Moose River - LLC - Oyster - September 2025
by Pete2Paddle
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
09/14/2025
Entry & Exit Point:
Moose/Portage River (north) (EP 16)
Number of Days:
8
Group Size:
2
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (5 messages)
Day 8 of 8
Day 8 - Saturday - Back to the Car - Back Home
Another breakfast of Coffee and cereal bars and we were on the water by 8. The weather report from my Garmin inReach predicted off and on showers all day. We were prepared for a long travel day. Unfortunately, it didn't start well. We paddled straight across Oyster to the campsite we checked out the day before and then followed the shore east looking for the portage. It's possible we were under-caffeinated... but we didn't see it at all. We were hoping to make good time but lost a good 15-20 minutes searching. The first portage is pretty easy (once you find it) and the paddle down the Oyster River is easy going.
My navigation skills came back to me because I knew we were getting close to the second portage but the open water between the tall grass wasn't anywhere near solid ground. I was on alert and thankfully saw the narrow opening in the reeds heading towards shore. If I would have been distracted by a bird or something for even 3 seconds, I would have missed it! The next portage is the long one with gradual climb out of the oyster river-valley. We also had a downed tree across the path that we had to shimmy under / over. My shoulders were aching pretty good by the time I made it to Agnes.
We started to see groups of people again as we made our way along the river between Agnes and Nina Moose. By this point in the trip, we are a well-oiled portaging machine, using that efficiency to pass a few groups. We lost a little bit of time after crossing Nina Moose Lake because the entrance to the river was lost among the wild rice. Thankfully, a chatty group of paddlers were making their way north onto the lake and revealed the entrance. A new first sighting for me was a person using one of those 'fold-up-kayaks'! I've seen videos of them, but I can't imagine trusting it on a multi-day BW trip with all the rocks and hazards that could damage it.
The Moose River is always harder as you head out. You never seem to realize how much you benefit from the current on the way in... but you definitely notice the difference on the way out. Lots of beaver dams as usual, but the travel was smooth with only a few sprinkles and never a full-fledged rain shower. The last portage to the car is always bittersweet. Leaving such an amazing place is hard to do. I always put a few beers in a cooler loaded with ice to boost my motivation for those last few steps.
Another breakfast of Coffee and cereal bars and we were on the water by 8. The weather report from my Garmin inReach predicted off and on showers all day. We were prepared for a long travel day. Unfortunately, it didn't start well. We paddled straight across Oyster to the campsite we checked out the day before and then followed the shore east looking for the portage. It's possible we were under-caffeinated... but we didn't see it at all. We were hoping to make good time but lost a good 15-20 minutes searching. The first portage is pretty easy (once you find it) and the paddle down the Oyster River is easy going.
My navigation skills came back to me because I knew we were getting close to the second portage but the open water between the tall grass wasn't anywhere near solid ground. I was on alert and thankfully saw the narrow opening in the reeds heading towards shore. If I would have been distracted by a bird or something for even 3 seconds, I would have missed it! The next portage is the long one with gradual climb out of the oyster river-valley. We also had a downed tree across the path that we had to shimmy under / over. My shoulders were aching pretty good by the time I made it to Agnes.
We started to see groups of people again as we made our way along the river between Agnes and Nina Moose. By this point in the trip, we are a well-oiled portaging machine, using that efficiency to pass a few groups. We lost a little bit of time after crossing Nina Moose Lake because the entrance to the river was lost among the wild rice. Thankfully, a chatty group of paddlers were making their way north onto the lake and revealed the entrance. A new first sighting for me was a person using one of those 'fold-up-kayaks'! I've seen videos of them, but I can't imagine trusting it on a multi-day BW trip with all the rocks and hazards that could damage it.
The Moose River is always harder as you head out. You never seem to realize how much you benefit from the current on the way in... but you definitely notice the difference on the way out. Lots of beaver dams as usual, but the travel was smooth with only a few sprinkles and never a full-fledged rain shower. The last portage to the car is always bittersweet. Leaving such an amazing place is hard to do. I always put a few beers in a cooler loaded with ice to boost my motivation for those last few steps.
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