thanks in advance to anyone that has paddled the Horse River-Grassy Lake-Fenske Lake route recently and can give a river navigability report

we are planning to paddle the border from Rainy back to Lower Basswood Falls then up the Horse River to Horse Lake, Range Lake, and the rivers to Grassy and on to Fenske. Can anyone report on the rivers -- my lovely bride and I paddled this route easily (as far as the water level in the rivers was concerned) but that was 35 years ago.

thanks for your replies

wes

I paddled the portion from the Range River a bit north of Low Lake, up Grassy Creek to Grassy Lake, and then through the various lakes to Fenske last summer. This route is easily navigable and very pleasant.

From Horse Lake going south, it's easy to get to Range Lake. The portages between Tin Can Mike and Sandpit and then between Sandpit and Range Lake are pretty long, but flat since they follow the old railroad right of way. And there are the awesome boulders alongside the Sandpit-Range portage to enjoy. The only part I have not done is from Range Lake going upstream on the Range River until you turn up Grassy Creek to go Grassy Lake. However, I am fairly sure this is also clear sailing.

Enjoy.

If water levels are low the only real hassle will be Grassy Creek and the entry bay on Grassy Lake. It's not that they become impossible to paddle, you just face a lot of friction from the lilly pads and sort of thick water. I paddled most of this route last summer.

I just paddled the Horse River down to Lower Basswood Falls last week. Good water levels, even a little higher than last time I was through there in spring 2011.