Looking at exiting Crooked via the long portage past Basswood falls, then grabbing a site somewhere on Basswood to spend a final night. From one of the sites up near the falls, has anybody ever paddled down to Range River, then out Sandpit to Mudro? How long should it take?

I've ended a trip that way and started one that route. Most recently 4 of us started at Mudro and camped at the 2nd site east of the upper Falls/portage on night one. We were paddling into the wind and still made it to the site by probably 1pm. Started around 8 I'd guess from the parking lot, outfitter dropped us off.

The long portage is super easy, just long. The one into sandpit is on an old railroad grade, so it's even easier. The one into Mudro is a bit up and down but not horrible. I prefer that route over Horse river, especially if headed upstream or low water levels.

The "whale island" at the top of Jackfish bay has nice sites but they were taken when we were there.

Following as I am interested in that entry point. I would like to start at Bottle Portage and work my way across Iron and Crooked and out the Basswood River or in reverse. Either or.

Bushman: "Following as I am interested in that entry point. I would like to start at Bottle Portage and work my way across Iron and Crooked and out the Basswood River or in reverse. Either or."

We've done trips from EP 16 to Iron and back and then done 2 Mudro loop trips in the pic. So I've done almost all of the bottle to Mudro route. It's a great route and area. A lot of people love doing 16 to 22/23 or vice versa. You'd just be doing a shorter version of that. As far as which direction, I'd think west to east is better given the prevailing winds.

You will be going upstream but that's only noticeable right below the falls which are many on that route. Curtain falls is awesome, fishing in those 3 lakes is too on your route. Do it, good campsites, etc.

There's an old thread on approaching curtain falls from below, there's an alternate landing that's far safer and not much more walking.

Here's the route we've done out of Mudro. I've done it once each way

cyclones30: "

Bushman: "Following as I am interested in that entry point. I would like to start at Bottle Portage and work my way across Iron and Crooked and out the Basswood River or in reverse. Either or."

We've done trips from EP 16 to Iron and back and then done 2 Mudro loop trips in the pic. So I've done almost all of the bottle to Mudro route. It's a great route and area. A lot of people love doing 16 to 22/23 or vice versa. You'd just be doing a shorter version of that. As far as which direction, I'd think west to east is better given the prevailing winds.


You will be going upstream but that's only noticeable right below the falls which are many on that route. Curtain falls is awesome, fishing in those 3 lakes is too on your route. Do it, good campsites, etc.


There's an old thread on approaching curtain falls from below, there's an alternate landing that's far safer and not much more walking. "

Can’t emphasize enough, do the alternate landing. I may or may not have flipped a canoe trying to do the other.