BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
April 28 2024
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.
My First Trip into the BWCA
by jenrobsdad
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 30, 1969
Entry Point:
Moose/Portage River (north)
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
This trip was taken during memorial weekend 1969.
Part 1 of 3
My first trip into the wilderness was with my parents and my younger sister. I was about 10 years old, and never heard of the BWCA until we made the trip up. We left the Twin Cities on a Friday afternoon and arrived in Ely to get our equipment at Canoe Country Outfitters late afternoon. We were warned that we probably would not have enough time to make Nina Moose that day, and should not enter the BWCA that evening. Since we only had three days my dad decided to try anyway. We made the then 175 rod first portage while it was still daylight. After we finally got on the river darkness fell over the northwoods, and my sister and I took turns sitting way in front shining a flashlight so my parents could see where they were going. We heard rapids and missed the first portage. My dad waded us thru the first set of rapids on the Moose River. We paddled down and hit the second portage which we found in time. There was no moon to guide us, it was pitch black. The river levels were low and the current was almost still. We paddled for hours and finally came to a point where there was no flow at all. We thought we took a turn into a dead end. My dad decided to paddle back to the last portage where he took out our sleeping bags and slept at the landing.
Part 2 of 3
The next day we got up and once again set out. We met some others coming back and my dad asked them how far Nina-Moose Lake was and they said it was beyond the beaver dam just down the river. We came to the place we had been the night before and it was at the beaver dam and beyond it was Nina-Moose Lake. We found a small opening on the side of the dam and went thru. We found one of the only sites on the lake and set up camp.
Part 3 of 3
I don't remember much else about this trip, things changed a lot over the years in the BDub. My dad had the convenience of four canoe rests on the 175 rod entry portage. The entry lot was maybe 1/10 the size it is now. Back in the late 60's you could enter at Moose River and not see many people compared to now.