Boundary Waters Trip Reports, Blog, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park

BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

July 14 2025

Entry Point 33 - Little Gabbro Lake

Little Gabbro 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 23 miles. Access is a 200-rod portage from the parking lot to Little Gabbro Lake.

Number of Permits per Day: 1.5
Elevation: 1235 feet
Latitude: 47.8481
Longitude: -91.6357
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.

Lessons Learned From the Boundary Waters

by ebert97
Trip Report

Entry Date: July 23, 2016
Entry Point: Mudro Lake
Number of Days: 7
Group Size: 2

Trip Introduction:
The full blog post can be found at ebert97.blogspot.com . It is complete with pictures of our entire trip. We are two first timers on an adventure of a lifetime.

Report


Day Six-

In the morning we talked over the fire and listened to a small radio one of us had to a dismal weather report of more cold temps and predicted storms that day and for the next. We came up with plan B: to leave that morning by paddling up the Island River to EP 34 and then walking back to get the van. All were in agreement. We took our time packing the wet gear but got back on the water to windy, dark, but so far dry skies.

We encountered two rapids that weren’t bad so we all paddled up them. We saw many ducks (good weather for them!) and made good time getting to the entry point. After walking to get the vehicle, packing up, putting on clean travel clothes we were on the road by 11:14. We could have gutted it out until the next day, as planned, but we agreed that the trip was entertaining being on the river more than on lakes, and we had seen and done quite a bit. Really, is there ever a bad trip to the BWCA?

 

Lakes Traveled:   Mudro Lake, Fourtown Lake, Boot Lake, Fairy Lake, Gun Lake, Gull Lake, Mudhole Lake, Thunder Lake, Beartrap Lake, Moosecamp Lake,

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