trip the end of August, this one was a four-night solo trip to the BWCAW, Boundry Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I made arrangements for Piragis Outdoors, an outfitter in Ely Mn to do a shuttle. I left Willmar at 1:30 am and arrived in Ely just after 7 am. My shuttle appointment wasn't until 9 so I had a too-large breakfast at Britton's Cafe, big meal not a big cost. I wandered down to Piragis a little after 8 and my driver had just ducked out for a cup of coffee. I picked up my permit, we loaded all my gear into their van and were on the road by 8:30. (if you ever do a BWCA trip out of Ely I highly recommend Piragis, you can't get more professional). I followed the shuttle driver, I wish I remembered his name, very friendly guy, to Entry Point 32 on the Kawishiwi River, where I left my truck. This is the point I was going to paddle to over the next 4 days. I am guessing 25-30 miles..... I got into shuttle van and we headed to Entry Point 35, Lake Isabella, arriving about 10. We unloaded all my gear, canoe, 2 packs, misc. canoe stuff, fishing gear and 2 paddles, a bent shaft which I made a couple of years ago, and a solo canoe paddle by Bending Branches. (Think a very long kayak paddle, for me, it's a lifesaver in strong winds and big waves). I did a double portage from the parking lot to the lake, around 70 rods each way, a rod equaling 16.5 feet. By 10:30 I was ready to head out. Spent the first night on the Isabella River, I was going to try for Quadga Lake, however, several years ago a fire went through the area so I wasn't sure on the availability of campsites. The one I found on the river had the only unburned trees as far as I could see. Other than a beaver that was rather loud, splashing around all night I had a good sleep. The next morning early I headed down the Isabella River, the plan was to cross Bald Eagle Lake and the to spend the next 2 nights on Gabbro Lake. The new growth from the fire recovery was 8-10 feet high and there were signs of animals all along the burned-out stretch. I didn't see much activity but you could see areas where moose had been, along with many, many beaver channels. I arrived at Bald Eagle Lake in good time, right into a strong wind and smaller white-caps. Out came the solo canoe paddle and by hugging the west shore I made it to Gabbro Lake, proceeded across that lake and I found an open campsite toward the west end. I set up camp and settled in for the next day. My plan had been to do some fishing that day but the wind was uncooperative, so I spent most of the time reading, doing laundry and just relaxing. The smart purchase for this trip was a Leki Chiller camp chair. Wow for comfort, beats sitting on a log! Saturday I packed up and headed out of Gabbro Lake, through Little Gabbro, portaged around an old dam put in years ago by the logging companies, and then started downstream to my final campsite on the Kawashiwi River. I found an open site just upriver from my take-out point at EP 32. A big wind must have gone through a few years ago as some very large trees were down. I woke up Sunday morning at about 6 and thought I would stay in the sack till 6:30. That is until 6:10 when I heard a gunshot from the next site upriver from me! I am guessing a 9mm handgun. Why I don't know, did he see a bear? Signaling a friend? Shot himself in the foot? (I have since had comments that the sound was a breaking branch, and this is very likely based on the trees down in the area) Needless to say, I was then awake, so I had breakfast, loaded up my gear, found the portage trail to my truck and was loaded up by 9. Stopped at the Northern Grounds coffee shop in Ely for 2 cups of coffee, 2 pastries and headed for home, arriving around 5. Another great trip! 
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