I am heading up to the Gunflint Lodge this weekend for a short trip with friends. We were hoping to do a short hike/snowshoe and cross into the BWCA (we will fill out a self-issue permit and follow LNT!). Any ideas for great short BWCA hikes/walks in the woods/ fun portages in the area?

This is an area I haven't explored too much so any knowledge would be helpful!

Thanks in advance!

I can only think of a few that require day pass. Topper lake. You park off the gunflint trail on the mayhew Rd. There is a private residence down the road so don't block access. From your car. Follow the road until it peters out I to a single file trail. Rocks. Boulders, twists. Turnsup and down hill. I doubt the lake is frozen enough to walk on. So you'd just be hiking in and out.

Not sure if there is even enough snow to warrant snowshoes.

There is also magnetic rock trail, kekekabictrail, centennial trail. All worth a hike.

There is quite a few trails accessible from gunflint lodge that you wouldn't need to drive to.

The folks at the lodge should be able to help you out

Kekekabic trail, or magnetic rock trails are right off gunflint trail, and are quite close to the lodge.

Park at West Bearskin Lake and then travel in through Duncan Lake to Rose Falls (portage between Duncan and Rose Lake). Beautiful overlook, but be careful as you approach the portage into Rose as the ice can be unpredictable at times.

You can also hike up to Caribou Rock via the same road that takes you past Hungry Jack lodge toward West Bearskin Lake.

Have a great trip!

straighthairedcurly: "Park at West Bearskin Lake and then travel in through Duncan Lake to Rose Falls (portage between Duncan and Rose Lake). Beautiful overlook, but be careful as you approach the portage into Rose as the ice can be unpredictable at times.


You can also hike up to Caribou Rock via the same road that takes you past Hungry Jack lodge toward West Bearskin Lake.


Have a great trip!"

Don’t do this! The ice might be safe on Bearskin and most of Duncan by the end of this week but the last 200 yards or more going towards Rose will not be safe to walk on yet if it’s even frozen at all. I’ve broke through there before, not a huge deal as it’s only knee deep and I always have spare socks along but you might need spare undies as well.

Thank you all for the suggestions! We ended up just doing some of the trails at the lodge- they were great! The Gunflint was in good shape, but with the recent snow not all of the turnouts were accessible/plowed enough to safely get in and out in our cars.

It was a great trip and so much fun! Gunflint was wide open, but some of the smaller lakes were starting to ice over. We didn't have the right equipment, so didn't venture out on any to check thickness.