My boys and I are headed to Fourtown and beyond on a trip late this spring. We are all fit and plan to set up our gear for one trip portages. We may be getting to EP-23 fairly late in the day and would like to know how much time to plan for traveling from the EP-23 to Fourtown Lake? Thanks in advance.

Part of the time depends on how high Picket Creek is flowing when you put in. I'd say if you're organized you can probably be on Fourtown 2-3 hours after putting in.

There are several routes that will take you to Fourtown. The most direct route takes me about 1 1/2 hours.

Tomcat: "There are several routes that will take you to Fourtown. The most direct route takes me about 1 1/2 hours."

There's only 2 ways to reasonably get from the EP to Fourtown right? The most direct took us a little over an hour on the way out the last time we were in that area. Headed in, your packs will be heavier and maybe not as portage efficient yet. I'd say 2 hours give or take

cyclones30: "

Tomcat: "There are several routes that will take you to Fourtown. The most direct route takes me about 1 1/2 hours."

There's only 2 ways to reasonably get from the EP to Fourtown right?

Yes

Thank you for the insight. How tough do you think it will be to find a campsite on Fourtown after 6pm in late May?

Mudro is one of the most popular EP's in the Bdub I would never attempt trying to find a site that late in the day especially with kids who are counting on you for a good trip....

I stayed on Fourtown a few years back.
The portages were pretty rough in my opinion. The rocky areas are quite dangerous and the creek was low, so that didn't help. Add in many other people using the portages and having to stop and make room for them to pass.......

Then, the spot we found was at the north end of the lake (but it was one of the best sites I have ever had...... actually.....it was the best.

We also found a great area to catch all the eating size walleye you could want, not far from camp. And.... I caught some gills right from the shore in camp, that were eating size too.

nooneuno: "Mudro is one of the most popular EP's in the Bdub I would never attempt trying to find a site that late in the day especially with kids who are counting on you for a good trip...."

Understood. Should clarifiy, my boys are 23 and 25. Still, we would not want to chance not finding a campsite for the night.

We found the lake mostly full on our most recent trip but that was August. We'd claimed a site at 9am just after the group was leaving it from previous night. We had at least 4 groups between then and lunch ask if we were leaving it that day as they went by.

Late May shouldn't have near the pressure as the warmer months, esp if before Memorial Day

Here's a post of our trip to the Mudro-Fourtown-Fairy area.

arkitek: "Thank you for the insight. How tough do you think it will be to find a campsite on Fourtown after 6pm in late May?"

Trying to find a site that late in the day on or after Memorial Day weekend at that EP may be difficult. You’d certainly not find any 4 or 5 star sites. The weekend before I’d not worry too much about it.

Tomcat: "There are several routes that will take you to Fourtown. The most direct route takes me about 1 1/2 hours.

"

Had lots of fun on that portage last summer.

Go for it! Enjoy those extended daylight hours.
Single portaging would give an edge, ya?
Perhaps you can adjust agenda for an earlier put-in (?) but don't be rushed on those first two portages. A twisted ankle awaits for those who move too hurriedly. There's Boot, Fairy, Gun if no campsites can be found on Fourtown. Maybe it won't be 'primo' but any site in the BWCA is a good one.
If you make it to Moosecamp, the leisurely paddle down Moosecamp River back to Fourtown is a gem.

MN_Lindsey: "Here's a post of our trip to the Mudro-Fourtown-Fairy area."

I was on fourtown last year. I don't like to read and normally don't read trip reports but I saw a lot of photos so I read yours' and really enjoyed it.

Thank you.

Too many Bigfoot encounters around Fourtown Lake to be safely traveling on portages near dark. Good Luck !!

In June of 2017 my wife and I made it to the eastern site on Fairy in just under 4 hours. On our way out we made it from a southern site on Fourtown (#1111) to the Mudro EP parking lot in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Both ways were single portaging, although we were in a little more of a hurry on the way out.