So I've stupidly planned an exit on a Saturday and may need to camp at Nine Moose Lake on Friday. This will be in mid-late August. Stressing about getting a campsite mid-afternoon. Thought about diverting to Ramshead but this portages are not inviting. Any observations on crowding at Nina Moose?

These things are hit or miss. The last time I was there, late Sept. 2019, it filled up as we watched people come in late in the day - suppertime to dark. That was a Thursday, other days before there were sites available. If you get there mid-afternoon don't be picky, just take an open site; if there's no place to stay, you're only 2-3 hours to exit.

We stopped off on Nina Moose on a Sunday one year and it was especially quiet, even in July. Fishing is not the best on this very shallow lake and so most folks entering are passing through to Agnes or LLC. Agree that it gets a fair amount of use as a pre-exit stop off, but I'd have to think that your Friday would not be the busiest day of the week for that.

If it's full, just paddle out. Do you have a pick up scheduled or can you just end the trip a day early. We've done that many times. Came down to Brule for our last day...only site available was the crappy island swamp site...we left. Came down to south Temperance...all sites taken, we left. Came over to Missing Link...only site available was the crappy hill site, we left. Fortunately we have a cabin in the neighborhood and usually just spend the night there, bbq, whiskey around the fire and a warm soft bed make it pretty easy to paddle out when the campsites are full.

Consider staying on Ramshead. You’ll most likely have the lake to yourself.

Thanks for al the replies. It's time to consider the options.

My two cents.

Try and keep Nina Moose off your list for that last night. As mentioned, it’s hit or miss. And it’s no fun worrying about if sites will be available, it takes the fun out of the trip. So plan another option even if it means planning on spending that last night at a campground off the echo trail.

I’m not a fan of Nina Moose for a few reasons and I will never camp on that lake.

Tom

Late August *should* be better, but as @tumblehome said, there are more than just crowding reasons to avoid Nina. We camped there on the way out in 2017 and it was a depressing end to the trip. Consider dropping one of your cars at the parking lot or ask your outfitter about a late afternoon pickup.

In contrast to the two others posters, I stayed there a couple of nights and had no problem with it. A bunch of Trumpeter Swans, an exploratory paddle up the stream to the NE. YMMV

On the west side of the lake there is an obvious campsite between the Moose river and the Portage river. To the south of this site there is another campsite on the south bank of the Portage river, weeds on the south, trees on the north. It is not obvious but it is a very usable site. Many people miss it. I like Nina Moose, especially in the fall.

I have stayed there a few times on the way out. There are some decent sites and I have caught walleye. Just get there early.

My gut feeling based on past experience is you will be fine if you get here before 3 and don't waste time claiming a site. Otherwise, as others have said, paddle out early.

You probably would not have a problem on Nina Moose particularly if school is back in session. If you are coming from Agnes it is only a 3.5 to 4 hour trek out from south side of Agnes to the entry point so you could do that if you are worried.