With the permit SNAFU I had to change my plans and am considering one of these EP's for my second trip. I am just curious what those of you more experienced think about them. I have read lots of trip report and they all seem to offer something different. We did Fall Lake last year and packed WAY to heavy so we are making adjustments there which should make our travel faster. For Moose Lake was thinking of a tow to Birch then heading towards Knife. Seems like Ensign is pretty busy so might skip that direction. We like to fish but was thinking of maybe getting on some smaller water, we got caught in a mid-day wind last year that had the blood pumping. I am also open to other suggestions.

Sticking to the west side or will you consider Sawbill/Gunflint Trail entries?

The Mudro entry is very popular for a reason. It offers a scenic area with good fishing, many nice campsites, moderate portages and small to medium sized lakes. Permits go fast though, check the dates you are interested in if you decide to go that route.

Mudro up to Fourtown, west to Boot and up through Fairy, Gun, Gull and Thunder and maybe to Beartrap if you can get the 5 star site there, it is a great area. Retrace your paddle strokes to Gun and head over to Moosecamp, then down the Moosecamp River back to Fourtown. You could eat up 3-4 days easy in this area, more if you find a spot you like and layover a day or two.

Many go east out of Fourtown to Horse or up to LBF which i have not done but it also seems like a great route. I have not done the Moose River so can't comment on that but entered through Moose Lake many times a long time ago and haven't been back, just not my favorite way to go in.

If you tell us time of year you are going and duration of trip it might lead to some better answers too.

My timeframe is anytime from about June 18 until August first. The Sawbill area would also be an option for us too.

Mudro is very nice. Pretty easy portages. The ones towards Fourtown are quite spectacular although watch your footing. Very rocky!

We went down the Horse River and up around Crooked and back down thru Friday bay. Moosecamp River was neat but after a couple hundred yards it was turning boring and tedious. There are some very tight turns and going is slow especially in august when we went. The grass growing up under the water acts like brakes on the canoe. Personally I would not do the river again I would go through Gun lake instead.

Be prepared for a lot of people in the lakes near the entry point. Fourtown was completely booked when we came through.

Mudro is very nice. Pretty easy portages. The ones towards Fourtown are quite spectacular although watch your footing. Very rocky!

We went down the Horse River and up around Crooked and back down thru Friday bay. Moosecamp River was neat but after a couple hundred yards it was turning boring and tedious. There are some very tight turns and going is slow especially in august when we went. The grass growing up under the water acts like brakes on the canoe. Personally I would not do the river again I would go through Gun lake instead.

Be prepared for a lot of people in the lakes near the entry point. Fourtown was completely booked when we came through.

I really enjoyed two trips through Knife last year and plan to go back for sure. There are so many route options. On both trips, though we dealt with mild to moderate-high winds, Birch and Knife didn't worry me because wind was basically in our face. Kekekabic and Ima on the other hand were pretty sketchy in high winds (20-25mph) due to their big open shapes with a lot of room for waves to build up regardless of the direction the wind blows from. I can wholeheartedly recommend heading to Knife for great fishing, scenery, and day trips for both of those. It took my groups 4 hours flat from the moment we started paddling on Birch to when we finished the portage to Knife, double carrying every portage on the way, with 5-20mph headwinds both trips. There are enough spots along Knife for you to take refuge from wind once you get to the Isles of Pines/Robbins Island area. There are also a lot of campsites and a lot of them are pretty decent so even though the area can get kinda busy, there's room for everyone.

You're also more likely to get a Moose Lake permit this late after reservations started (compared to Mudro and Moose River which are both very popular with only a few permits per day).

All your options are good ones, flip a coin and go! You can find smaller waters on each route and larger, different fish species, etc. Waterfalls, pictographs, portages of all lengths, etc. Narrow down what you'd like to do or see and go from there.

I've done Moose R. North and Mudro a few times, and we're doing Moose Lake this year. All have their benefits (and minor downfalls) but hey it's vacation and an adventure.

I think Moose to Knife is the winner. Thanks for all of your insight. I just found out I may be bringing my 8 and 9 years olds since I won't have anyone to watch them. Still sounds doable and they can carry some gear.

Rs130754: "I think Moose to Knife is the winner. Thanks for all of your insight. I just found out I may be bringing my 8 and 9 years olds since I won't have anyone to watch them. Still sounds doable and they can carry some gear."

You'll love it and I bet the kids will too. The portages from Birch to Knife are pretty easy with the hardest one being the final one to Knife, and even then I would only place that one at maybe a 2/5, with the primary difficulty being its length (only 75rods or something). It is the longest one on that route to Knife. The only difficult thing about any others are the landings which aren't terrible but aren't sandy beaches either. I recommend wet-footing it to make things as easy as possible - I've heard of rolled ankles and tipped canoes from trying to keep feet dry at landings.

Thanks for posting this. I am going in July 28 again this year. I did Mudro last year, Fourtown, Boot, Fairy (Really beautiful little lake - wolves howling too), Gun, Moosecamp, and back to Fourtown. A little traffic, but wow.

This year I'm doing Moose River North for the first time, up through to Iron Lake.

I loved the Mudro trip so much that I had a hard time not repeating. But seeing what I've never seen before won out.

Whatever you choose, I don't think you can go wrong.