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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Horseshoe Lake and Brule River
 
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Fansy
05/19/2022 01:59PM
 
Mike - Was just at that site in the 2nd week of September during the fire ban, beautiful site though. It is quite a steep hill up to the toilet though, and with high water it could be super wet back there leading up the hill to it.
 
LetsGoFishing
05/19/2022 02:06PM
 
I've eaten lunch at that site once. It wasn't a pretty site, if I recall correctly. The hike to the toilet is uphill. The fishing in that arm of the lake is really good. We hooked into our biggest smallies and pike near that campsite. The flow in from the Vista portage was a good spot for us too.
 
WHendrix
06/03/2022 08:53AM
 
So Mike. I see you have replied to another posting and I assume you are back from your trip to Caribou and Horseshoe. I'm heading in there on Tuesday, is there anything I should be aware of. How were the water levels, the portages,and the landings ? And how was the fishing ?
 
WHendrix
06/03/2022 10:30AM
 
Thanks Mike. All good information, espically about the camp sites. I'm taking a fly rod and will try my luck. Thanks again.
 
MikeinMpls
06/03/2022 09:44AM
 
WHendrix: "So Mike. I see you have replied to another posting and I assume you are back from your trip to Caribou and Horseshoe. I'm heading in there on Tuesday, is there anything I should be aware of. How were the water levels, the portages,and the landings ? And how was the fishing ?"


The water levels are high, but nothing extraordinary. The new docks on Lizz Lake sure were handy and made the portages much easier. Some rocks that are normally above water obviously were underwater, especially on Horseshoe, so they occasionally came as a surprise.


The campsite I wanted at the far east end of Horseshoe was taken by Merlyn, a bwca.com member. Nicest fellow, we had a good, albeit brief chat. We ended up camping on the four-star site on Vista Lake. The people we talked to coming out as we were putting in said that the Horseshoe campsites had been completely full and they had to move onto Gaskin Lake to find anything open. Since we were at the far end of Horseshoe we decided to check out Vista before backtracking to any other site on Horseshoe. That's how we ended up at Vista. We lunched at that campsite many years ago and my wife stated she always wanted to stay there. So we did.

Interestingly, as we paddled out last Saturday every site except one on Horseshoe was open. I did not see any campsites at any lakes that were underwater. My guess is that campsites will be quite popular when you leave and you may have to go into Gaskin Lake.


We had more traffic coming into Vista Lake than I expected. All the traffic came from the North. My wife and I daytripped into Misquah and I don't think anyone had been there so far this year. We also hiked (not portaged...just binos and a water bottle) the Misquah-Little Trout death march portage trail. It remains as brutal as the last time I portaged it 15+ years ago. Water on Little Trout Lake was very high.


I tried to fish but I recently had eye surgery and I could not get the knots tied well enough to make fishing enjoyable.


Hope this helps.


Mike
 
YetiJedi
06/12/2022 09:26PM
 
My Dad and I went in on Monday the day after you, Mike. Ducks informed us you were hoping for that site so we spent a night at 675. Bull moose walked into camp during dinner, about 20-25 feet from us, and then a cow and calf made an appearance the next morning - pic below.


We then spent the next 10 days touring Allen, Pillsbury, Henson, Omega, Kiskadinna, Winchell, Gaskin, and Caribou. Awesome adventure!


Portage conditions improved a great deal over that time period, or at least there wasn't running water over the rocks and roots! Maybe it was our timing but we found many campsites open during our trip.



 
merlyn
06/03/2022 12:22PM
 
MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.



I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.



Mike"



It was the only site on Horseshoe open on friday, honest I checked them all! (I really did) I should have moved but in hindsight I did you and MrsinMpls a favor by staying. The trail to the loo was a flowing stream and the hill it's on was a waterfall. The fire grate sits on a sloping rock and was completely exposed to the nw winds. Big foot and the Boogy Man lived right next door and fish boycott that stretch of water.
I think, for saving you and Mrs. from that killer camp site, a blank check or a pre paid cc (cash is ok too) would be a proper token of appreciation.
It really was a poor site, a #2 at best.
 
scramble4a5
05/19/2022 08:24PM
 
MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.



I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.



Mike"



We stayed on that site several years ago. Not much for tent pads but some flat rock areas. The climb to the latrine is quite something. Great moose viewing area.
 
scramble4a5
05/19/2022 08:24PM
 
MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.



I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.



Mike"



We stayed on that site several years ago. Not much for tent pads but some flat rock areas. The climb to the latrine is quite something. Great moose viewing area.
 
MikeinMpls
06/03/2022 01:17PM
 
merlyn: "MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.




I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.




Mike"




It was the only site on Horseshoe open on friday, honest I checked them all! (I really did) I should have moved but in hindsight I did you and MrsinMpls a favor by staying. The trail to the loo was a flowing stream and the hill it's on was a waterfall. The fire grate sits on a sloping rock and was completely exposed to the nw winds. Big foot and the Boogy Man lived right next door and fish boycott that stretch of water.
I think, for saving you and Mrs. from that killer camp site, a blank check or a pre paid cc (cash is ok too) would be a proper token of appreciation.
It really was a poor site, a #2 at best."



Merlyn- absolutely no problem whatsoever at all on any level. Even if you did not check all the Horseshoe sites, I had no squatting rights to the campsite. And yes, I agree, by the sounds of it you did us a favor!


My wife has been talking about the site on Vista since we passed through the area in 2004. I'm glad we were able to stay there. It was a wonderful campsite. We had the whole lake to ourselves on Sunday night, but then a group of high school kids moved in to the nearby "three-star" campsite for two nights, and then a group of five dudes soon after them. The high school kids were much quieter than I thought they would be. The dudes arrived to the campsite on Wednesday night at sundown. Considering the take out at that campsite, they had a lot of work to do.


It was a pleasure meeting you and the check is in the mail (along with an offer to buy some land in Florida.)


Best wishes


Mike
 
ducks
06/11/2022 10:29PM
 
I should have written down names right away. My brain is failing me as I get older. LOL. I met the other 3 at Rockwood.

YetiJedi also stayed in the bunkhouse when we did and I knew that ahead of time from other threads. The other 2 were chance encounters like yours because of the flying moose but I feel bad that I can’t remember their board names. One noticed the flying moose on my canoe like you did while I was loading it on my SUV and he was getting back in from his trip. The other guy was wearing a flying moose hat while getting his permit and I was wearing mine while settling my bill. We both commented on the other person’s nice hat. Haha.


I always enjoy meeting fellow board members and that was the first time I’ve met more than 1 on a single trip. I meet a fellow bwca.com member much less than 1/2 the time I go up there so it was really cool to meet 4


I just got home today from a week long stay at Rockwood with the whole family and I didn’t run into any board members.
 
MikeinMpls
06/06/2022 10:56AM
 
ducks: "Mike. Glad to hear you had a good trip and that your alternate plan worked out so well. It was nice to cross paths with you and to chat for a few minutes on Horseshoe after you finished the portage.



I met 4 bwca.com members this time out. "



Who else did you run into? this was the first trip we took with the flying moose on the boat. We learned the power of the moose!


Mike
 
ducks
06/04/2022 07:58AM
 
Mike. Glad to hear you had a good trip and that your alternate plan worked out so well. It was nice to cross paths with you and to chat for a few minutes on Horseshoe after you finished the portage.


I met 4 bwca.com members this time out.
 
MikeinMpls
05/16/2022 01:23PM
 
Quick question: does the Brule River flow out of Horseshoe Lake toward the east, or does it flow west into Horseshoe Lake. I believe it flows out (east) but I need to confirm.

Thanks

Mike
 
schweady
05/16/2022 02:26PM
 
When reading a topo map, the lines that cross a river will bend to point upstream.







And, using that rule, it appears that the Brule flows east out of Horseshoe Lake.
 
straighthairedcurly
05/18/2022 05:47PM
 
MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.



I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.



Mike"



In my experience it is usually open. A lot of people don't want to paddle that far down to check.
 
DanCooke
05/18/2022 06:02PM
 
I have done that route 3 times. It flows out of Horseshoe lake toward the Lima Grade. Only did it once after the 99 storm. High water could make some portions very hazardous. That campsite on Horseshoe is broken up by swampy areas. Let us know how it goes. I saw pictures of the Lima Grade being totally underwater (flowing water deep enough to float down the road a ways ) for a long stretch where the North Brule crosses the Lima Grade.
 
MikeinMpls
05/18/2022 08:19PM
 
DanCooke: " Photo From Carl Rockwood lodge
photo "



Geez, Dan, that's serious. I was going to be very careful on that part of the lake. I appreciate your input.


Mike
 
MikeinMpls
05/17/2022 10:42AM
 
WHendrix: "When are you going Mike ? I'm going to be there in 3 weeks."


Put in this Sunday, May 22, Lizz Lake EP.


Mike
 
MikeinMpls
05/18/2022 08:20PM
 
straighthairedcurly: "MikeinMpls: "Thanks, all.




I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.




Mike"




In my experience it is usually open. A lot of people don't want to paddle that far down to check. "



Nice.... all that work to plan and portage and paddle in...but too far to check if the campsite is open? People are funny. Hopefully it's nice site, and OPEN!!


Mike
 
straighthairedcurly
05/16/2022 08:45PM
 
Yes, the Brule River flows east out of Horseshoe Lake...been there.
 
WHendrix
05/17/2022 10:15AM
 
When are you going Mike ? I'm going to be there in 3 weeks.
 
Northwoodsman
05/18/2022 09:34PM
 
I love Horseshoe Lake and that area. Several great campsites. Great wildlife viewing. Nice day trip options. No difficult portages. Serviced by a great outfitter. It doesn't get much better.
 
MikeinMpls
05/17/2022 08:45AM
 
Thanks, all.


I hope the campsite nearest the river outlet is open.


Mike
 
MikeinMpls
05/19/2022 09:51AM
 
Northwoodsman: "I love Horseshoe Lake and that area. Several great campsites. Great wildlife viewing. Nice day trip options. No difficult portages. Serviced by a great outfitter. It doesn't get much better."


This will be at least my fifth trip to the area, but I've never ventured to the eastern arm of Horseshoe. That's my plan. You're right, though... a great area any way you slice it.


Mike
 
DanCooke
05/18/2022 06:09PM
 
Photo From Carl Rockwood lodge
photo