Hi. For those who have navigated this river before, will you be able to navigate Moosecamp River from Fourtown Lake and Moosecamp Lake in August? I am thinking of going this route, but I am worried about the water level in August.

Thank you.

I haven't done it, My dad has a few time in early summer returning from Crooked lake. Based on his account I could see August being a challenge with the peak of aquatic growth and typically lower water. So it probably comes down to what you are up to tackling.
On the maps page there are some pictures and comments pegged to the moosecamp river.
The reason this jumped out at me, and am replying without personal experience is I recall a story from the summer of 20, where a family was staying on fourtown, took a day trip intent on doing the loop up the lakes and back down the river. They got so frustrated on the river that they abandoned their stuff and walked back to camp to be rescued. Compounding the rescue is that they left their PFD's with their canoe somewhere on the moosecamp river.

But with a name like moosecamp you think it would be a good place to see moose, so its on a future travel list for me. At least in Aug if you need to do some walking your not going to freeze.

We went down the Moosecamp River (Moosecamp Lake to Fourtown) in Sept 2001 with no problems. We just had a couple beaver dams to deal with (one large one). 2020, when the people abandoned their canoe, was a very dry year. This is a small river and rain fall amounts can have a significant affected on it.

Depends on the rainfall compared to normal from June and July (more July) to know for sure each year

It depends. Keep tabs on water levels/rainfall. We've done it no problem, and friends who had a full day slog due to low water in a different year.

chessie: "It depends. Keep tabs on water levels/rainfall. We've done it no problem, and friends who had a full day slog due to low water in a different year. "

I agree with cheesie, the water level will vary and it is not exclusively dependent on the time of year. For example, last July I entered the Fourtown lake area from Mudro EP. At the end of the first portage from the parking lot we had to walk the stream bed carrying our canoe and equipment another 200 yards or more before the water was deep enough to float the canoe. Then in October I watched ghammer's trip report in which his video shows them entering the water at the end of the first portage.

When I am concerned about the conditions that I may encounter I plan an alternative route and allow for time and logistics in the event my primary route becomes too difficult. There are alternative routes from Moosecamp to Fourtown that can be taken in the event that you find conditions too difficult on Moosecamp river. Make it part of the adventure.

Last July my friend and I entered Mudro EP and paddled to Wagosh. It had been raining on and off and when we arrived at Wagosh it was raining pretty hard so we decided to camp on Wagosh. We both set camp and retreated to our tents to get out of the rain. There was a break in the rain and we were both out of our tents when my friend realized that he had forgotten a piece of equipment, the day was young and it was our entry day so we decided to paddle back to the car to retrieve his equipment. My point is that even unplanned events can be enjoyable and memorable. We had planned on paddling a loop and had no intentions of retracing the lakes and portages that day but we both enjoyed it.

John

I paddled from Moosecamp to Fourtown the first week of September back in 2017. I did have to lift over 6 beaver dams, but the paddling was no problem. There were some twists and turns, but it's a very pretty river. And Moosecamp Lake is also special. I didn't see any moose while I was camped there, but a wolf came out of the woods and walked along the shore nearby.

Dave

It was a long portage in the tall thick grass along the "river" Sep 2021.

willfess: " > It was a long portage in the tall thick grass along the "river" Sep 2021."

Great pic. At least you weren't busting through brush. Did you sink to your knees or could you walk along the bank?

J was able to keep my feet dry but not seeing where i was stepping sucked. lots of grass clumps and i stepped in one beaver hole.

I did it in late Sept 2007 without a problem.

We camped on Moosecamp last year and wanted to go out the river but were unsure on water levels and the struggle. We explored it for a few hundred yards and deemed it to be more of a struggle than going back out through Gun etc.

My son and I did navigate it about 5 years ago and it was passable but required a lot of effort as the grass was so thick it was non stop paddling. The moment you stopped the canoe would stop.

Also last year it was shallow enough that every paddle stroke brought up the stinky muck smell underneath.

Long story short it all depends on water levels. August may be the worst time to try it.

Thank you all. All great responses with great answers. I'll have a backup route ready......just in case.

I paddled this river in late October many years ago. I remember a very large beaver damn, but we had no trouble getting to Moosecamp. You can take this way if you’re mentally prepared to handle whatever the water levels are.