BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
September 17 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.
Dawson Portage
by bierbaum12
Trip Report
Entry Date:
August 04, 2009
Entry Point:
Little Vermilion Lake (Crane Lake)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
History of Dawson Portage
Report
Dawson Portage. Dawson Portage runs between Portage Bay of Sand Point Lake to Wilkins Bay of Lac La Croix Lake, in Canada. It is four mile long, dirt, gravel, stone trail traversing rocky outcrops punctuated by swampy sections.[paragraph break] According to Jim, our driver, who took Don and me, our two kayaks and all of our equipment over it in a rusted out GMC Suburban (pulling a trailer) shared the history of this portage as he navigated this very bumpy “road.” Colonel Dawson built this road in the early ‘30's as a means of trucking fuel and food to the Indian Village on Lac La Croix Lake’s north shore during the winter. The trucks would travel over the frozen lakes, which at that time were covered with as much as 30 inches of ice. A road cut had to be made overland to shorten the rout, which then was named after the Colonel. [paragraph break]Resent years, this road became a portage as it permitted to bypass of the narrows of Loon River. Now, this overland rout is abandoned due to the two Marine Railroads (portages) on Loon River. Zup outfitter secured the right to use it for their customers, like us. Along the way, you can see a number of silent monuments from a period when this rout was more in demand. We passed old school buses, and bulldozers along the way. [paragraph break]Now days, the thought of driving over the frozen lakes escapes even the most adventures soles of the Northwood’s, as the ice rarely reach 18 inches thickness.
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