The 12th annual Border Route Challenges are a go! The dates are as follows: meet up in Ely on Friday afternoon September 11th, get shuttle ride to entry point(s) on Saturday September 12th, and paddle/portage like heck to get to Lake Superior at Grand Portage Monument no later than Sunday September 20th to catch shuttle ride back to Ely. So where is the start you may ask? This can vary depending on your goals (there are three options).

1) “Kruger Waddell Challenge”- 260 mile route International Falls through Voyageurs Nat'l Park and ALL of the BWCA
2) “Voyageurs Challenge”- 205 mile route Crane Lake (or Little Indian Sioux North as an alternative start) though ALL of the BWCA west to east
3) “Moose Lake Challenge”- 125 mile route Ely @ Moose Lake

The above start dates are going to be flexible due to Entry Point permit availability. All the Challenge routes finish on Lake Superior at the historic Grand Portage Fort. The route to be followed should generally be the international boundary with Canada. Of course, longer routes are fine and maybe needed if the wind is blowing hard when you want to paddle one of many big lakes.

A group called WaterTribe has set up the details and making shuttle arrangements. More details are given at the WaterTribe website at the link below. All participants who need shuttling help will equally split shuttling costs.

WaterTribe has a customized satellite tracking map that will show all groups as they progress along the route. This is why each group needs to bring and use a Spot or an InReach. WaterTribe has a $100 membership fee for this service (per group not per paddler). This fee is optional. You can do this Challenge at no charge. But you won't show up on the tracker or be listed in the WaterTribe Roster or Record Book.

This is an unsupported challenge. Unsupported means no preplanned assistance such as a support crew, phone calls to home for navigation assistance, and food resupply. Take what you need from the start. What really makes this a challenge is the time constraint component. The harder you push the greater the challenge. The first recorded record of 6 and a half days was set by Sir George Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company and his hand-picked team of Voyageurs in the 1800's during the fur trade era.

Feel free to express your interest in doing this and post any questions you may have here, or you can email me direct. Grandma L from this site is also available to help with questions and with keeping us organized.

Post here if you’re looking to form a team, join a team, or have room for someone to join your team.

The WaterTribe site is where you register and see the current roster list. You will need to create an account with WaterTribe to register and show up on the roster list. However, this is not a WaterTribe sponsored event this year so you are not required to join (if you don’t register with WaterTribe, email myself or Grandma L).

WaterTribe Website

CatchMe 2 and I had so much fun last year. We are coming back for the Kruger-Waddell this time!

I'll be back this year! This time with my brother. Every year brings new challenges.

I shall return again despite an encounter last year with WILD, RAVENOUS..................mice, and EXPLOSIVE diarrhea. ( caused by older freeze dried food that I think had a hole in the packaging ) Of all the different long distance , canoe events I do, this is the toughest and most rewarding, with mile after mile of nature's beauty. A great bunch of BW loving folks and a great party atmosphere at the casino afterward.

Highly recommended.

If you are wondering if you could do this, you probably can. Have you done a really long day of paddling/portaging? If you have, you can do one of the Border Route Challenges - you just have to repeat that day a few times. It is hard, but very doable.

The Challenge a great way to see a ton of very scenic and historical parts of the BWCA and adjacent areas. Plus you get to meet and hang out with a great group of like-minded, fun people. A super, well-organized event.

A great event with a great brigade of paddlers!

I'll be doing the Moose this year with my beautiful bride Shar who discovered just what a good bunch of people are involved in this last year. We're signed up with permit acquired.

Third attempt for me. I completed the Voyageurs solo in 2023 and attempted the Kruger with a partner in 2025. We didn't "complete" last year but we definitely "succeeded" and both experiences were fantastic!

Can't wait to see you all and do this again!

I love this challenge so much, I'm trying to figure a way but it looks difficult to pull off this Fall. Grant (Timber) said he might be in for 2027, and I know you all are more concerned if my daughter is coming than me - and I will say that I still do not know. It all depends on her tennis schedule and her commitment level to varsity tennis her senior year. However - highly recommend, and if you happen to be going to Canoecopia and are curious, Isis is giving two presentations on Saturday on her lessons learned on the BRC.

CatchMe: "CatchMe 2 and I had so much fun last year. We are coming back for the Kruger-Waddell this time!"

Something tells me you guys are going to set a father/son time that will be difficult to beat!

scotttimm: "

CatchMe: "CatchMe 2 and I had so much fun last year. We are coming back for the Kruger-Waddell this time!"

Something tells me you guys are going to set a father/son time that will be difficult to beat!"

Well, we might not stop to fish this time!
We will miss ya if you can't make it.

Hi Scott,
Any chance that will be recorded? I'm not going to be there, but, would love to show my daughters, your daughter's talk.

Thanks!

I totally agree! I would love a recording of both Isis and Kris Simonson's presentations. I will not be able to make it to Copia so you all will have to report back.

Good chance my daughter and I are going to give this a go this year! Probably starting a Moose.

Curious if anyone out there would have a tandem kevlar we could use in exchange for using my Prism Solo sometime?

Cricket67 - I can't help you with a canoe trade, but I do encourage you find a way to give the trip a shot. They set it up to make canoe rental and transportation easy. I did the challenge with my son last year. My favorite part was the 6 days conquering challenges with him, but the friends gained and fun party at the end made it the trip extra worthwhile.

Cricket67 - hope you and your daughter can make it. I am planning shuttles to start and from Grand Portage finish. Contact me if you would like to chat. I can answer most questions, or I can have a paddler bring you up to speed. Sounds like you have lots of experience so this should be perfect for you. Oh, and I live "just down the street" from you near 7 and Williston.

Just back from copia and was extremely impressed with Isis's presentation. Very well done, hope to see more presentations from her in the future.

As for this challenge, I am extremely interested. Couple questions. How fast do the spots fill, and when is the deadline or is it just when a max cap is met?

She put on a good presentation and seemed to embrace the challenge of hanging out with her dad :) I might be able to convince mine to do this with me some day. Hahaha.

I'm going to put a pin in this and see if I can work something out this year. My son's fall term for his school in Georgia starts on the 12th so it'll be challenging to get him down there and be back for the start of this.

I'll keep GrandmaL posted :)

opolka: "Just back from copia and was extremely impressed with Isis's presentation. Very well done, hope to see more presentations from her in the future.


As for this challenge, I am extremely interested. Couple questions. How fast do the spots fill, and when is the deadline or is it just when a max cap is met?"

Agree, Isis's presentation was great.

As far as deadlines go...there is not a set deadline but we do need a little planning time to set up shuttles, make reservations for gatherings, and set up satellite tracking info. So you could just make a last minute decision but you risk not having a seat on a shuttle. August 1st would be a good date to let us know if you're doing it.

Finding a suitable and available Entry Permit is sometimes the limiting determination to your question.

Shuttles look like this:

Glad to see interest in the Challenge!!
I was checking and I think there are still a couple of permits for Little Vermillion on Sunday, September 13 which would work for either the Kruger-Waddell or Voyageur Challenges. As the permits fill, paddlers start getting creative - Using a RABC to enter at Voyageur National to Dawson Portage to Lac, or some start a day late or early depending on their ability to catch-up or not.
The goal is to be tracked by me or Water Tribe (if you want to be in their stats) from a designated starting point to the finish in 8 days - spanning the Challenge dates - give or take to male permits work. We all need to be finished and at Grand Portage in Saturday evening, September 19. Our shuttle back to Ely leaves the morning or September 20 at 10:00 AM.
Confusing - yup, sometimes. Give me a call or send e-mail and we can talk over specifics and question. I just finished baking this week's cookies and my bread is rising - so - would love to chat.

Congrats to Isis and Kris Simonson - two of our Challenge paddlers for their great presentations at Canoecopia. Proud of you both! Our gals are there taking on leadership roles and setting the bar high with their great examples!

Spring Fever has come to the Northwoods. We now have 38 paddlers showing interest in being part of the 2026 Border Route Challenge. Interested? Great! just let me know!

Ahh-do people over age 75 get a two day head start?
Have a great race.

General question for Beav (or whomever).

For the Moose Lake (125mi) challenge, does anyone have completed times?

Or have an estimated time to complete?

Thanks!

SammyN: "General question for Beav (or whomever).


For the Moose Lake (125mi) challenge, does anyone have completed times?


Or have an estimated time to complete?


Thanks!"

When I did the Moose Lake Challenge, it took me 6 days, 5 hours. I never paddled in the dark. Others have taken 7 days plus the hours it took them to do the Grand Portage...one group that did it in this timeframe enjoyed plenty of coffee breaks along the way. Grandma L would have info on any that did it faster than my time.

Thanks for the reply. I think there were only 2 people that reported times on the watertribe site (I believe you were 1 of them).

Knowing what you know, what do you think a tandem canoe could do, if they did it with purpose? Is it do-able in 50hrs?

SammyN, It was done in 35:40 last year. Not sure if that is the record, but
I think 50 hours is definitely do-able for two experienced paddlers in decent shape.

Thanks a bunch for the reply.

Yup, under 50 hours is definitely doable if you have the skills and desire to do so. Others doing this Moose Lake Challenge Route in the past have generally not pushed themselves (lack of sleep) to the extreme necessary to go sub 50.

Thanks for the reply.

I was just re-watching some of your Inside passage vids this weekend.

What year did you do that? After watching you paddle the sea, are there any lakes that scare you in the BW as long as winds are sub 30mph?

SammyN: "Thanks for the reply.


I was just re-watching some of your Inside passage vids this weekend.


What year did you do that? After watching you paddle the sea, are there any lakes that scare you in the BW as long as winds are sub 30mph?


"

Having paddled big water with BeaV in the BWCA during storms, my answer is nope, none, nodda. WhiteWolf or Kendra...care to comment. :)

JimmyJustice: "

SammyN: "Thanks for the reply.

I was just re-watching some of your Inside passage vids this weekend.

What year did you do that? After watching you paddle the sea, are there any lakes that scare you in the BW as long as winds are sub 30mph?
"

Having paddled big water with BeaV in the BWCA during storms, my answer is nope, none, nodda. WhiteWolf or Kendra...care to comment. :)"

:) The trip was in 2013.

Actually, we have 3 and sometimes 4 paddlers over 75 years old - they make it in the 8 days. Pretty amazing!1

I have been hoping to complete this challenge for years now and I finally have the time. So, I just signed up. I entered as a solo male because I cannot convince my kids that it could be "fun". That said, I would rather go tandem (or triple) if someone is looking for a 2nd or 3rd. I did grab the last Little Vermillion Lake permit for Sunday the 13th. If anyone needs to jump in on that permit, please feel free. I have about a million questions so I will likely bother many of you over the coming months.

Welcome to the adventure Uprightwatertight. As you may know, we had 2 Kruger boats in the challenge in 2018(?). Mooselicker and Mark P. (RIP) both completed it, and if I'm not mistaken, they double portaged. That blew my mind when I thought of walking 27 miles on the Grand. I wouldn't recommend that. My wife and I will be in your neck of the woods early this summer. My daughter has rented a house on L. Michigan for a wknd. Maybe we can meet, and I can share the little bit I've learned doing it.

UprightWatertight: "I have been hoping to complete this challenge for years now and I finally have the time. So, I just signed up. I entered as a solo male because I cannot convince my kids that it could be "fun". That said, I would rather go tandem (or triple) if someone is looking for a 2nd or 3rd. I did grab the last Little Vermillion Lake permit for Sunday the 13th. If anyone needs to jump in on that permit, please feel free. I have about a million questions so I will likely bother many of you over the coming months. "

Welcome to the fun! Have you read the trip report from this father/son team? If not, maybe have your kids read it too. Border Challenge 2025

It might help to provide some more information on what you're thinking for your Challenge to get a team together or join one.
-Looks like from your signup that you are doing the Kruger-Waddell route, right?
-What are your goals/expectations for finishing? In days or effort?
-What is your background/experience?

Just a little bit more info may help with starting conversations.

Border Route Challenges- August 4th Update


For those who aren’t aware, since this July the BWCA has seen many forest fires burning on both sides of the Border Route. The Forest Service completely closed the entire BWCA Wilderness.

Of most concern for our routes, are the multiple fires burning near Loon Lake and Lac La Croix Lake and one fire is on Little Knife and Ottertrack Lakes. The latter is under control, but the others still have hot spots and are currently flaring up again. Mother Nature will determine when the fire danger ends.

The Forest Service has been gradually reopening parts of the BWCA. The attached map shows what will be open as of Wednesday, August 5th. As you can see, everything between Crane Lake and Basswood Lake remains closed, as does a smaller area from Knife Lake to Saganaga Lake. These areas are closed through at least August 10th and there is no way of knowing for how long beyond that. We can’t predict the weather or what areas the Forest Service will reopen.

Currently, we are planning the Challenges as if everything will reopen in time. So, don't cancel your permits. Right now, our best guess is a 50/50 chance of the Challenge happening as planned.

If the closures continue, here is our Plan B:

Move the start date to Saturday, September 26 with-----

Return Shuttle from Grand Portage to Ely on Sunday, October 4th.

Paddlers' meeting and send-off dinner will be on Friday, September 25 in Ely.

So, start thinking through what you will do if Plan B is necessary. Hopefully, you’ll still be able to make it. We will keep you posted if more information becomes available or if we move to Plan B.

Aug 5th Partial Reopening Map