BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
December 26 2024
Entry Point 16 - Moose/Portage River (North of Echo Trail)
Moose/Portage River (north) entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by La Croix Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 27 miles. Access is a 160-rod portage heading North from the 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!
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!
Mudro - Jackfish Bay - Basswood River - Crooked - Gun - Mudro
by cyclones30
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 17, 2014
Entry Point:
Mudro Lake
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
We've been planning this trip for a while, it was the first
ever for my wife of one month and first in 9 years (too long)
for my brother, father, and myself. We rented MN II canoes and
got food thru VNO, otherwise brought our own gear.
Day 1 of 7
Sunday, August 17, 2014 This is my first ever trip report, hopefully it goes well... After staying the night at the VNO bunkhouse (nice and convenient) we got a good breakfast at Brittons, and were packed and putting in at Mudro around 8am. We saw a moose in the road on our drive up! First ever for 3 of us. Our goal was to make it at least into the no-motor section of Jackfish Bay for night one and see how things were going since the mile portage around the upper falls loomed.
Things went well for the first small lakes but the wind was getting stronger out of the NE which wasn’t good for Jackfish Bay. Dreading what we’d see when we got there, we were delighted to have a slight headwind but no huge rollers. We got lunch at a nice beach site and then started looking for a site for the night on the “whale island” but both were taken. We got one just to the NW and set up. We also noticed my dad (who always has his watch) forgot it so our only way to tell time were our 2 way radios with weatherband. Glad we had those, but it was also nice to not know what time it was :) 
Mudro Lake, Sandpit Lake, Basswood Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Mudro Lake,
Sandpit Lake,
Basswood Lake,
Day 2 of 7
Monday, August 18, 2014 Woke up to a lot of fog and haze (common theme this week) and got the long portage out of the way while picking blueberries along the way. My wife wanted to try carrying the canoe so she got it on the following 2 portages which ended up being 2 of the harder for their length. She did extremely well. Lunch below lower falls was good. Mist turned to light rain by the time we saw the picto’s and then harder rain by table rock. We were looking for sites but didn’t like what we’d seen to that point. We ended up in the Wed. Bay area and wet. Good thing I ordered a CCS tarp a month ago. 
Basswood Lake, Crooked Lake
Basswood Lake, Crooked Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Basswood Lake,
Crooked Lake,
Day 3 of 7
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Our goal was to get a site between Thurs and Fri Bays, we ended up at the one on the north end of Friday Bay on the island. Wednesday was supposed to be dry so we stayed an extra day here to dry out, relax, and fish. Good decision. 
Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Crooked Lake,
Day 4 of 7
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 We stayed at the same site and enjoyed our one partially sunny day for the week. Went for a swim and was able to get everything dried out on the rocks/line. 
Day 5 of 7
Thursday, August 21, 2014 Our goal was to get at least to Gun if not Fairy/Boot. Made it to the long Wagosh-Gun portage around 8 or 9 and had a good site on Gun by 10:30 or so. Fishing was downright slow on Gun which was a change but not unexpected. 
Crooked Lake, Niki Lake, Chippewa Lake, Wagosh Lake, Gun Lake
Crooked Lake, Niki Lake, Chippewa Lake, Wagosh Lake, Gun Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Crooked Lake,
Niki Lake,
Chippewa Lake,
Wagosh Lake,
Gun Lake,
Day 6 of 7
Friday, August 22, 2014 Get to Fourtown early to get a site so we’d have a short trip on Sat. morning to get picked up at 10 at Mudro. We got to a nice site before 10 just as the previous group was packing up and they let us claim it, which was great because many other groups came by and asked the same thing while we were there. Fishing was verrrry slow during the day Friday and then picked up in the evening which was nice.
Fairy Lake, Boot Lake, Fourtown Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Fairy Lake,
Boot Lake,
Fourtown Lake,
Day 7 of 7
Saturday, August 23, 2014 Not much besides the roughest portages of the whole trip. We got out around 10:10 (I think) and said our goodbyes to the wilderness for now. When we were loading the van at Mudro, I did see a maroon Saturn Ion with a Kevlar and flying moose onboard. Our driver was ready to go so I didn’t get to chat but hope you’re having a good trip right now! (whoever you are)
Fourtown Lake, Mudro Lake
Lakes Traveled:
Fourtown Lake,
Mudro Lake,
discuss this trip report (5 comments) - last post on November 07, 2014