BWCAW Quota Permit — Moose/Portage River North (EP16)

Moose/Portage River North (EP16): what makes it different

EP16 is the Echo Trail entry for Nina Moose Lake and Lake Agnes. A 160-rod portage puts you on the Moose River, and a slow, beaver-dammed paddle of about 2.5 miles carries you to Nina Moose Lake. It is the north-of-the-road entry; Moose River South is a separate permit.^1,2,3

Getting to the start

The Forest Service and Rec.gov both list EP16 as overnight paddle only in the LaCroix District, with a 160-rod portage heading north from the Echo Trail to the Moose River. The permit is for travel north of the Echo Trail.^1,2

BWCA Wild describes the drive as about 33 miles west of Ely on the Echo Trail, the last 23 of them on the Echo Trail itself, then a right turn onto Forest Road 206. The large lot is about a mile down that road, and a sign on the Echo Trail shows 1 mile to the entry point when heading west.³

The access road is wide enough for two cars to pass. There is a restroom at the access area, and the page calls it a busy entry point.³

The first leg

The portage starts at the bulletin board. It goes right, and the car loading area is to the left. BWCA Wild measured 152 rods, just under half a mile, and calls it long but easy. The landing on the Moose River is a small sandy beach.^3,4

A summer 2001 report on Quiet Journey rated the 160-rod carry easy: a wide path that runs slightly downhill. It added that the river water is very dark, likely from iron ore, and that coming back out means paddling against the current and possibly the wind.⁵

From the landing it is about 2.5 miles of river to Nina Moose Lake, with two short portages and nearly always a couple of beaver dams to lift over. No portage is needed to paddle into Nina Moose.⁴

Terrain and difficulty

The Moose River is about 12.4 miles long from Big Moose Lake to Nina Moose Lake and drops from 1,393 to 1,255 feet. The north route from this entry is the short, used stretch. The middle section upstream is unmaintained and likely holds beaver dams and downed trees.⁴

The Portage River is also legal from this lot. BWCA Wild says there are at least 10 sets of rapids or blocked spots between the Echo Trail and Nina Moose, none of it maintained by the Forest Service, and that most groups use the Moose River instead.^3,4

Water level matters a lot on the river. A fall 2001 report at low water called it a narrow, winding creek of rocks, shallow sandbars and flood debris, with willows and steep mud banks. The writer found it more chore than relaxing paddle.⁶

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at Moose/Portage River North (EP16), overnight paddle: 5 groups a day. This was the most common daily total on Rec.gov in May and June 2026 and early July. Dates from July 10 on read zero when checked, so the figure does not describe late summer. BWCA Wild prints 5 in its header and 7 in its text.^2,3

Rules specific to this entry point

Rec.gov notes the permit is for travel north of the Echo Trail. A party that wants the Moose River south of the road uses EP8 instead.^2,1

Where it leads

Most groups use the Moose River and end at Nina Moose Lake. BWCA Wild says Nina Moose and Lake Agnes draw most campers on this route, and on summer weekends there will likely be many people at the access.^3,4

Friends of the Boundary Waters starts a five-day, 35-mile Agnes, Iron and Stuart loop here. Nina Moose Lake makes a good first camp, but its popular sites may be taken. The route is rated challenging, with 22 portages totalling about 1,822 rods, the longest 288 rods.⁸

Lake Agnes is a major paddling junction. BWCA Wild notes a quieter way there through Lamb and Ramshead lakes, with some hefty portages.³

What trip reports say

Tom Kendall's fall 2001 report at low water describes the Moose River stretch as really two or three short carries of about 10 to 30 rods, with muddy take-outs and put-ins. A strong current often pushed the canoe off course. He managed it solo from the stern of a large tandem canoe.⁶

Hivernaut's summer 2003 report at average water found each carry manageable, but there were many, and low water made them harder. On the way out the group had to walk and pull their canoes over several sandbars, and had trouble finding a good place to unload at the last landing before the long uphill carry to the lot. The advice was to have a ride waiting.⁷

BWCA Wild's September 2020 visit adds that you can cross the Portage River about 2 miles east of the access road turnoff at a bridge. The pullout there is not a long-term parking area, so you need a drop-off arrangement.³

When to go from here

Water level decides how the river feels. The fall 2001 Quiet Journey report that complains of sandbars, mud and debris was written at low water, and the summer 2003 writer said low water makes the many carries harder.^6,7

The lot is busiest on summer weekends, according to BWCA Wild, and Nina Moose sites go early.^3,8

Compare with nearby entry points

• Moose River South (EP8): Moose River South (EP8) is the canoe landing south of the Echo Trail, with three portages into Big Moose Lake. BWCA Wild says the south route allows one permit per day and most groups camp on Big Moose. EP16 goes north to Nina Moose.^1,4
• Little Indian Sioux River North (EP14): Little Indian Sioux River North (EP14) is a 40-rod portage north from the Echo Trail. EP16 is a 160-rod portage to a different river.¹
• Little Indian Sioux River South (EP9): Little Indian Sioux River South (EP9) heads south from the Echo Trail and the Forest Service calls it difficult, with four portages to Bootleg Lake. EP16 heads north to Nina Moose.¹

Sources

1. Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permit, Moose/Portage River North division, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
3. Entry Point 16 - Moose/Portage River North, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
4. Moose River, BWCA Wild. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Entry #16 to Moose River, Quiet Journey portage database. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Nina Moose to Moose River (Tom Kendall, fall 2001), Quiet Journey portage database. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Nina Moose to Moose River (Hivernaut, summer 2003), Quiet Journey portage database. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Agnes, Iron, Stuart Loop, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits, Superior National Forest, USDA Forest Service. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a Moose/Portage River North (EP16) permit