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
by BigPaul
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 27, 2024
Entry Point:
Mudro Lake (restricted--no camping on Horse Lake)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
Drove up from Texas with remainder of our group flying into “the cities” and renting a car, we met up at Gordy’s in Cloquet. Blueberry milkshakes and cheese curds set the mood for this adventure.
Day 1 of 6
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 CCO have been our outfitter of choice for years and continue to please. After breakfast at Grand Ely Lodge (Britons was closed), we loaded up the van and headed to Mudro. Our group of four consists of two former collegiate athletes, an East Texas gentleman farmer, I represent the geriatric crowd. We’ve a five year hiatus since using this EP, water levels were lowest in memory. Lining and lift-overs prior to Mudro lake, smooth jive. Low levels persisted at the portage into Fourtown as none of us remembered walking on rocks for so long. Maybe we’re just getting older… We made our goal for the day, Gun, by 1430 and commenced looking for a site. Our preferred site is occupied so circled back and took the one directly across the portage from Fairy. Looked adequate with easy canoe exit, good hanging trees, decent kitchen, etc,… until making the discovery that gave this report a name. Piles of domesticated canine skat (dogshit) everywhere. Previous occupants must have had numerous pups, well fed pups too! Guessing they left their little plastic bags back in the cities? 
Day 2 of 6
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Nothing like bacon in the skillet and coffeve in the pot to start a great northwoods morning! Today we’re loading light, taking only fishing gear and a tarp and looking for another spot. Best site on Gun remains occupied so we headed to Gull. The beauty on Gull is occupied too. We’re going back to clean up “the ridge” and make a base. Readied the camp and ended up catching a few bass for tonight’s meal of bass and red beans and rice. Raging fire, couple whiskey drinks and we’re ready for the sack.
Day 3 of 6
Thursday, August 29, 2024 Overcast morning. We’ve adequate cell reception and the forecast calls for thunderstorms. We’re battening down and starting a little day drinking when the bottom falls out. Huddled under the kitchen tarp we see a group of two canoes come up around our point. Each holds a couple and they ask to take cover whilst the storm blows… of course y’all can stay! Rain finally abates and they’re on their wet way. Never left the camp today. Got another fire raging, had a couple more cocktails and hit the fart sacks early. 
Day 4 of 6
Friday, August 30, 0700/0730 we’re dropping out of our hammocks. It’s so nice sleeping up here in the woods. We need to catch some fish today. Plan is to scour the Gun and depending on success rate, maybe hit the two little ponds between Gun and MooseCamp. Happy we made the decision as the East Texas gentleman farmer and I both hauled PB smallies from the first pond. We’re eating good tonight! 
Day 5 of 6
Saturday, August 31, 2024 Woke today to tumultuous winds. Stand around the fire, sipping northwoods coffeve evaluate our options. Mother Nature made our decision and we spent the majority of the day under the yellow tarp, sipping… When all of a sudden, Crack, snap, Crash! Two trees about the size of a gymnast’s waist came falling down through our tarp! Luckily, the East Texas gentleman farmer gave the two former collegiate athletes and myself ample warning and we emerged unscathed. 
Day 6 of 6
Sunday, September 01, 2024 Loons and the big white swans are a great alarm clock. Woke to clear skies and bright sunshine. Fishing may be a bit tough after the front passed, it’s our last full day and we’re taking advantage of it… after coffeve. Fishing was a bust. Only catch was a minuscule bass caught by the two former collegiate athletes. Released to get bigger… Spent the remainder of the day readying for tomorrow’s exit… and sipping. Made it to the Mudro EP only 30 minutes late. CCO was most gracious with a cooler full of cold beverages. Time for the best shower of the year! We had a great time, made memories and are planning for next year’s adventure. It won’t be Mudro.
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