MUDRO LAKE CAMPSITES: Campsite 1 (#1124): Campsite on point on north shore - only campsite on lake
A deep lake with a single campsite (which is fairly nice site). The lake, though deep, does not contain lake trout. Mudro Lake's waters flow north into Fourtown Lake through Fourtown Creek. The south shoreline of the lake is graced by some fairly high cliffs.
The campsite on Mudro Lake is often occupied. If you camp here, the site offers fine views of most of the lake from its elevated position on the point.
The portage from BWCA Entry Point #23 is 30 rods long and nice and easy (except if the water is low). If the water is low, like late in the summer, the portage could be twice as long and extend out into the grass and weeds that line the creek. The creek flows out of Pickett Lake and toward the east eventually draining into the west end of Mudro Lake. This creek is easily navigable with good water levels in a loaded canoe. You likely will not enjoy this creek if there is not much water in it. You may have to walk your canoe a good portion of its length and there could be a few "new but temporary" portages. Beaver activity also affects the level of this creek. So plan for extra time if the water is low.
There are a series of three portages leading north out of Mudro Lake along Fourtown Creek. These portages go through a beautiful gorge where numerous bald eagles were seen in the springtime. The first of these portages out of Mudro Lake is very rocky. The second and longest portage is less rocky, but has some sizeable elevation changes. The last portage is probably the easiest and ends at Fourtown Lake. Heading north, just before the long middle portage, is an unmaintained portage to Alruss Lake. This unmaintained portage is across the creek from the south end of the 141 rod middle portage. It has a steep beginning. Alruss Lake is stocked by the Minnesota DNR with brook trout from time to time.
Mudro Lake contains a modest population of northern pike that tend to be above average in size.
No recent fires have occurred along the shores of Mudro Lake, but fires have been intentionally set nearby in the forest around Sandpit Lake and Fourtown Lake. These fires were set to remove slash after logging operations in the early 1900's.
Water enters Mudro Lake from Picket Lake via Mudro Creek. Water leaves Mudro Creek through Fourtown Creek to the north.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 1 – Western Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 131, 135, 137, 140, 141, 145, 146, 154.
Heinselman, Miron, The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999), 236.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 133-141.
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PADDLING FROM MOUTH OF MUDRO CREEK TO THE LAKES ONLY CAMPSITE
View of Mudro Lake from the west end of the lake, looking east. This is east of the mouth of Mudro Creek.
This is the south shoreline of Mudro Lake near the lakes western end. View is toward to the southeast.
From the mouth of Mudro Creek, you paddle generally on an eastern heading along the southern shore of Mudro Lake. When you are south of the lakes only campsite, you change course and paddle across the lake until you beach at the campsite's landing.
A large log pokes above the surface of Mudro Lake. This is in front of the cliffs found near the middle of the lake, along the south shoreline. You can just make out the only campsite on Mudro Lake, just to the left of the log in the far distance.
The cliffs along the south shore of Mudro Lake. This view is in the springtime.
The cliffs along the south shore of Mudro Lake. This view is in the springtime. Visit the Campsite -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM MUDRO LAKES ONLY CAMPSITE TO THE SANDPIT LAKE PORTAGE
North shore of Mudro Lake looking east, just as your leaving this lakes only campsite.
This short paddling session takes you from the campsite to the eastern end of Mudro Lake, where you find the portage to Sandpit Lake. Portage to Sandpit Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE SANDPIT LAKE PORTAGE TO THE FOURTOWN CREEK PORTAGE
This is a view toward the southwest from just west of the Sandpit Lake portage. View is of the south shore of Mudro Lake.
Hugging the north shoreline of Mudro Lake from the Sandpit Lake portage, until you reach the Fourtown Creek portage (which leads north toward Fourtown Lake). You pass the only campsite on Mudro Lake along your route. Portage to Fourtown Creek -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE FOURTOWN CREEK PORTAGE TO THE MOUTH OF MUDRO CREEK
There were three beaver lodges along the northwest shore of Mudro Lake between the mouth of Mudro Creek and the Fourtown Creek (to Fourtown Lake) portage in 2019.
From the Fourtown Creek portage, paddling along the north shore of Mudro Lake to the west/southwest until you reach the mouth of Mudro Creek. Mudro Creek leads to BWCA Entry Point's 22 and 23 (as well as Picket Lake and Nels Lake beyond).
Looking toward the southwest on Mudro Lake, from near the portage for the first of the series of three portages to Fourtown Lake (along Fourtown Creek). Paddle into Mudro Creek -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
