Planning to head up or down the Horse River in early September. Question is whether or not it will be a huge PITA or if I am over thinking it.

It depends on water levels, of course. But, yes, you are likely worried about nothing. Even when the water is low it is very passable. Perhaps a number of extra times in and out of the canoe, perhaps a short extra lift over type portage and a few extra weeds to contend with. But overall not a large issue.

I was there in October of 17 and it was fine. With that being said it could be a dry summer and the water levels could be low. Hard to tell

Odds are it will be ok, but it absolutely could be a PITA. It can get pretty darn low. But there are a lot of potential issues on every trip, and usually we just persevere and at the worst you have some stories to tell. Don't know where you're headed, but if it is extremely low, you could possibly just alter your route a bit.

Most of the Horse is fairly still, swamp river- even in low water it can be paddled. There are hassles figuring out how to get up or down the swifts that in low water are simply rock gardens that you have to lift or drag your canoe through or find a route on land around them. Not too difficult. There are submerged mid-stream rocks that are nearly invisible as they are coated with a black slime. The most difficult section in very low water is the stretch from (or to depending on your direction of travel) the last portage to the pool above Lower Basswood Falls- it's paddling through sucking muck- but it takes really low water (I've only experienced it in full arduous mode twice in my more trips up and down the Horse than I can count). in extremely low water I add a "W" to the river's name and flop the s and the e.)

I made this trip in Late Sept./early Oct. in a dry year. The Horse River seems to have a rock bottom not a muddy bottom. This works in your favor. Lots of small pullovers and boulder hopping.

It took us a long time but was absolutely worth it. We didn't see anyone from Basswood Falls area on Monday until Fairy Lake on Thursday.

Thanks guys! should be a great trip!