”Superior National Forest officials on Wednesday closed their campgrounds and other Forest Service lands on the upper half of the Gunflint Trail due to the increasing danger of encroaching wildfires.

”The closure affects the popular Trails End and Iron Lake campgrounds operated by the Forest Service. Reservations have been canceled and refunded for the next seven days. Officials said the closure could be extended if needed.

”The closure includes all forest lands along Cook County Road 12, the Gunflint Trail, beginning at the Cook County Road 92 intersection to the end of the Gunflint Trail at Trails End Campground.

”The latest move follows a preevacuation notice for residents and visitors at the upper end of the Gunflint Trail as well as the extended closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and adjacent Quetico Provincial Park to all travel — all due to multiple wildfires burning in the area.”

Campgrounds closed on upper Gunflint Trail

Man, this is not good. I sure hope Wilderness Canoe Base at the end of the Gunflint Trail on Sea Gull Lake doesn’t burn again. It was almost completely destroyed in the 2007 Ham Lake fire. I spent a fair amount of time helping rebuild the place in 2008.

We have reservations with Seagull Outfitters for 9/20. Any chance they will still be open?

If they evacuate that end of the GFT, then no. I'm hoping some S/SE winds push it into the Cavity and Ham lake fire scars and it slows down....some rain would be nice too.

ockycamper: "We have reservations with Seagull Outfitters for 9/20. Any chance they will still be open?"

Here is the seven day precip forecast. One of the driest locations in Minnesota is Seagull. Your enemy is the John Ek fire to the SSW of Seagull. In your shoes, I would make an alternate plan.

Some chance of rain moving in today and tomorrow.

Seagull Lake forecast.

Came up craps today - let’s hope for the best in the near future.

Twelve-hour precipitation observations as of 2:30 pm CDT: