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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Mudro to Crooked lake
 
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mirth
03/21/2012 06:21AM
 
The Horse River was exceptionally low last September. We had 5 portages through rocky fields before we got to the 1st marked portage on the map. Once we got to the boggy area where the river empties into Basswood there were a few spots that we bottomed out & twice had to get one or both people out of the boat so it would float.


Winter was fairly dry up there, right? I'd wonder how passable Picket Creek would be just to get to Mudro. In the week we were gone people had started to blaze a new trail farther out into the prairie past the current 'temporary' put in just to get to deep enough water.
 
oldgentleman
03/21/2012 06:37AM
 
You could go up through Fourtown, Boot, Fairy and Gun.
 
Mustangt125
03/21/2012 08:19AM
 
There's no sites there anyway
 
CedarPaddle
03/22/2012 08:15AM
 



This was our 2011 Mid Aug trip in Horse river heading to Mudro. Though it was low, it made for a more adventurous trip every one had fun.
 
PINETREE
03/21/2012 05:38AM
 
will low water levels in the BWCA area affect a person much on going this route? Is it usually pretty good? Just wondering with many lakes possibly low this summer? That is a unknown still?
 
Raised By Bears
03/28/2012 04:18AM
 
You'll have a lot more portages than are marked on the map. It has been very dry all winter, and so far, we really haven't had any rain to speak of.
 
Frenchy19
03/21/2012 08:36AM
 
quote Mustangt125: "There's no sites there anyway"


There are a lot of sites there! Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Bays have at least 29 combined sites between them.


I went the Horse route from Mudro in October a couple of years back. There were a couple of spots where I had to walk the canoe through, but it was a blast!



 
oldgentleman
03/21/2012 04:06PM
 
This is the last time I paddled the Horse River.



 
jwartman59
03/21/2012 08:36AM
 
i've done both papoose creek and the beartrap in very low water, last time mid oct 2010. both were very passable. i've also paddled the horse river in low water, it's doable but expect mud.
 
VoyageurNorth
03/21/2012 11:21PM
 
quote PINETREE: "will low water levels in the BWCA area affect a person much on going this route? Is it usually pretty good? Just wondering with many lakes possibly low this summer? That is a unknown still?"


Pinetree, when are you planning on going? Low water levels will affect more people in July & August than in May, for example.
 
PINETREE
03/22/2012 04:05AM
 
Its July. I'm just not familiar with that route. I know CROOKED lake area is a Gem. Been to Fourtown area.
To be honest nobody knows what is in store for rains etc.. Plus you can just portage a little more or maybe walk the canoe thru. That's part of the whole trip. I like a little challenge now and than.
Thanks for the info.
 
Mustangt125
03/22/2012 07:14AM
 
Maybe I'm lookingin the wrong area but on the google earth map there's no red dots for campsites on Crooked Lake or Saturday bay really.
 
schweady
03/21/2012 06:24PM
 
When was that, oldgentleman? Looks kind of like when we were there in August '09.

 
mirth
03/22/2012 07:22AM
 
Mustang, try this on for size - Voyageur Maps


There are 3 sites on Saturday Bay, all in the mouth of the bay & not inside it proper.
 
PINETREE
03/22/2012 12:28PM
 
Always like to look at the rocks and see where the high or normal water mark usually is.
 
oldgentleman
03/23/2012 02:35PM
 
quote schweady: "When was that, oldgentleman? Looks kind of like when we were there in August '09.
"



That was September 2006
 
kanoes
03/23/2012 05:14PM
 
quote PINETREE: "Always like to look at the rocks and see where the high or normal water mark usually is."
i like doing that too. seems to me the high water marks have been very visible the last few years.
 
PINETREE
03/23/2012 05:19PM
 
Lets just say they are not covered up lately.
It amazes me just a couple of years ago basswood lake was super high. In a short time it has went the other way.
Glad my canoe drafts only a couple of inches.