Lac La Croix Expedition
5–7days on the water
A committing northwest expedition up the Moose and Nina Moose rivers to Agnes and the 29,000-acre international-border lake Lac La Croix, home to pictographs and Warrior Hill. The bog-stained river lakes contrast sharply with the clear border water.
- 29,000-acre Lac La Croix on the Canadian border
- Ojibwe rock-art pictographs
- A real multi-day expedition
The route
Lakes on the route are mapped; the entry point is ringed in dark. Toggle the portage layer to see the carries.
The water you'll paddle
| # | Lake | County | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nina Moose Lake | St. Louis | 2 ft |
| 2 | Agnes Lake | St. Louis | 11 ft |
| 3 | Lac la Croix Lake | St. Louis | 8 ft |
Every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury advisory — see eating your catch.
Where to stay for the Lac La Croix Expedition
Base your trip in Ely — outfitters, cabins, and lodging near the Moose/Portage River North.
Top-rated places to stay near Ely
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It's rated advanced and typically takes 5–7 days covering roughly ~35 miles. A committing northwest expedition up the Moose and Nina Moose rivers to Agnes and the 29,000-acre international-border lake Lac La Croix, home to pictographs and Warrior Hill. The bog-stained river lakes contrast sharply with the clear border water.
At Entry Point 16 (Moose/Portage River North), which releases 5 permits per day. Reserve it through Recreation.gov during the May–September quota season.
The lakes on this route, Nina Moose Lake, Agnes Lake, Lac la Croix Lake, have nutrient, algae and clarity readings on record from state and federal monitoring, shown below. Remember that every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury fish-consumption advisory regardless of clarity.