We are a group of newbies (8 of us). We're heading out on Moose Lake September 7th and since it's a popular route we're wondering if we will find firewood and if campfires are allowed. We're using an outfitter and I'm sure they will answer this, but inquiring minds would like to know in advance. Any and all advice is appreciated!

Yes, ask your outfitter since weather conditions can change on a dime.
If camp fires are allowed at that time make sure they are small enough to fit within the grate area. You may need to walk any trails around your campsite to find firewood, but I have NEVER not found something to burn in a reasonable distance, even in late fall.

Campfires are currently allowed. There is plenty of firewood available, but it gets pretty picked over at camps on popular lakes. Rather then walking further back in the woods at your campsite, it is often easier and recommended to paddle down the shoreline a bit from your campsite and look for a landing to get some firewood. Bring your saw and cut things enough to fit in the canoe.

And remember the rule of dead and down. Like I said, it is easy to find some type of firewood in the forest.

My guess is you’ll be on a fairly popular route, and late in the year. My recommendation for firewood is to take the canoe and go ashore a little ways from your campsite. You should be able to find all the dead and down wood you’ll want. Take it back to camp for processing.

TuscaroraBorealis: " "

Yup, that’s how you do it! Go down the shore away from a campsite and pull out all the firewood you can haul. Campsites this time of year are pretty picked over.

Tom

TuscaroraBorealis: " "

Looks like you got some nice dry wood there

Easy to find in burn zones. As I recall, this was on Clove Lake

Old weathered logs found along the shore are the best for burning too.

TuscaroraBorealis: " "

Plan on stayin' awhile?? (insert smiley face here)

Sometimes I bring a plastic bag or nylon bag into the woods around camp and portages, and pick up and collect down birch bark. There is usually a lot of it...more than you might think. Having a bag allows you to collect a lot.

That said, I'm not a fire guy, and use it only when I use my little wood-burning Uberleben stove.

Mike

Remember when shoreline harvesting collect wood back from shoreline. Locate some probable sites and land. Remember to secure the canoe. Bushwhack in locating dead and down. I use a fireplace log carrier and process the wood on site to 4 foot lengths. An old towel will work, anything to bind the pieces makes it easier to carry out and fit into the canoe. My log carrier doubles as kneeling cloth.
Grab a little birch bark from a down and dead on the way out.

That said, I'm not a fire guy, and use it only when I use my little wood-burning Uberleben stove.

Mike"

Cool stove. i had to look that up. Pricey, but will probably will last forever.

adam: "Campfires are currently allowed. There is plenty of firewood available, but it gets pretty picked over at camps on popular lakes. Rather then walking further back in the woods at your campsite, it is often easier and recommended to paddle down the shoreline a bit from your campsite and look for a landing to get some firewood. Bring your saw and cut things enough to fit in the canoe. "

This represents a "favorite" contradiction of mine: Yes, for gathering of wood, the Forest Service does instruct you to paddle down the shoreline from your campsite and walk into the woods to gather firewood away from shore. Another regulation says that you should stay within the established confines of a campsite and stay only on established trails, in order to minimize impact on the surrounding forest.

If you are gathering wood for a campfire, it would be impossible to strictly follow each of these rules. I do understand the spirit of what they are saying and always strive to do my best to follow the Forest Service rules but I feel that as they are stated, I've violated one rule while respecting the other.