Hello BWCA community!

We're kicking off a focused discussion on different area of the BWCA as we get close to permit release. This one is focused on Lower Gunflint Trail entry points - specifically EP 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 66, 64, 61, 60, 62. These northeastern access points offer some fantastic paddling opportunities, and we'd love to hear from those of you who've explored this area!

The Entry Points:

EP 58 - South Lake | Medium difficulty, gateway to Cross River chain
EP 60 - Duncan Lake | Remote northern access, lower permit quotas
EP 61 - Daniels Lake | Popular beginner-friendly option
EP 62 - Clearwater Lake | Moderate difficulty with multiple route options
EP 64 - East Bearskin Lake | Excellent for loop trips and day paddles
EP 66 - Crocodile Lake | Often overlooked, worth exploring?
EP 45 - Morgan Lake | lightly-used, rugged BWCA access
EP 47 - Lizz Swamp | short portages into scenic smaller lakes
EP 48 - Meeds Lake | Long portage leading to solitude and varied routes
EP 49 - Skipper and Portage Lakes | Long portage again to a quiet area of the bwca.
EP 43 - Bower Trout Lake | limited but scenic options.
EP 44 - Ram Lake | ideal for hearty paddlers willing to tackle tough terrain

Let's Hear From You:
Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned veteran of these entry points, your insights help fellow paddlers! Consider sharing:

Trip reports and route recommendations:
Current trail and portage conditions (take a minute to post your portage comments in the maps area)
Campsite favorites (and ones to avoid) - post those campsite reviews!
Seasonal considerations - ice-out timing, fall colors, wildlife activity
Fishing reports and what's biting in this area?
How crowded were these EPs during your visit?
Hidden gems or unexpected challenges?

New paddlers: Don't hesitate to ask questions! This community is here to help you plan a safe and memorable trip.
Looking forward to the discussion! ??

This is one of my favorite areas. The scenery is stunning with lots of opportunities to hike as well as paddle.

A lot of people get intimidated by the Long Portage (we always called it the Baby Grand when I was a kid), but that is a pretty limiting attitude that prevents a lot of people from making a loop out of a Daniels or Duncan EP. Both of these EPs are accessible from West Bearskin Lake which has a public landing on each side of it. I typically use the public landing that is down Hungry Jack Road rather than the one off Clearwater Road.

Duncan EP: The first portage is well traveled and easy footing. It can be challenging to find an open site on Duncan since it is a popular basecamping location. The next portage is Stairway Portage which has Rose Falls along it and also intersects with the Border Route Trail. Plan a stop here to swim in the falls and hike a bit east on the BRT for a beautiful overlook. IMO, the portage is harder with the new stone staircase, which is beautiful but has higher steps which are hard on my knees compared to the old wooden stairs. The first campsite to the west on Rose is beautiful but very overused, especially after the stair building crew stayed there for long periods. The other sites are all pleasant enough, though I've only actually stayed at one other.

Daniels EP: My husband's favorite for his spring fishing trip since his buddy can't really do much portaging anymore. Good fishing and easy access for hiking the Border Route Trail.

Long Portage: If you aren't traveling with too much gear, Long Portage out of the east end of Rose Lake is not that bad. The portion from Rose Lake to the spur trail to Daniels Lake is an old railroad bed so quite flat and very smooth except at the beginning and where the beavers have dug through. The beavers are quite industrious and at times have flooded the trail, though most recently have redirected their efforts. Who knows what the future brings. The portion from the Damiels spur to Rove/Watap Lakes is definitely rougher with some steeper elevation changes and rocky footing. But the trip to Rove and Watap Lakes is so worth it!!!

Loops:
Easy loop: enter at Duncan and exit via Daniels. I've done this, though we added a side trip to South Lake combined with a hike up to Bottlecap on the BRT.
Moderate loop: travel to Rove, Watap, Mountain, then head back via Clearwater Lake and just portage the Clearwater Road back to West Bearskin Lake. This was a delightful solo trip for me a few years ago.
Extended loop: continue down Mountain Lake into Moose, Fowl Lakes, and come back via the Pike Lakes into Clearwater and portage the Clearwater Road. You can also drop further south to visit Johnson Falls and exit via East Bearskin, Flour, Hungry Jack, and into West Bearskin.

East Bearskin has a handy USFS campground right next to the EP, including tent and RV sites plus primitive cabins. The sites and cabins are nice enough to be destinations in themselves, as well as very useful at both ends of a BWCA trip.

East Bearskin Lake Campground












The adjacent Bearskin Lodge has a dining room, accommodations and outfitting services:



Bearskin Lodge

I like the area east of the Gunflint in the fall. I've been on 6 seperate trips through various entry points.

Both times we went early season we ran into campsite availability issues. After Labor Day there's still more people than you'd expect to see, but you should be able to find a campsite.

Johnson Falls is a must see if you're in the area.

How is the fishing on Duncan for walleye, smallmouth, or lake trout, and are there certain areas or structures that tend to produce?

If Duncan is full, what nearby lakes or campsites would you recommend as good fishing bases or day-trip options?

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!