BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
October 14 2025
Entry Point 52 - Brant Lake
Brant Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 45 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Round Lake with an 85- and a 35-rod portage to Brant Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.
Number of Permits per Day: 4
Elevation: 1500 feet
Latitude: 48.0692
Longitude: -90.8455
Brant to Tuscarora via Little Sag Route:
Round
Brant
Bat - Mud
Gillis - burn area is evident:
French
Peter - first lake trout:
Virgin
Little Sag - green trees again!
Mora - gorgeous divide of burn and green
Crooked
Owl
Tuscarora - second lake trout!
Missing Link - with lighter food pack, the portage is OK
Round
Number of Permits per Day: 4
Elevation: 1500 feet
Latitude: 48.0692
Longitude: -90.8455
Brant to Tuscarora via Little Sag Route:
Round
Brant
Bat - Mud
Gillis - burn area is evident:
French
Peter - first lake trout:
Virgin
Little Sag - green trees again!
Mora - gorgeous divide of burn and green
Crooked
Owl
Tuscarora - second lake trout!
Missing Link - with lighter food pack, the portage is OK
Round
Granite river
by Schacich
Trip Report
Entry Date:
September 01, 2016
Entry Point:
Magnetic Lake
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
4
Trip Introduction:
We were attempting a 3 1/2 day trip from Gunflint lake to Saganaga. Grandpa has 56 years of BWCA canoeing experience. We found the portages difficult to find. A tree was covering pine portage. We camped on Clove Lake. We portaged over what appeared to be a dry river bed where there should normally be a Rapids. Then we were looking for swamp portage. The water level seemed very low and we couldn't find a credible portage. Not knowing the route well, we were concerned about going further, so decided to go back out the way we came. It was a hard decision for Grandpa who has never in 56 years failed to finish a trip. However given the age and strength of the group it was the right decision. Working our way back across the same portages and up the rapids was a bit of a challenge and strong winds from the south on Magnetic & Gunflint lake was a tough finish. Grandpa did a great job with his 80 pound granddaughter! We are still wondering where we went wrong or if a fast drop in the water level made this highly touted trip more difficult. Any thoughts?
Report
Thursday, September 01, 2016
discuss this trip report (6 comments) - last post on September 19, 2016