Portagr
BWCA routesMudro to Gun Lake Loop
Canoe route Β· KAWISHIWILoopModerate

Mudro to Gun Lake Loop

Starts at EP 23 Mudro Lake

3–5 days
Duration
Moderate
Difficulty
20 mi
Total distance
17 mi
Paddling
17
Portages Β· 962 rods

About this route

Mudro to Gun Lake Loop

Overview

The Mudro to Gun Lake Loop begins and ends at Entry Point 23 on Mudro Lake, a put-in reached by its own short portage from the parking area. From there the route works north and east through Sandpit, Tin Can Mike, and Horse Lakes before turning onto Fourtown Lake, then threads west through Boot and Fairy Lakes to reach Gun Lake, the loop's turnaround, before retracing the same corridor back to Mudro.

The lakes along the way are a mix of small, forested interior water and the more open crossing on Fourtown Lake, joined by a run of short-to-moderate portages with one longer carry between Sandpit and Tin Can Mike Lakes standing out from the rest. Gun Lake sits at the far end of a longer travel corridor that continues on toward Thunder and Iron Lakes for parties going further, but it's a real stopping point in its own right, with its own campsites rather than just a waypoint passed through.

This is a trip suited to groups comfortable with a steady rhythm of paddling and portaging rather than long stretches of open water. The portage count adds up over a multi-day trip even though no single carry beyond the Sandpit crossing demands much technical skill, and the spread of lakes along the loop leaves room to set a daily pace that fits the group.

Route Highlights

  • A loop that crosses both Fourtown Lake's open water and the tighter chain of small lakes between Boot and Gun
  • The longest carry of the trip, between Sandpit and Tin Can Mike Lakes
  • Gun Lake as a real destination in its own right, not just a junction on the longer corridor toward Thunder and Iron Lakes

Updated September 9, 2026

Suggested itinerary

3 days at a steady pace.

1

Mudro Lake β†’ Horse Lake

Portage off Mudro and work through Sandpit and Tin Can Mike, crossing the trip's longest carry before reaching Horse Lake for camp.

2

Horse Lake β†’ Gun Lake

Cross onto Fourtown Lake's open water, then thread west through Boot and Fairy Lakes to reach Gun Lake for a second night.

3

Gun Lake β†’ Mudro Lake

Retrace the route back through Fairy, Boot, and Fourtown, then close the loop through Tin Can Mike and Sandpit to the Entry Point 23 landing.

The portages

17 carries, 962 rods total.

PortageRodsClimb
Sandpit Lake β†’ Tin Can Mike Lake
difficult
184+89 ft
Fourtown Lake β†’ Mudro Lakecarry 2 of 3
moderate
117β€”
Mudro Lake β†’ Sandpit Lake
moderate
98+102 ft
Tin Can Mike Lake β†’ Horse Lake
moderate
88+45 ft
Horse Lake β†’ Fourtown Lakecarry 1 of 3
moderate
80+46 ft
Fairy Lake β†’ Gun Lake
moderate
60+10 ft
Gun Lake β†’ Fairy Lake
moderate
60+4 ft
Fourtown Lake β†’ Boot Lake
moderate
48+26 ft
Boot Lake β†’ Fourtown Lake
moderate
48+30 ft
Mudro Lake portage
moderate
37β€”
Mudro Lake portage
moderate
37β€”
Fourtown Lake β†’ Mudro Lakecarry 3 of 3
moderate
29+49 ft
Boot Lake β†’ Fairy Lake
easy
21+0 ft
Fairy Lake β†’ Boot Lake
easy
21+29 ft
Fourtown Lake β†’ Mudro Lakecarry 1 of 3
easy
20+43 ft
Horse Lake β†’ Fourtown Lakecarry 2 of 3
easy
11β€”
Horse Lake β†’ Fourtown Lakecarry 3 of 3
moderate
3+0 ft

Lakes on this route

8 lakes, 40 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.

LakeDepthSizeCampsitesFish species
Mudro Lake76 ft94 ac1burbotcisco speciesnorthern pikesmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite sucker
Sandpit Lake53 ft61 ac1bluegillnorthern pikerock basssmallmouth basswalleyewhite suckeryellow perch
Tin Can Mike Lake29 ft145 ac3bluegilllargemouth bassnorthern pikerock basswalleyeyellow perch
Horse Lake25 ft715 ac7β€”
Fourtown Lake25 ft1,162 ac16β€”
Boot Lake27 ft323 ac5β€”
Fairy Lake19 ft109 ac2β€”
Gun Lake (2)57 ft341 ac5β€”

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