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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: EP 16 Moose Portage River N Question
 
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HookandAntler
12/02/2020 01:29PM
 
My group hit it in early June The water levels were good enough to canoe through the entire time, however there were a couple of beaver damns that could be a hassle to get over in lower level conditions. As well as one of the 26 rods portages not having a nice spot to launch a canoe from but other then that water levels shouldn't be a problem.
 
SunrisePaddler
12/03/2020 03:56PM
 
I agree with the previous responses. Entered/exited EP16 in late Sept 2020. We encountered a few low water spots where paddles touched bottom, but it wasn't an issue at all. Only exited canoes for portages and to pull over a beaver dam.


A beautiful paddle along this river (as you know).
 
PointMe2Polaris
11/28/2020 05:56PM
 
I would like to head up to Tiger Bay area next Spring but I have one big question pertaining to EP 16. How is the water level in the narrows connecting the entry point and Nina Moose and are you able to canoe the majority of it? I've gone in on EP 23 (Mudro) the last 2 years and the water levels continue to get lower and lower. Pretty much had to walk our canoes through the narrows going into Mudro last year. I travel from South Dakota for this trip every year and definitely would like to know what we are getting into with EP16 before I make any definitive plans. 2016 was the last time I went into this area, and I really enjoyed it, so I'm hoping to get back there again.

Thanks for any and all input in advance!
Darin
 
TuscaroraBorealis
11/28/2020 06:56PM
 
Of course no one can definitively predict what the water level will be like next year. But, this is one of the most popular routes in the BWCA so, im confident you will be able to get through with out serious delay - especially so in the spring.

I've been through the area during low water and only had to walk/pole the loaded canoe through short distances of shallow water near existing portages. No serious delay.


FYI
My comments were for Moose, and not the Portage, river.
 
Blatz
11/30/2020 09:16AM
 
I did this last May when the water levels where pretty low. I had no problem at all on the river.
 
schweady
11/30/2020 11:46AM
 
Springtime levels should be fine. The lowest water we encountered was just as we entered Nina Moose Lake. There, we scraped the sandy bottom and had to pole our way through for a short distance. But this was in late June/early July 2020, in the middle of an unusually dry summer. Lots of beaver dams along the way keep levels up along most of the route.

 
cyclones30
11/30/2020 12:34PM
 
As mentioned, typically not an issue and if there is there's a portage there for a reason. No extended periods of just low water slogs through crap. You're either paddling or portaging on trails