I hope to get in two trips this year, and my current tentative plans are to do EPs 23 and 47, Mudro and Lizz. Haven't been to either of those areas before. The time frames I have in mind are mid to late May, either the week before Memorial day or the week of the holiday, and late September.

For 23 I'd like to do a loop around Boot, Gun, Bullet, Moosecamp, and Fourtown or Horse. For 47 the plan would be Caribou, Horseshoe, Gaskin, Henson, Pillsberry, Swallow, Meeds.

Are there any pros or cons to either one of these trips regarding spring or fall? Water levels, fishing, fall colors, wildlife, etc. Basically trying to decide which to do in May and which in September.

And yes, I know both EPs usually sell out quickly so I may not get both, so I do have backups in mind. But a guy can make unlimited plans in his head. ;)

I’d do 23 in the Spring and 47 in the fall. Late season low water causes problems in Picket Creek going to Mudro and can make the Moosecamp River impossible.

Both are great areas. I’ve been to those lakes around 47 a few times and love the area. I did your 23 route as a solo a few days after ice out one year a loved it. From Horse I went through Tin Can etc back to Mudro.

Agreed on timing for that reason.

If 47 is sold out you can always pull 48 Meeds lake and do that trip in reverse. The entry portage isn’t too bad.

Have fun!

I have done EP 47 in May and September. In mid May my brother and I went in after a surprise 11" snowfall just days earlier. Several of the portage trails had at least 11" of snow on them along with a good ice cap underneath from the winter snow that was almost melted. It was fun knowing that we had been the first paddlers of the season on many of the lakes. We started at Ham Lake and came out at #47. When we left Rockwood on the way in (shuttled to Ham) there was still a large portion of Poplar that still had ice. The ground was still frozen in many areas so an insulated pad was required. In September most of the bugs are gone and the leaves are starting to turn in the later part of the month. The nights are generally cool. The chances of seeing wildlife (moose for example) are fairly high. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd choose September. 3 out of my last 4 trips were in September.

Late May until mid June is blackfly season. I'd rather do September.