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.
Through the Eyes of Gabe
by BigZig
Trip Report
Entry Date:
June 22, 2011
Entry Point:
Mudro Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
8
Trip Introduction:
This is a short pictorial that tells quite a tale. It is through the eyes of 8-year old Gabe on his first trip to the BWCA with his Mom and Grandpa. Grandpa made a great decision by letting Gabe have control of the camera for the trip so all of these photos were taken by Gabe. Gabe was part of a large 8 person group that traveled for a 5-day adventure from Mudro Lake looping through Crooked and returning across Fourtown back to EP23. The group includes three men from where I work, their daughters, me, and Gabe of course. My son was supposed to go along but couldn't at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict. I had the privilege of leading this trip and it will be remembered as one of the finest I have been on. I will let Gabe’s pictures tell the rest of the story. I have added a few comments to help clarify the pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do each time I look at them.
Report
Mudro Lake, Sandpit Lake, Tin Can Mike Lake, Horse Lake, Crooked Lake, Papoose Lake, Niki Lake, Wagosh Lake, Gun, Moosecamp Lake, Fourtown Lake
Up early at the VNO Bunkhouse
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Rain on Horse Lake island camp site
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Grandpa and guys go look for firewood
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Fishing
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Gabe
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Red Canoe
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Underwater reverse picture
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Grandpa and me
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Mom's hammock
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Dead fish
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Cooking on the fire
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Gabe
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
The Guys (Grandpa Big Zig Kale Erich)
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Mouse in a Canoe
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Big Zig's pike that got away!
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Portage
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Basswood Falls and Mom
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Pollen on the lake
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Erich, Alexa, and a fish
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
River and Mud
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
My last picture (Fourtown to Mudro middle portage)
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Thanks for looking - I LOVE THE BWCA! Gabe
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| From BWCA Mudro Loop June 2011 |
Lakes Traveled:
Mudro Lake,
Sandpit Lake,
Tin Can Mike Lake,
Horse Lake,
Crooked Lake,
Papoose Lake,
Niki Lake,
Wagosh Lake,
Moosecamp Lake,
Fourtown Lake,
discuss this trip report (20 comments) - last post on June 09, 2013