Moose to Basswood Loop

The Moose Lake to Basswood Loop follows a broad arc through some of the largest and most connected waters in the area, beginning and ending at Entry Point 25 (Moose Lake). The route heads north through the Moose Lake chain, reaches the expansive border waters of Basswood Lake, and returns through Wind Lake before reconnecting with the route back to Moose Lake.

The trip begins on the connected waters of Moose, Newfound, and Sucker Lakes, a well-established travel corridor that gradually leads north toward the international border. From there, the route reaches Basswood Lake, one of the largest lakes along the Minnesota–Ontario border and the centerpiece of the loop. Basswood has a long history as part of the voyageur travel corridor and offers broad open-water paddling, island-studded bays, and a varied shoreline of rocky points and forested slopes. A short portage leads away from the border toward Wind Lake, where the water becomes smaller and more sheltered before another carry reconnects with the Moose Lake chain.

This route is a good fit for paddlers comfortable with open-water travel and changing conditions on Basswood's wider reaches. With relatively few portages between the larger lakes, it offers a chance to experience big border-lake scenery without a heavy portage load. Campsites along the route also provide flexibility to adjust daily distances and build the loop around weather, wind, and the pace of your trip.

Route Highlights

• Loop route linking the Moose Lake chain with Basswood Lake
• Open-water paddling on one of the boundary's largest lakes
• Shoreline along the historic voyageur travel corridor
• A popular entry gateway paired with quieter water at Wind Lake
• Flexible camping opportunities for a multi-day loop

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Moose Lake → Basswood Lake

Work north through the connected waters of Moose, Newfound, and Sucker, then take the short portage onto Basswood and paddle out onto its open water. Find a place to settle along the forested shore.

Day 2

Basswood Lake

Spend the day ranging across Basswood, following its island-dotted bays and rocky points. The lake's size leaves room to travel far or stay near camp, depending on the wind and how much you want to explore.

Day 3

Basswood Lake → Moose Lake

Close the loop by carrying into Wind Lake and back onto the Moose Lake chain, then retrace the entry corridor to return to Entry Point 25.