Hi all,

Never been to Crooked Lake, but planning a trip for May 2020. Any preferred route recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Will be 4 adult (2 canoes) BWCA veterans in good physical condition. Just want to gather some information based on others experience in getting there.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Do you know what EP you are going in?

I prefer Mudro entry to Fourtown, Horse and LBF and then loop all the way to LLC and out Moose River North. Otherwise to Friday Bay and out to Fourtown. I like going against traffic.

treehorn: "Do you know what EP you are going in?"

Have not decided on one yet, but looking to take the most direct route if possible (most likely EP 23 @Mudro). If I can avoid any brutal portages, that would be a plus. Any recommendations on EP would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

The last week of June I will be leading my group of 6 to Crooked with fishing as our primary goal.
I've got our permit for #23 @ Mudro. Tentative plan is as follows:

Day 1: Mudro->Horse River-> Camp near Lower Basswood Falls
Days 2-4: Crooked (fishing the whole time) Possible day trip to Iron depending
Day 5: Gun/Fairy/Boot area
Day 6: Exit @ mudro

My group doesn't like doing in/out on the same path - prefers a loop. This general itinerary fits all my groups needs & wants for covering decent water, scenery, and fishing. The entirety of my tripping experience comes from the Gunflint side or Quetico; never been out of Ely before so i'm not sure if this is the "best" route but I think it'll work for us.

Will report back early in July

I like going into Friday Bay via Wagosh etc... Less people than down through the Horse and your centered in Crooked and can venture either E or W.

One long day of efficient travel can have you on Crooked from Mudro from either route described above. For a loop, pick if you want to go clockwise or counter and have at it. If you're not planning on staying on Horse, you can always get EP 22 if 23 is full.

In general I am humbled by the vast knowledge provided by the members of this site and seldom can think of something to add ..! But the Mudro to Crooked Lake trip is something I have done several times. I have only ever entered via Mudro-Sandpit-Tin Can Mike-Horse-LBF route but have exited by the reverse route as well as the Friday Bay to Fourtown route. IMHO it is easier to enter using the Horse River to LBF Route and exit Friday Bay. The portages are not that bad either way. The three portages between Fourtown and Mudro are narrow and rocky but short and the Wagosh portage is long but mostly flat. I always felt the portage between Mudro and Sandpit is as tough as any of them, rocky and steep ...!

But the fishing, views and experience of Crooked lake is well worth the trip .! I will be headed there in just over a week ..!

For years we went in and out the Horse River route. A couple of weeks ago we went in the Horse River route and out the Wagosh/Boot/Fourtown route. The Horse river route is much easier and faster in my opinion. The mile long portage to/from Wagosh was much more difficult than I was expecting based on what i have read on this forum. It is very rocky and had a ton of standing water along the way and it is not flat. It is undulating, not any super steep spots, but there is definitely elevation along the way. Add in the length and it’s a tough portage. The lakes between Friday Bay and Gun lake are nothing special and most of the campsites we checked out were subpar. It was kind of nice doing a loop, so if you have the time it’s not a bad route, but if you are looking for the most efficient way in, it is definitely via the Horse River.

The FASTEST way to Crooked would be getting a tow to no motor zone on Basswood via Packsack Canoe Outfitters on Fall Lake. I have done this option several times and prefer this over all others, especially the Horse River.

The Horse River is my least favorite way to Crooked due to traffic, varying water levels, and in and out often with unmarked portages. I took Horse River before opening weekend and although water levels were decent, it may not be that way at this point.

My next favorite way to Crooked is via Mudro-->Friday Bay, the only downside being the mile portage out of Gun Lake....

Bdubr: "The FASTEST way to Crooked would be getting a tow to no motor zone on Basswood via Packsack Canoe Outfitters on Fall Lake. "

This is kind of what I was thinking.

WhiteWolf: "I like going into Friday Bay via Wagosh etc... Less people than down through the Horse and your centered in Crooked and can venture either E or W. "

This is the best and quickest way to get to the heart of Crooked. There is great fishing here. Your options are to start early and bust hard to get to Crooked in one day or to go at a more relaxed pace, stopping at Gun and get there in two days. Gun has good fishing for eater waldos. That way you are hitting the big portage fresh after a nights rest and a good quick breakfast.

Any other route will take two days to get to Friday bay. The busy routes will likely have backups at the portages. This route tends to be avoided due to the big portage.

If you are double portaging the route through Boot/gun to Friday Bay has 2+ miles more portaging than the route through the Horse River. If single portaging its an extra .8 miles.

I guess it all depends on where you want to end up on Crooked. If you want to be in Friday / Saturday Bay then the Boot route may be best. If you want to be in Wednesday // Thursday Bay by Big Current and Bear Pass, then the Horse River is your best bet.

if you want to avoid brutal portages, it is best to go the mudro - sandpit - tin can horse river LBF route. The middle portage from mudro to 4town is a workout, and one of the portages between Gun and Friday Bay is a mile long, if i remember right

The portage to Sandpit is a pretty big hill. No piece of cake.

The Wagosh port compared to the sandpit is a wash--- Hit Crooked head on at Friday Bay and I hate saying this on a public forum.

The Horse River was pretty nice last year in August. Water levels were fine. It was our first time so the portages were a bit sneaky but I really liked the river.

That hill on the Sandpit portage though gets your legs prepped for the day. LOL
I had my son take a picture of me sitting halfway up and it's pretty steep.

The long one out of Wagosh wasn't bad but it just seems to go uphill forever. I was determined to make it all the way without stopping for a rest but I caved in and stopped for a breather and when I loaded the canoe back on my shoulders I discovered I was a mere 75 yards from the end. I was a bit disappointed and elated at the same time.

Crooked lake is awesome though and imho worth any route to get there.
If you go by Table Rock stop and fish right next to it. We caught a bunch of fish right from shore.