Stuart Lake/Nina Moose Lake Area

Overlay #12 in the BWCA

There are seven entry points on this map. In general, these entry points have relatively low daily quotas and/or long portages. Except for Big Lake and the Sioux Hustler Trail, all are rivers. The Big Lake entry point requires a long paddle across a large open lake and then long portages after that. Therefore if you seek solitude, this is a good area for you but you will have to really work for it.

The Big Lake entry point (Entry Point #7) is across the road from Entry Point 19 - Stuart River. Big Lake involves paddling to the southwest corner of the lake and portaging to Duck Lake. From Duck Lake, it is another mile and a half portage out to Big Moose Lake.

Entry Point 8 - Moose/Portage River South requires a long paddle down to Big Moose Lake. Big Moose Lake is a big lake. It also requires big portages to get beyond it. (Note, that the McKenzie 12 map incorrectly labels this as Entry Point 16 on some maps.)

Another river route that provides good chances to see wildlife, an impressive waterfall and some of the most remote areas of the BWCA is begun at Entry Point 9 - Little Indian Sioux South. Along this route you can follow the Little Pony River down to Bootleg Lake, or head farther south along the Little Indian Sioux River. Farther south there are route options to head over into the Trout Lake area. If you want to stay with the Little Indian Sioux River, it goes all the way over to Otter Lake and Cummings Lake.

There used to be a campground in the area of the Little Indian Sioux entry points. This was the Sioux River Campground. It is not there anymore but it appears on any maps.

Entry Point 14 - Little Indian Sioux North is another river route that leads directly to Upper Pauness Lake. Beyond is Loon Lake and Lac La Croix along the Canadian Border.

If you want to hike this area rather than canoe it, the Sioux Hustler Trail (SHT) is also in this area. This is Entry Point 15. The SHT generally follows the Little Indian Sioux River to the northwest. At Lower Pauness Lake (about four miles from the trailhead), it splits going left or right. Either way will get you back to this spot as the SHT makes a giant loop of roughly 25 miles. Notable points of interest along the way are the Devil's Cascade just north of Lower Pauness Lake, the Three Sentinels (massive pine trees), Shell Lake and Emerald Lake. Check out this Map of the Sioux Hustler Trail provided by the U.S. Forest Service.

Moose/Portage River North (Entry Point 16) gets you moving in the direction of Nina Moose Lake. This is the best entry point in the area as far as flexible route options go.

Entry Point 19 - Stuart River is a mile and a half walk. It is along a very good portage trail to the shore of the Stuart River. If you go this route you want to get a fairly early start. There are no campsites until you reach Stuart Lake. The exception to this is if you have a Sundial Lake Primitive Management Area permit. This would allow you to camp on White Feather Lake. Note that low water levels makes getting into White Feather Lake very difficult.

The following major lakes (and many other minor lakes) are shown on the McKenzie(TM) #12 (Moose River) Map:

Agnes Lake
Baldpate Lake
Big Lake
Boulder River
Duck Lake
Heritage Lake
Hustler Lake
Iron Lake
Lac La Croix
Little Indian Sioux River
Lynx Lake
Nina Moose Lake
Oyster Lake
Portage River
Rush Lake
Shell Lake
Sterling Lake
Stuart Lake
Stuart River
White Feather Lake