So I snagged a Mudro Lake (restricted) permit for a Tuesday, July 21 solo trip. I'd like to get in and base camp on Fourtown or Boot. Because of the higher percentage of permits being used this year (due to COVID), and the popularity of the route, am I crazy to believe that I might actually find a campsite?

I picked a Tuesday because: 1. it was available, and 2. it's an "off day" (or so I have convinced myself.)

I've only passed through the route once...coming south out of Crooked. Haven't camped in the area. Thoughts?

Mike

Take the first site you see. Keep going until you see it. Good luck.

I think I once read that Tuesday is one of the most popular entry days - for your sake I hope i am wrong:) Enter early and be prepared to camp early when that empty site materializes. People have to leave at some point, it can be somewhat just luck and timing but early increases your odds. Also gives you time to go on further if that becomes necessary.

Past Boot is Fairy Lake and it is a really cool little lake with decent fishing and 2 campsites. The one on a point on the western shore is really nice and would be a dandy stop for a night or two. The other site is supposed to be pretty decent too. It probably happens but I would be surprised if both sites are full real often.

Good Luck.

There's a pretty nice site on the east side of Fourtown, made a nice base camp for a late Sept / early Oct trip this past year. Nice gradual rock slab / landing from the water, fire grate facing over the water, plenty of tent pad space.
Coordinates-
Latitude/Longitude:
48.07245,-91.79544
UTM:
589728 5325055 15 North

All others are right though, in my experience. Every pass through Mudro for me has been very busy.

It seems to me that all the permits are taken for both 22 and 23 almost every day, every year. I don't think the "covid crowd" will have any bearing on Mudro. With that being said I use Mudro entry often and have never had a problem getting a camp site north of fourtown. I always am traveling south and stop before fourtown normally around 3pm.

MikeinMpls: "So I snagged a Mudro Lake (restricted) permit for a Tuesday, July 21 solo trip. I'd like to get in and base camp on Fourtown or Boot. Because of the higher percentage of permits being used this year (due to COVID), and the popularity of the route, am I crazy to believe that I might actually find a campsite?

I picked a Tuesday because: 1. it was available, and 2. it's an "off day" (or so I have convinced myself.)

I've only passed through the route once...coming south out of Crooked. Haven't camped in the area. Thoughts?

Mike

"

We are headed that way on the 26th. Only we are headed the other way towards the Basswood River. Last time 2 years ago i tried for a site on Fourtown and everything was booked. I was headed south in the evening and ended up just exiting.

Lots of other lakes in that area that may require another portage but hopefully you will be ok. We are spending 7 days on our route and the last day we will be looking around Gun lake for a site and then exit from there.

You should be good. Get an early start but not too early, if you're already paddling past your target sites at 9am you might be going past ones that will be opening yet that day. If you find one in your target area, take it. If not, keep going as mentioned

- Boot is gorgeous
- Eastern site on Fairy is a beauty
- Gun is equally, no, scratch that, even more breathtaking, but not sure you wanted to go that far

My vote is Boot. Super nice sites. we didn't stay at any, but passed quite a few on the way to Fairy and thought they looked really nice.

- One of my favorite sites is on Fourtown, but its actually on a portage (in between Fourtown & Horse), but nice white noise for sleeping.

Fun. Can't wait to hear all about it Mike.

Mighty fine scenic route--especially if you impulsively decide on a clockwise loop. Paddle down Moosecamp river to return to Fourtown if you get a chance. A nice easy paddle.
Those 'heavy traffic' entry days of the week seem to shift from year to year. One year it's a Friday, then it shifts to a Wednesday the following year. Go figure.
My Mudro-restricted entry was in early September, 3 years ago. Weather was beautiful and encountered few other travelers. Had Moosecamp Lake to myself. It was sweet.
corrected: a clockwise loop instead of counterclockwise.

Traffic will really thin out after Gun. I came from the Beartrap/Thunder area when doing this route. I didn't see anyone until I reached Gun. Campsites are fewer up that way but so are the numbers of people. The portages are fairly well-trodden and easy as well.

We base camped on Boot last summer mid July. A couple of the sites on Boot were open the whole time we were there. Get on the water early and you should be fine.

My favorite entry. Just canceled a permit for next week, found something less perfect but hopefully not as busy. There is a reason I’ve avoided the bwca last dozen years. Where the heck do all these people come from? I’m usually coming from my son or brothers places in Duluth. Last minute trips to wabakimi aren’t as feasible as they used to be. Thank god for nw Wisconsin rivers!!!

We went through this area last year on the way back from Crooked. We looped up to Basswood River, around Crooked and out. We camped on the northern site on Boot. Boot is a beautiful lake. Most of the sites on Boot were taken by noon. It was also busy. We saw plenty of canoes fishing or traveling north.

There was an open site on Fairy and a couple open sites on Gun. We also stayed on one of the lakes north of Gun, past the one mile portage. We had the lake all to ourselves and did not see anyone. The portage is long but not difficult if you need to continue north to find a site.

Golly, everyone! Wonderful advice. I very much appreciate it.

I am prone to really bad bouts of campsite anxiety, and I think that's what I have here. In the end, I just gotta paddle in and see what's there.

I love this group. Thanks

Mike

Went into Fourtown on Friday 6/5 for a base camp fishing trip. Reached Fourtown about 1pm. Sites on south end were open, middle were taken and 1 of the north sites were taken. We snagged the peninsula site at the north end. Would be a great site if hot, should get a nice breeze.

Did a day trip to Moosecamp on Monday the 8th and it was deserted.

When we left on Tues it was pretty quiet.

I was a little surprised as the permits were booked pretty solid in the days leading up to and after our trip. Also, the parking lot did not seem as full as I was expecting. I've seen it substantially more crowded.

I wouldn't worry about a site on Fourtown, much of the traffic through Mudro heads up to Crooked Lake or into Boot Lake and points beyond.

Did my first solo trip to Fourtown some years ago. Nice choice!

Have fun!!

MikeinMpls: "Golly, everyone! Wonderful advice. I very much appreciate it.


I am prone to really bad bouts of campsite anxiety, and I think that's what I have here. In the end, I just gotta paddle in and see what's there.


I love this group. Thanks


Mike"

I also get bouts of campsite anxiety. Two summers ago we didn't find a site until 7pm on Insula, but it was a beaut. June 9th this year I was worried about getting a spot on Polly but when we arrived the lake was empty. I really wanted to make it to Malberg, but we got wind-bound and ended up just enjoying our fine site on Polly. This late July we are bringing a full crew with some young ones and newbies, and I am worried about when we will arrive at Agnes, would love to make it to Tiger Bay but not sure this group has the stamina or speed to make it...I'm learning to be flexible, take it as it comes, read my group, and snag the first nice site I come upon. We can always move to a different one day 2 or 3.

MikeinMpls: "Golly, everyone! Wonderful advice. I very much appreciate it.


I am prone to really bad bouts of campsite anxiety, and I think that's what I have here. In the end, I just gotta paddle in and see what's there.


I love this group. Thanks


Mike"

Nice people but, that tells you instantly its waaayyy too popular to have any solitude or wilderness for all your hard work. Camp by noon really?

We enter on Sunday, out of mudro, going to either LBWF or UBWF depending on the weather. There and on Crooked is where I get nervous. I'm guessing if you take an additional portage or two north, there'll be sites available.

bombinbrian: "We enter on Sunday, out of mudro, going to either LBWF or UBWF depending on the weather. There and on Crooked is where I get nervous. I'm guessing if you take an additional portage or two north, there'll be sites available. "

There are so many sites on Crooked that you should be fine. We did a similar route last year. We camped the first night on a site between Wheelbarrow and LBF. The area around LBF was popular but once we got past table rock there were plenty of open campsites. If you want to camp around the falls don't forget the sites between Wheelbarrow and UBF.

joeandali: "

bombinbrian: "We enter on Sunday, out of mudro, going to either LBWF or UBWF depending on the weather. There and on Crooked is where I get nervous. I'm guessing if you take an additional portage or two north, there'll be sites available. "

There are so many sites on Crooked that you should be fine. We did a similar route last year. We camped the first night on a site between Wheelbarrow and LBF. The area around LBF was popular but once we got past table rock there were plenty of open campsites. If you want to camp around the falls don't forget the sites between Wheelbarrow and UBF."

Several moons ago we came across crooked with young kids and zero sites available... I actually stayed in the site with the old truck for one night and then moved on the next morning

bombinbrian: "



Several moons ago we came across crooked with young kids and zero sites available... I actually stayed in the site with the old truck for one night and then moved on the next morning"

Illegal Canadian incursion.