Hey... First solo.. yay.. Doing EP 8 to Big Moose Lake ... Should I be concerned about campsite availability on Big Moose Lake?

How about any recon on Beaver Dams On Moose River??

Thanks in advance

RW

Been there many times over the last 20 years and never was unable to find a campsite. Have not been there since Covid, so maybe things have changed. There are always a few dams to manage, but they are pretty easy…

Never had a problem and this year they cut the number of permits in half so I can't imagine you will have any difficulty. IMO this was not one of the entry points where they needed to cut back permits - it has never been overcrowded. I've camped at the sites closest to the portage into the lake from the river and in the southeast corner of the lake and both are great. If you like to stretch your legs you can hike the portages to the south and east.

It's been a few years since I paddled in but in the past there was a VERY BIG dam up the river as you get closer to Big Moose Lake. You will have to unload onto the dam and pull your boat up then reload. Other dams further downstream come and go but I don't remember them being a problem.

Apart from the dams, when the river turns south it really meanders a lot so that makes for more paddling.