It's been mostly below zero all week, and I'm going a little stir crazy. Which means looking at maps and planning routes. :) Here's one that seems to work, based on a conservative six hours of travel time a day, all double portaging, with three nights in the wilderness, and leaving early on the fourth day for travel time back home.

Entry is EP57 (Gunflint), exit is EP52 (Round). The entry and exits are close enough for a long walk or a quick bicycle ride.

Day one would be putting in on Gunflint (EP57), heading to Maraboeuf for camp.

Day two would be Maraboeuf, through Saganaga, to Seagull, and camping near the 400 rd portage.

Day three would be 400 rds over the portage to Paulson (ugh!), then stop on Brandt lake for the night.

Day four would be a few hours to Round, and exit.

Thoughts?

They will be longer than 6 hours days.....a couple, much longer.

wow! sounds like a barn-burner of a trip. no fishing time? what time of summer do you plan to do this trip? mid-june would offer more daylight in case it is really windy during the day.
i know there are several board members that can offer insight into that Jap/Paulsen portage on down to brant. more moderate to challenging portages.
to add some excitement you could cut through sag to grampa lake and then seagull.
i guess it would be do-able in 3 nights, just thinking you might be going longer than 6 hours a day.
it is 6 miles from the round lake landing back to the public access on gunflint. tuscarora outfitters probably does shuttles that way for a decent price.

What do you mean, much longer than six?

First day is 10 miles on the water, 323 rods of portage (7 portages).

Second day is 14 miles on the water, 88 rods of portages (3 portages).

Third day is 5 miles on the water, 741 rods of portages (ugh!), (8 portages).

Fourth day is 2 miles on the water, 157 rods of portages (3 portages).

Okay, looking at it again, maybe it is too aggressive.

Maybe 4 or 5 nights instead?

hey now, don't let us "more mature" paddlers discourage you from setting a goal and having an adventurous spirit! pad your trip with extra days and if you finish in your original timeframe then you can surely find something else to do!

I can also get into winter contemplation. There was a time I would have considered such a trip, especially with the lightweight and compact gear I have collected over those years. It would have been a challenge. And I would have hoped for good weather and campsites being open at the end of a long day and a few other things. But I got older and realized the real challenge was not what I could get done, but how much I enjoyed it. I take more time and enjoy the time in a place still pretty much clean and quiet.
Of course you can do it, but is it the best option. Take some winter naps on it and let us know what you finally decide.

I think that it's possible if you are trying to test your endurance.
Total distance: 41.7 miles
Paddling distance: 29.9 miles
Portaging distance (double portaging): 11.9 miles
Paddling time @ 3.2 mph: 9 hours 20 minutes
Portaging time (double portaging) @ 2.0 mph: 5 hours 56 minutes

This doesn't factor in conditions such as wind, rain, muddy portages, beaver dam pullovers, finding portages, etc.