So have done a couple solos back in my medical school days 15 years or so ago (3-4 days base camping) and heading out again this year mid June as one of my colleagues is not able to make the trip as of now. Mudro entry. It seems my concern of finding open campsites on busy entry points while solo is dictating much of my trip (start times etc) and I am thinking I may stop earlier than I would like when I find an open site. Is this something that concerns others or something I should not worry about? Thanks for any insight!!

Moosecamp would be good for a basecamp and there's several sites. I would shoot for that, just take the river north out of Fourtown. Now, if you happen to pass a real nice open site on Fourtown you might consider taking it. But I would bet most sites will be taken there.

Don’t worry about it. There are a whole bunch of campsites that groups pass by or deem ‘unsuitable’ for multiple tents that are perfect for solo travelers. Everyone goes for the 5-star site, but some of my best solo camps have been low-rated or non-rated sites.

The entire wilderness is yours when solo: explore where you want and camp when it suits you!

I'm like muddyfeet - when I'm solo just about any site will do in a pinch. I enjoy the little ones that aren't over-used. I don't base camp; all I really need is a decent tent pad. I always go in Sept. and usually find a site by mid-afternoon. Usually the farther I travel from an entry point, the fewer people I see. Horse and Fourtown will probably be busy, but otherwise not so much so. Moosecamp is a nice lake to camp on, so is Boot actually. Gun probably is too, but I didn't camp there. There were open sites on Fourtown when I went through. I wouldn't sweat it too much, but don't wait until dusk to find one ;).

Good question. Why am I heavily invested the quality of a campsite on a group trip but very content with a so-so campsite on a solo?
Speaking of Gun Lake and solo trips. One of my very first solo trips, if not the first, involved a campsite on Gun Lake. Nice site, great weather, felt great. I knew I was hooked on solos on that site.

Good question. Why am I heavily invested the quality of a campsite on a group trip but very content with a so-so campsite on a solo?
Speaking of Gun Lake and solo trips. One of my very first solo trips, if not the first, involved a campsite on Gun Lake. Nice site, great weather, felt great. I knew I was hooked on solos on that site.

Around an entry point, especially a popular one like Mudro, it makes sense to try to get their early and have a back up plan in case the site you want or the entire lake is full. Most of the time I plan my day to try to find a site no later than 3 pm, and that has pretty much always worked for me. I can think of several times I've set camp by 3 or so, then watched people paddle around on a lake I knew to be full at 5, 6, 7, even 8pm or later.

I never enter a lake I want to stay on without having an idea of how far back was the last open site, how crowded the area seams, and whether I should go forward or back up if the lake it full. I've only had to back up or press on a couple of times in 20+ trips.

I think it depends on the time of the day, how popular the lake is for the time of year, and how many sites you have along your forward path.

Thanks for the insight. Much appreciated.

Soloist have an advantage in that they can 'make do' with almost any of those smaller sites that groups would not consider. That being said....campsite #1089 on Moosecamp is a gem. On a sunny September day I had the lake to myself and it was so peaceful. Moosecamp River (more a creek) is easily paddled Fourtown to Moosecamp if you are considering a counterclockwise loop. The beaver dams must have been insignificant to deal with because I vaguely remember them.

mjmkjun: "The beaver dams must have been insignificant to deal with because I vaguely remember them. "

That's a beautiful route. I was there solo in 2007 for a couple nights. The stream wasn't a big deal and gives some variety. Look for the logging artifacts once near Moosecamp.