Minnesota
Boundary Waters: Moose Lake to Basswood
About this paddle route
Entry Point 25 at Moose Lake is the busiest gateway into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and for good reason: it opens onto a chain of lakes that leads straight to Basswood, one of the biggest and best-known lakes on the border. The wilderness has no motors, no roads and no permanent structures across a million acres, and this route is the introduction most first-time paddlers get to it.
The classic Ely entry, up the Moose chain through Prairie Portage into Basswood Lake on the Canadian border.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Basswood Lake sits directly on the Canadian border
- Over a million acres of motor-free wilderness
- Prairie Portage is the historic voyageur crossing between watersheds
- Some of the darkest night skies in the eastern United States
Stops
- 1
Moose Lake Entry Point 25
The main public landing northeast of Ely.
- 2
Prairie Portage
The historic portage and border ranger station.
- 3
Basswood Lake
Large border lake with island campsites.
When to go
Best time to go
June through September. Ice-out is usually late April or early May.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 1h 32m
Before you go
Know before you go
- A quota permit is required for overnight travel from May through September and must be reserved in advance.
- Cans and glass bottles are prohibited in the wilderness.
- Crossing into Canadian waters requires a remote area border crossing permit.
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