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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Mudro entry
 
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Schu4MU
04/28/2019 06:24PM
 
Thanks pull overs not a big deal
 
Richwon4
04/27/2019 09:30AM
 
In August the Moosecamp River is generally very very low. We have taken it a few times the first week of June and it is quite low then. Lots of pull-over beaver dams then. The first couple are very interesting...then another...and another. Moosecamp is a nice little lake I would have liked to spend more than a night on.
 
Bushman
04/25/2019 11:25AM
 
My son and I went down the Moosecamp River last August 14th.
The grasses and lilly pads were choking it out enough that the moment you stopped paddling all forward momentum halted. It was quite the grind to get to the end.
It was hot and late so that made it even worse.


Personally I will not take that route again. Really not that much to look at anyways.

 
tashit
04/25/2019 12:26PM
 
My wife and I did that route 2 years ago in mid-June. It took us just under 4 hours to get to Fairy single portaging. We are fairly efficient but aren't looking to break any speed records.


We loved the Moosecamp river, although this was June so the grasses and lily pads weren't a problem for us. We just had 3 or so beaver dam pullovers. It took us around 2 hours from Moosecamp Lake to Fourtown at a somewhat leisurely pace.


Here's my trip report if interested:
Mudro/Moosecamp Loop
 
Gopher02
04/25/2019 01:38PM
 
This is a helpful post. I too am headed through Mudro late July bound for Crooked Lake walleyes. That time of year I wonder if Horse river or Fourtown and small lakes is the best option. Not sure about water levels on Horse river late July.
 
schweady
04/25/2019 03:25PM
 
Gopher02: "This is a helpful post. I too am headed through Mudro late July bound for Crooked Lake walleyes. That time of year I wonder if Horse river or Fourtown and small lakes is the best option. Not sure about water levels on Horse river late July. "
This was Horse River mid-August 2012. There are almost always 3 lift-overs in addition to the 3 marked portages (John at VNO precisely marked of them on our maps before we left), but certainly do-able, if we get an average rainfall. We were able to one-man lead through all 3 'lift-overs' with a painter line:









Fantastic payoff for your efforts:

 
Schu4MU
04/24/2019 06:49PM
 
This wll be me and my son's 4th trip to the BWCA, He will be 18 for this trip I am 51. How long to get to boot lake the first day? How is Moosecamp river back to Fourtown in August?
 
lindylair
04/24/2019 07:05PM
 
It's probably 3-4 hours to Boot from the Mudro entry, depending on your pace and whether you single or double portage. 2 of the 3 portages to Fourtown are short but some of the rockiest ankle breaking paths i have seen up there. On the other hand, the longer portage has some elevation gain but was much less daunting than its reputation.


If you don't find anything you like or available on Boot, Fairy lake is a really cool little lake, quiet, pretty with 2 campsites that i would bet are seldom both used at the same time. Good fishing too. This is a great area and route.


We were planning on the Moosecamp River but never got around to it. Reports are that it is a pretty scenic trip, not very long time wise, with a couple potential beaver dam pullovers. Wish we had done it.


Boot is a good fishing lake, especially if you like good sized walleyes. :)
 
RetiredDave
04/27/2019 05:42PM
 
I paddled from Moosecamp to Fourtown down the river in September, 2017. It was a nice paddle. There were six beaver damns I had to pull over, but it really was no big deal. I would say this, if you want to go to Moosecamp Lake (a very pretty lake), and get back to Fourtown, it just makes sense to go down the river. I timed it, it took me an hour and 45 minutes - and I'm an old guy.


Dave

 
Schu4MU
04/25/2019 05:46PM
 
tashit thanks for the trip report.
 
Gopher02
04/26/2019 09:18AM
 
Schweddy good to know thanks for your reply. I am leaning toward horse river and go west on Crooked to Friday Bay and then out through small lakes to Fourtown. If strong NW wind I will reverse that...
 
Themagicone
04/27/2019 07:55AM
 
If you have time, Thunder Lake has a few really nice campsites. Good fishing also. Not too many people head up that way. There is an old portage out of Beartrap that leads up to Sunday lake and further. I did it a few years ago, took a little bushwhacking but was a really secluded and pretty area. Only thing is there is no campsites till Iron Lake so have to start fairly early. Camp on Sunday and it's a 5-6 hour paddle to Friday with only one Portage. From Friday, it's a days paddle back to entry point.
 
schweady
04/26/2019 10:04AM
 
And, that first portage out of Horse Lake, about 1/2 hour downstream, is marked incorrectly on some maps - my 2004 McKenzie, anyway. It's actually on the right (south).

 
Bushman
04/26/2019 11:09AM
 
We did not encounter super low water levels on 8/12/18.
One spot we walked through but it was 90 degrees and getting in the water just felt right!
It was an awesome route, one I'd like to repeat with a few small changes.
Here is my trip report.


Mudro/Crooked Loop