Hey Everyone,
I've been lucky enough to have been going to the BWCA for 7 years now since moving to MN.... and I can't wait to go back this year. For the last 6 years my buddies and I have entered the BWCA on the Ely side. We decided to try something new this year and go on the Gunflint side. We got a permit for Morgan Lake. I am hoping some of you do this same type of trip as we have planned and can offer some logistical advice. I thought I would give you a summary of our plan of attack to be better held us with our trip planning.

Our permit is for entry on Thursday May 16. So not to use up too much vacation, we are leaving St Paul on Wednesday May 15 after work. I am hoping to leave the cities by 3pm. So here is my first question... where do you suggest we stay the night before our trip? We don't need to be at our entry point SUPER early on Thursday. Would you suggest we stay at one of the lodges on the Gunflint? Or a hotel in Grand Marais? There are 5 of us going (maybe 4 since one guy always seems to back out). We are totally fine with cheap, no frills accommodations. Keep in mind that we will not get to the Grand Marais area until around 8pm, nor the Gunflint Trail lodges until 9pm.

The next question is canoe rental. It would be best if we could rent canoes close to our entry point, but we are open to other ideas. I think Hungry Jack outfitters is the closest place to our entry point. We do like to get Kevlar canoes and are willing to pay a few bucks more for the option.

Lastly, bait... whether we go with leaches or worms, we need to find them somewhere... do you have any suggestions as to when/where to get them?

Thank you in advance for your help. To summarize, I'm curious what some of you folks would do if you left the twin cities the night before your trip and had to pick a place to stay and a place to rent canoes.... and get bait

thank you!!!

We did a trip through Morgan a few years back. Trip report

Most outfitters will be able to set you up with your requests including a bunkhouse. You mentioned Hungry Jack, here are some others .

Honeymoon bluff is a nice side trip before or after the trip.

....as is Clearwater Lodge .

I'm a huge fan of Rockwood for equipment rental, canoe rental, and their bunkhouse.

My first thought was rent canoes at Sawtooth in Tofte and stay in Grand Marais. That would get you in a room earlier and avoid backtracking.

BUT you won't get to Tofte until after Sawtooth is closed and it wouldn't work to go back there in the morning.

Your best bet would be to stay at Rockwood or Hungry Jack and rent canoes there first thing in the morning. I have no experience with Hungry Jack, but have stayed at Rockwood several times over the years.

One year I had them shuttle me to Cross Bay entry and paddled back through Lizz to Poplar, where Rockwood is located. You might want to explore the idea of doing the same with Morgan entry.

What boonie suggested.
Try to get your entry permit issued the day or afternoon before your entry date. Saves time and one less thing to do on entry day.
Rockwood Outfitters on Poplar Lake, Hungry Jack Outfitters, and Bearskin Lodge are businesses up the Gunflint that issue permits and rent equipment. There are more further up the Gunflint Trail but I have not used them.
The drive to Morgan Lake Entry Point from Rockwood Outiffers is quite doable and driven in a reasonable amount of time. Don't drive crazy on those loose gravel backroads. Ya never know if a moose or wolf may be crossing or standing in the road. ;-) Poplar Lake can be a busy entrance lake. Just sayin.......
Early start!
While you guys are scouting the Gunflint Trail don't miss eating at The
Trail Center on Poplar Lake. The restaurant section offers tasty, affordable and generous servings. Satisfaction for the palate & belly. Too many good things to recommend one dish. Also, individual and groups packaged camping foods (rehydrate) are sold in the entrance/store section.

Most outfitters can help you with all of the above, including leeches. Reserve a bunkhouse, (most sleep at least 6, if not 8), and ask about leeches and crawlers, most should have them.

Buy your leeches at Bucks in Grand Marais (call ahead for availability) and keep in cooler. Drive up to Rockwood. If it's 9, call ahead and make the arrangements to find your bunkhouse.....the outfitters let people in late all the time. Get your permit and canoes first thing in morning whether you self load or have them shuttle you down to Morgan. Just make sure you switch your permit pick up location.

tip: top off your gas tank in Grand Marais before you head up the Gunflint. Fuel gets more scarce & pricey further up the Gunflint Trail.

boonie: "My first thought was rent canoes at Sawtooth in Tofte and stay in Grand Marais. That would get you in a room earlier and avoid backtracking.

BUT you won't get to Tofte until after Sawtooth is closed and it wouldn't work to go back there in the morning.

Your best bet would be to stay at Rockwood or Hungry Jack and rent canoes there first thing in the morning. I have no experience with Hungry Jack, but have stayed at Rockwood several times over the years.

One year I had them shuttle me to Cross Bay entry and paddled back through Lizz to Poplar, where Rockwood is located. You might want to explore the idea of doing the same with Morgan entry."

I'm doing this trip in August( Cross Bay -Poplar). If my son isn't available to shuttle me, then I'm using Rockwood. If you use one of their bunk houses you can leave your car for free. Other wise I think it's $5 a day. They seem like good folks

Do a bunkhouse. Rockwood is good. Clearwater Lodge is worth seeing, too, and has a very nice breakfast. You could get a kevlar from either. Give them a call and they can talk you through it.

Bait is spotty up there, I find. Stop at Fish Lake Bait at the Harris exit on I-35 and you'll typically get better bait at a better price.

Get a burger at the Poplar Haus.

I would get your bait at Bucks in Grand Marais. but you might have to stop closer to Duluth since Bucks might be closed.

Then, I would pick an outfitter close to your entry point. They will have a bunkhouse and are quite used to folks arriving late. IMHO, sleeping in a bunkhouse is part of the fun.

Then you will be ready to go pretty early the next morning... Just change your permit pickup location.

Northwoodsman: "I'm a huge fan of Rockwood for equipment rental, canoe rental, and their bunkhouse."

We always use Rockwood in that area unless we go in EP 55.

We stay at Rockwood Bunkhouse every year. We get in after 9 or 10 pm most years, and leave at 5 am. They just leave us a note at the front door,telling us which bunk we're in, and we leave them cash in a envelope. It's no frills, but inexpensive, and each bunkhouse has a toilet and shower. You'll want to have your sleeping bags accessible, or bring blankets and pillows from home.

Mike and Carl will take good care of you.

We often pick up our permits from the Duluth Pack in Canal Park in Duluth, by Grandma's. We stop in that area for dinner, and pick up the permits, that way we have them out of the way the night before.

I usually buy my leeches in the twin cities. They get picked over in Grand Marais, and don't seem to be very big.

I like "Vados". They separate their leeches by hand into various size classes.

7895 Highway 65 NE
Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
Phone: 763-784-6728

Trail Center Lodge / Resturant on the Gunflint Trail, about 1/2 way hence the name, has a "Motel 3" that sleeps five. Across the road from the restaurant. Basic but clean and comfortable. Nice Folks.

lundojam: "Do a bunkhouse. Rockwood is good. Clearwater Lodge is worth seeing, too, and has a very nice breakfast. You could get a kevlar from either. Give them a call and they can talk you through it.


Bait is spotty up there, I find. Stop at Fish Lake Bait at the Harris exit on I-35 and you'll typically get better bait at a better price.


Get a burger at the Poplar Haus."

We have used both Clearwater and Rockwood. Their bunkhouses are good enough to get you through one night. I really liked Clearwater's Lodge.

Enjoy the Morgan Lake portage. It will make you work.

Easiest and most convenient option would be to use Rockwood to stay at their bunkhouse, rent canoes from them, leave your vehicle at their place , have them shuttle you to the Morgan EP, exit through Lizz, and paddle accross Poplar to finish your trip at Rockwood.

That's what I did for my solo in early May a few years ago. As stated by others... Rockwood is great to work with.

Surprised that no one has suggested getting your bait at the Ugly Baby bait shop. It is located near the Hungry Jack turn off and close to the Trail Center restaurant. I am not recommending the place, but it is all in very close proximity. The owner lived right at the shop and it shouldn't be a problem getting service. I don't know the current status, but you can likely find info on the BWCA site. The owners daughter waited on us last Summer when we ate at the Trail Center. You might want to try fishing Squint Lake, which is just a short carry over off the Gunflint Trail and close to the bait shop. It is more like a large pond with lots of vegetation. We did very well there on walleye, a number of years ago, while staying at the Hungry Jack Lodge.

My daughters and I have camped up Gunflint many times. We drive from Illinois most of the night and crash in the car at a rest stop. A hotel would be a luxury! But if I were you, I'd stay in Grand Marais. You want to drive Gunflint for the first time in the light so you can see it. There are some cheaper hotels if you book now, especially for May.

Kevlar canoes are about the same price wherever you go, so I'd just get them from the outfitter on the morning you leave. I don't have the funds to rent them, but I always check. I end up toating my 80 pound classic. Portages are a workout!

Three years ago in May, we did Clearwater/Mountain/Gigobic. The lakers were fantastic, but it was a late ice out, so nothing else was moving. I did catch some really nice browns shore fishing from Gigobic. Worth the hike!

I am just the opposite as you. I spent my first years going up Gunflint. But the last 3 years I've gone through Ely. Ely is nice, but it's no Grand Marais! Take some time on the flip side of your trip to walk downtown Grand Marais. Get some Sven and Ole's Pizza and walk out to the Lighthouse.

Have a blast!

bruleman: "Surprised that no one has suggested getting your bait at the Ugly Baby bait shop. It is located near the Hungry Jack turn off and close to the Trail Center restaurant. I am not recommending the place, but it is all in very close proximity. The owner lived right at the shop and it shouldn't be a problem getting service. I don't know the current status, but you can likely find info on the BWCA site. The owners daughter waited on us last Summer when we ate at the Trail Center. You might want to try fishing Squint Lake, which is just a short carry over off the Gunflint Trail and close to the bait shop. It is more like a large pond with lots of vegetation. We did very well there on walleye, a number of years ago, while staying at the Hungry Jack Lodge. "

I remember seeing the Ugly Baby bait shop when was entering the BWCA off the Gunflint a few years back. Hard to miss, actually. The shop has character.

We sleep at Seagull Outfitters the night before. We also use their Head start launch service on the morning. Now, some people consider that "cheating". So be it. It cuts off three hours of paddling and we can get to our.base-camp on Ogish by early afternoon.

Boppasteveg: "We sleep at Seagull Outfitters the night before. We also use their Head start launch service on the morning. Now, some people consider that "cheating". So be it. It cuts off three hours of paddling and we can get to our.base-camp on Ogish by early afternoon."

+1 Seagull Outfitters. Nice bunkhouse and showers.

bobbernumber3: "

Boppasteveg: "We sleep at Seagull Outfitters the night before. We also use their Head start launch service on the morning. Now, some people consider that "cheating". So be it. It cuts off three hours of paddling and we can get to our.base-camp on Ogish by early afternoon."

+1 Seagull Outfitters. Nice bunkhouse and showers."

True.. Seagull Outfitters is great..... but the O.P. has a permit for Morgan which is 29 miles (40-50 minutes of driving) before Seagull Outfitters. That would be a lot of extra driving.

Hit the Beaver House in Grand Marais for bait, beaver flicks and whatever else you need.

Just realized you'll be in GM too late, sorry.

HJO has real mattresses at least 8 inches thick and firm. Some outfitters need to replace their worn out and outdated mattresses. You could check on age and quality by asking. Cabins are clean and folks friendly. Check for availability of extras you need and plan your purchases based on what you find out.

Chiming in as another vote for Hungry Jack. I'm sure the others are great as well but I can't speak to them as I haven't been. HJO, however, has always treated us well so it's my go-to when I'm in that area.

I'll also jump on the RockWood bandwagon, lol. Carl and Mike are awesome and they will go out of their way to help you with anything you forget. They supplied our bait last year and were amazing to work with. Call them ahead and make a reservation and ask any questions early, they are a well established outfitter and great people. Landing at Rockwood on Poplar lake.

I have used Hungry Jack and they have been great. They could likely shuttle you to your entry point and pick you up...or help you load the canoes on your vehicle. But using Rockwood makes a lot of sense as they could also likely shuttle you to Morgan lake and you can end right at their dock.

There are options to get your permit on the way up but you will have to be there early enough. Or get it from the outfitter you decide upon. I would get bait in the TC as mentioned or at least by Two Harbors. There is a good bait shop there, check to see how late they would be open.

If you choose to stay overnight along the North Shore in the Tofte area, Sawtooth Outfitters are great to work with. Be there at 7am when they open to get your permit and they will mount your canoes on your vehicle for you. Drive up to the Morgan lake EP and you will still be plenty early.

What's your plan once you finish the Morgan lake portage? I would check out the 4-5 star site on the south end of Vista and if it is available you will be golden. The site on the western shore is decent...once you get up there. Steep climb and not a very good canoe landing, but a nice view and spacious site. The site down the western arm is one of the worst sites in the BWCA, wouldn't even consider it. If the other two are full, head north. Beautiful lake and good fishing. The sites on Carl and Lux are not the greatest but you would certainly have solitude. Heading up through Horseshoe and Caribou is a nice way to go too - be watchful for Moose, they are prevalent in this area. Have a great trip.

Northwoodsman: "I'm a huge fan of Rockwood for equipment rental, canoe rental, and their bunkhouse."

+1 Used Rockwood many times and will continue to use. Bunkhouse, showers after, etc...great folks.

Well, I'm pretty stuck on Hungry Jack for bunkhouse and outfitting and Boundary Country Trekking/Poplar Creek Guesthouse for when we want a little "Pampering." Have tried a few others that were in closer proximity to our entry points but always felt Dave and Nancy were much nicer. Plus, close to Trail Center for good food.

I admit I've never tried the "Ugly" bait shop but that's because of my loyalty to the Beaver House. I've known Ty since he was too young to drive and was helping his dad make their "Beaver flicks" and other home made lures. It would be like cheating on my wife to go elsewhere!