Planning a trip from EP 14 to 16... We don't have any transportation booked as we are taking all our own gear and canoe. Trying to find a place that will shuttle without gear rental for cheap, so we can get our van down to #16 where we plan to end the trip. Otherwise would it be fairly easy to snag a ride from a fellow camper or bring a bike to lock up considering it is only about 8 miles by road between the entry points?

I suppose we could get a slightly later start and I could take the vehicle after unloading all but the bike, drive down to EP 16, lock the vehicle and then ride the bike back to EP 14 to join up at the canoe and start our trip. This could also be a backup method in case we can't find someone to pay $20-40 for a ride or maybe even catch someone driving up to #14 on my bike ride that has room for a bike and a person?

Not very familiar with biking Echo Trail at this spot. I guess I just wonder how careless drivers are around there and how big the shoulder is for someone who may be biking. Optimally, it would be nice to find a cheap way to get a ride/shuttle.

Thanks for the advice.

The entire road is a shoulder......all gravel. Some trucks drive fairly fast on it and fling gravel. I have heard of people doing the bike thing or catching a ride. Might be worth calling an outfitter and seeing what a shuttle would cost. Try Echo Trail Outfitters.

We just did the bike scenario from EP16 to EP14 last week. I did not do the biking back to EP14, but my friend said cars were traveling faster than he anticipated. The road is wide and fairly straight though, which is a plus for visibility. Plan on 45 mins to an hour if you’ve got a 10 speed Huffy like he rode. It took longer than we both expected, but he agreed he’d do it again.

I hitchhiked once. The first car that came along gave me a ride.

I’ve biked it. It worked well. The shuttle is available from most outfitters, but it’s not cheap because it’s a good 45 minutes to an hour one way. If you’re worried about your start time consider dropping the bike off at Moose River on your way to LIS, then bike back for the truck at the tail end of the trip. You won’t want a road bike, bigger tires will be necessary , but you probably already know that. Have a great trip!

Tony

Thanks for the tips guys! Yeah I kind of figured like what your friend said, cars flying by real fast. Oh well, sounds like he said he'll do it again, I'll give it a try, why not. I think we'll do as you said to save time, drop the bike at EP #16, was thinking after the trip i'll probably be pretty beat and not want to bike 8 some miles, but, it'll get done and I'd probably do it again. Time to suck it up. I saw VNO's fee was like $73 and that's if you're renting a canoe from them as well.

I think I'll bring my son's 10 speed mountain bike and just bike the shoulder, possibly hitch hike if extremely beat from the 6 day trip.. Probably just listen for cars, and when one comes make sure to pull off and signal to see if they can help out with a ride. It's not even a big deal if they can't take the bike with because I could just lock it on a tree fast and pick it up on the way back after picking up the gear and friends. I'd assume it shouldn't be too hard for me to get a ride from someone going the same way, but I guess I'm not really sure, and I wont count on it. Before setting anything in stone I'll see how much Echo Trail Outfitters would charge us. Thanks again!

That stretch of the Echo Trail is fairly straight and wide. Plus, you're not going to see a lot of traffic. I'd guess one or two cars.

egknuti: "That stretch of the Echo Trail is fairly straight and wide. Plus, you're not going to see a lot of traffic. I'd guess one or two cars. "

+1, and you’ll be able to hear any cars coming from a good half mile away. I’ll bet if you told everyone on this site your exit date, there’s a good chance another “flying mooser” will be up in the area and willing to give you a ride.

Tony

anthonyp007: "

egknuti: "That stretch of the Echo Trail is fairly straight and wide. Plus, you're not going to see a lot of traffic. I'd guess one or two cars. "

+1, and you’ll be able to hear any cars coming from a good half mile away. I’ll bet if you told everyone on this site your exit date, there’s a good chance another “flying mooser” will be up in the area and willing to give you a ride.


Tony"

I've given people a ride between the two before, and have also been given a ride. Not a sure thing it will work out though.

I would reach out to Chuck at Big Lake Wilderness Lodge, right up there on Echo. We have stayed with him before and rented canoes through him, great guy. We went in on EP19 and out on EP16 and he followed us up to 16 to drop our vehicle and gave a ride back to 19. Not sure if it will make a difference on renting through him or not, but if he has the time he would probably give you a ride for cheap. GL

Did this two summers ago. Above mentioned outfitter said he could do it when I called in the spring and asked me to call closer to my summer date. Called him again and they were too busy to bother. I wouldn’t count on them unless you spend other $$$ renting or staying overnight. I figured we’d hitch a ride. NO ONE would bother or stop! Including a group putting in. I offered to help carry their gear down the portage if one of them would give us a ride. The trip ‘leader’ said something to the effect of “I don’t think so.” My two brothers ran the whole 8 miles in 90 min. The group who couldn’t be bothered took an hour getting their crap down the trail. They were so lucky their trailer tires still had air when they got back... Sorry for the rant, but it still pisses me off thinking about it.

All that to say, be prepared to be on your own!