Border Route Trail - Official Home Page

The Border Route Trail is a 65-mile long hiking trail in the northeast of Minnesota. The footpath follows the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, and traverses the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for approximately 40 miles. It connects with the Superior Hiking Trail on its eastern terminus and with the Kekekabic Trail on its western end at the Gunflint Trail (Cook Cty. Road 12). In addition to the eastern and western termini, the Border Route Trail can be accessed through several spur and connecting trails, allowing for hiking trips ranging from short day-hikes to multiday backpacking expeditions. On these pages, you will find information for planning your hiking trip on the Border Route Trail: BWCA regulations, outfitters, trail heads and announcements of upcoming trail clearing events on the Border Route Trail.

The Border Route Trail Association was incorporated in 2004 to coordinate the maintenance and increase public awareness of the trail. The National Park Service is currently pursuing a re-route in northern Minnesota which would include the Border Route Trail into the North Country Trail

The trail was planned and built in the early 1970's by the Minnesota Rovers Outing Club with the help of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service. It is the first long-distance, wilderness backpacking trail constructed in Minnesota.