Trail Conditions

The western 15.8 miles of this section are outside of the BWCAW; the eastern 0.2 miles are within the BWCAW.

May 8-11 2025

Day 1-Our crew of 4 cleared 3 miles from Loon Lake Road to Bridal Falls. Cut and cleared 11 trees from the trail, and brushed  all the way out.

Day 2- Three of us cleared from Loon Lake Landing on BRT  to South Rim trail and all the way back to Hestons resort on BRT.  We cut and cleared 28 deadfalls, and brushed the entire section. We also cleared the cut across 1/2 mile trail from west side of Loon Lake road to junction of main BRT trail. We cleared a total of 6 miles.

Day 3- We bolted a new wood  BRT trail sign at Loon Lake Landing.

Approximately 9 total miles of BRT cleared. 

In May 2025, the trail was cleared from Western Terminus to the N Gunflint Lane.

May 2025 - Bryce Breon (N Loon Lake Spur Trail) was cleared from the Loon Lake Landing to the Border route trail. The trail west from this junction back to Loon Lake Landing has down trees crossing the path at various points.

May 2025 - some down trees from Bryce Breon junction to end of Loon Lake - otherwise clear.

In October 2023, a crew cleared from Loon Lake to Bridal Falls, the Cross River Trail, and the Brice-Breon Trail.

May 2023 clearing trips were canceled due to lingering winter conditions. Significant signage work remains to be completed in the congested Gunflint Cliffs area.

In May 2022, deadfalls were cleared in the non-wilderness portion. New signage was also installed from Gunflint Trail to the South Rim, including adding blue blazes on select rock surfaces.

All 14 miles of this section are within the BWCAW.

MAY 2025

Bridal Falls Spur trail is brushy but pretty much free of trees. It will be a carwash when the leave come out.

Bridal Falls to W Crab Lake Spur: Brushy with intermittent big deadfalls from fire trees. Big, but easy walk overs.

From just west of west Crab Lake spur to just east of east Crab Lake spur, intermittent down large trees with at least two pretty significant carwash sections. These will be thick when the leaves come out.

Mucker Lake area: From just W of Mucker to just E of Mucker, there is a lot of work needed due to a blow down in this area. It was easy to find the trail and walk around, but this area needs work.

There is also a huge white pine across the trail just W of the Creek crossing.

The spur to Partridge Lake Camp was almost tree free. The spur is getting brushy and could use some lopper work.

Stairway Portage to the east, there were a couple of carwash areas that will be thick when the leaves come out.

On the ridge beginning around overlook *V18 on the BRT map, there is a severe blowdown that starts on the ridge and goes downhill as you are heading east, descending towards Rose Lake W camp. We put the saws away and picked our way through this area. We did not have problems finding the trail, but this area is a mess with a lot of big trees.

W Rose camp to E Rose Camp: Medium/high level downed trees in terms of frequency.

I do not recall any huge trees. Easy to stay on the trail. Also: Carwash area from about V5 to V8 on the BRT map.

2023

A small volunteer crew cleared brush and over 10 deadfalls between Sock Lake and Topper Lake campsites in September 2023. The spur trail to Sock Lake campsite was also mostly cleared.

Trail crews cleared between Crab Lake Cutoff Trail and Sock Lake Campsite Spur as well as between South Lake Trail and Stairway Portage in May 2023.

Conditions to be aware of:

• Crab Lake area: Heavy brush for a couple short stretches in this area.

• Topper Lake Cutoff (Mucker Lake Trail) to Sock Lake Campsite Spur (0.65 miles): Heavy brush for a couple short stretches; 2 large leaning trees and 1 large stepover.

• Mucker Lake flow: Flooding may occur due to spring melt or after heavy rains. A large tree 100 yards upstream can be used if rock hopping is not possible; cross at your own risk.

• About 0.75 miles west of Stairway Portage: Flooding may occur at a shallow saucer pond due to spring melt. Tree debris on the south side of the trail can be used for crossing.

• Long Portage about 0.5 miles west of Daniels Lake Spur: The trail is flooded at a beaver pond for about 150 yards. Deepest depth was about two feet in August 2022; water levels will be higher after spring melt or heavy rains. The footpath underneath is solid and mostly flat.

The western 22.1 miles are within the BWCAW; the eastern 0.8 mile is outside the BWCAW.

15 - 18 MAY 2025

We found the main trail in great shape.  Most of our time was cutting back encroaching brush.  We cut about five 3-4” trees.  We worked east 2 miles until we found signs of recent work.  The trees that were down had fresh cuts so we returned to camp.  3 and 1/2 hours worked.  Retired early because of the cold.  It rained most of the night.

5/17/2025

We cleared the spur.  Lots of encroaching brush and cut our biggest tree of the trip at 5” diameter.  We left a 25” tree, it was hung up and too dangerous for us to tackle, plus a trail was already established around the fallen tree.  We gained the main trail and headed west.  There were very few trees down, about 4, all 4” diameters.  Spent a lot of time on brushing.  About half way thru Rove Lake we found a blowdown of about 100’ that someone had been working on.  They had it nicely cleared so we stopped at that point and returned to camp.  Worked 61/2 hours.  We had a rain free evening and Jim got another toasty fire going.  Bed by 9 with all the extra clothes I had.  Sleet started about midnight.

5/18/2025

We woke up to snow on Sunday morning.  Broke camp and paddled back to Clearwater Lodge in snow. 

2025 MAY -

The Daniels Lake spur is excellent. There are some down trees, but nothing significant. Much drier than last year.

In early fall 2023, a crew from the Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa cleared starting at the Pine Ridge Campsite heading westward, ending about halfway between the Pine/West Pike Lake Portage and Gogebic Lake. A scouting report in September 2023 counted 64 deadfalls between the Daniels Lake Trail Spur and the eastern terminus, with the worst above Clearwater Lake.

Trail crews cleared between McFarland/East Pike Lakes Portage and McFarland Lake Campground in May 2023.

The October 2021 tornado damage to the Clearwater Lake area was cleared and the trail was open to hiking as of June 2022.

Conditions to be aware of:

• Tornado damage area (1.3 miles): There are multiple trees needing to be cleared west of and to the Mountain/Clearwater Lakes Portage.

• South of Gogebic Lake: The trail crosses over a beaver dam. In wet periods, the pond leaks around the east end.

• Gogebic Campsite to V31 (2 miles): Medium to heavy brush.

All 12.3 miles in this section are outside of the BWCAW.

MAY 2025

One of the paramount decisions around this trip was the decision to proceed. The three forest fires in northeast Minnesota and dry conditions were of a major concern.  We felt with the forecast of rain and cooler temperatures we could proceed with the trip. It did rain Thursday night and it got cooler. It rained Friday night also. By Sunday morning, it was 30 degrees, snowing and raining.

Team members: Day 1- 6, Day 2 - 9

The McFarland Lake campground is primitive with 5 campsites, fire rings, one vault toilet, and 2 picnic tables. There are no garbage facilities. You must also bring your own water unless you want to filter water out of the lake. There is lake access and a dock. This is a great location to access the Border Route Trail and the Boundary Waters.

Our crew of 6 updated the kiosk at McFarland Lake. The crew then proceeded onto the Border Route Trail and headed east. The work of heavy brushing, clearing of deadfalls, lopping limbs, blazing, and carrying equipment.

On Day 2 two groups drove to South Fowl Lake. The team worked their way west on the trail along the Pigeon River with the goal of meeting up with the first group. This is called a pincer movement. Heavy brushing with brush cutters, deadfall clearing and lopping were done by both teams.

Day 3- We woke up to snow and ice on our tents. Snow covering the picnic table. The light fluffy stuff alternating with rain and 30 degrees temperatures. The weather report was for these conditions to continue until noon. (This was to be a half day).  After discussion and reviewing the pros and cons with the team, the decision was made to cancel the work for this day.

The kiosk on the Eastern Terminus was updated. We also met a driver for Superior By Nature dropping off a section hiker for the SHT here.

MAY 2024

We cleared from the Eastern trailhead to Otter Lake Junction and exited out there. Saturday cleared from Otter Lake access trail and installed signage for BRT/NCT. Cleared approximately to 1/2 mile past Stump River.

McFarland trailhead and proceeded east to Superior National Forest access road.

Basic deadfall sweep, brush cutting with loppers, blue blazes and carsonite sign post installation.

Trail crews cleared most of this section in May 2023; about 2 miles from Stump River to Otter Lake Trail Access were not cleared. Several new carsonite sign posts and North Country Trail/Border Route Trail signs were installed at the bridge by McFarland Lake Campground heading westbound. Kiosks at McFarland Lake Campground and the eastern terminus were also updated with entirely new information and map copies.

Bridges at Portage Brook and Stump River are each limited to two people at a time. Both bridges were repaired in August 2022 after sustaining significant damage from spring 2022 flooding (see May 2022 report).

MAY 2024

The portion of the South Lake Trail from Rockwood Lodge to the BWCA border is in fair condition. There remains one fallen tree just after the Geological Survey marker where the trail reconnects to the original trail.

The portion of the BRT East of the intersection with the South Lake Trail and west of the intersection with the East Partridge Lake campsite trail has not been cleared in a number of years and that is very evident in the level of brush encroaching on the trail.

The portion of the BRT west of Stairway Portage to the intersection with the East Partridge Lake campsite trail and the campsite trail are clear