BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
August 18 2025
Entry Point 25 - Moose Lake
Moose Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 21 miles. Access is an boat landing or canoe launch at Moose Lake. Many trip options for paddlers with additional portages. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 27
Elevation: 1356 feet
Latitude: 47.9877
Longitude: -91.4997
Labor day weekend 2024.
Entry point was 25-Moose lake. Went north, and then west onto Ensign Lake. Camped on eastern end of Ensign lake. Very busy and lucky to get a campsite. Day 2, went to Cattyman Falls and on down to Disappointment Lake. All sites full. Had to get off the water due to inclement storm. Ended up on Parent Lake on day 3, western camp site. Beautiful site. Exited from Snowbank lake on day 4. Overall fishing was poor. Some small mouth bass on Parent lake.
Nothing elsewhere. Approximately 20 miles of paddling/portaging. 11 portages in total. Already planning for 2025.
Number of Permits per Day: 27
Elevation: 1356 feet
Latitude: 47.9877
Longitude: -91.4997
Labor day weekend 2024.
Entry point was 25-Moose lake. Went north, and then west onto Ensign Lake. Camped on eastern end of Ensign lake. Very busy and lucky to get a campsite. Day 2, went to Cattyman Falls and on down to Disappointment Lake. All sites full. Had to get off the water due to inclement storm. Ended up on Parent Lake on day 3, western camp site. Beautiful site. Exited from Snowbank lake on day 4. Overall fishing was poor. Some small mouth bass on Parent lake.
Nothing elsewhere. Approximately 20 miles of paddling/portaging. 11 portages in total. Already planning for 2025.
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 |
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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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 (7 comments) - last post on July 03, 2011