Looking to hike to the stairway portage from HJL. Can a person hike to the portage and back in a day? Also how difficult is this and does a person need a map or is it well marked? Any info on this would be great.
Thanks

Yes... you can do it as a day hike. My wife and I did this a couple of years ago. It's a tough hike.... places where you need to climb up grabbing roots to help yourself get up etc. Lots of ups and downs. You definitely want to have a map and compass. We used Voyaguer Map 9. There are some beautiful overlooks and it's worth the effort it takes to do it.

It took us a lot longer to do it than we thought it would. Based on miles and how long it had taken us to do the Centenial Trial the day before, we thought it would take us about 4 hours. It took us 7 hours to go to the Stairway Portage and back. It's a very windy trail going back and forth up and down.

Bring lots of water and a good lunch. We finished all of our water (2 nalgenes each) by the time we made it to Stairway Portage. It was a good thing I had my Sawyer Mini Filter with so we could refill when we got to the portage. We needed to refill a 2nd time at a little stream before we made it back to the car. This was on an 80 degree and sunny day in August. I wish we would have had a more substantial lunch along. Clif Bars and Jerky didn't keep up our energy enough.

Thank you for your input on this. Where did you get the map? I have been trying to find some but havent been able to find a good one. We were planning on bringing granola bars and packing a sandwich for lunch along with bringing our water filters.

You're welcome. Have fun.

When you get to Grand Marais you could stop at Lake Superior Trading Post which I know carries Voyaguer maps as well as others or you can try Stone Harbor . Most if not all of the outfitters up the Gunflint Trail should have maps also.

Here's the link to voyageur maps which has interactive maps (zoom in and out) that you can use online. Map 9 is the one you want to look at. There is also a link to places that carry them and you could possibly order if you want.

Hey Tyler...... just an FYI.... I was at Lake Superior Trading Post a couple days ago after my bwca trip with my daughter. There is a sign by the remaining Voyageur maps that the company has gone out of business. They didn't have any #9 maps left. But they did have Fisher and McKenzie maps that would help you.

also....... my wife says it was closer to 6 hours round trip...... and we did putz around at the falls by the stairway portage and the overlooks on the BRT for a while.

Do yourself a favor and paddle from Hungry Jack to Duncan. Then, after seeing the falls, you'll still have the energy for the hike west on the BRT to the Rose Lake Cliffs.

schweady: "Do yourself a favor and paddle from Hungry Jack to Duncan. Then, after seeing the falls, you'll still have the energy for the hike west on the BRT to the Rose Lake Cliffs.
"

I've done the trip both ways. Paddle to Rose Falls/Hike some of the BRT w/ little kids (4 and 2) and Hike the Caribou Rock Trail to Rose Falls and back without the kids.

Both are fun and amazing in different ways so it depends on what you are looking for. Paddling is a lot easier and takes up a lot less time. But, there are a lot of cool overlooks on West Bearskin, Moss, and Duncan lakes that you don't see if you paddle instead of hiking the Caribou Rock Trail.

It’s a beautiful hike. Be aware that there are spur trails that may not be on the map. And always carry a map and compass (and know how to use them) when hiking in remote areas.

ducks: "Hey Tyler...... just an FYI.... I was at Lake Superior Trading Post a couple days ago after my bwca trip with my daughter. There is a sign by the remaining Voyageur maps that the company has gone out of business. They didn't have any #9 maps left. But they did have Fisher and McKenzie maps that would help you.

also....... my wife says it was closer to 6 hours round trip...... and we did putz around at the falls by the stairway portage and the overlooks on the BRT for a while."

Hey - i just called Midwest Mountaineering to see what they had in stock, because i was going to get a Voyageur Map for my upcoming Fall trip and they said the company is not out of business and they have plenty of maps...

sorry to hijack the thread!

Hey - i just called Midwest Mountaineering to see what they had in stock, because i was going to get a Voyageur Map for my upcoming Fall trip and they said the company is not out of business and they have plenty of maps...

That's great news! I'll try contacting them again. I'd love to offer them, they sell pretty well. If they are available I'll make sure Eric at Superior Trading Post stocks them as well.