I'll be doing my first long trip this September, hoping to be gone for around 14 days. My friend and I were originally planning to explore the area in the Little Knife Fire which I suppose is probably not an option.

I'm doing some replanning and want to do a beach trip for either the full time or do a one-week canoe route, then hike the BRT.

I've only hiked sections of the BRT, never the whole. How difficult would it be to do a through hike in seven days?

If we end up not hiking the BRT (dependent on if Alice and Little Sag open for camping) the beach trip would consist of Tuscarora->Long Island->Frost-> Frost River->Little Sag-> Makwa-> Malberg-> Alice (ish).
Then exiting either Lake 1 or Kawishiwi Lake.

Is canoeing the Frost River in late September a dumb idea? A very long muddy portage would not be ideal.

Also if anyone knows of any cool areas near that route, I'd love to check them out. Exposed granite, big trees and pictographs are my favorite.

If the full canoe route doesn't work out and anyone has any recommendations for a 7-day loop at the end of the Gunflint Trail, ideally near Tuscarora and Frost, but I'm keen on whatever. Please let me know.

Thanks!

If you haven't seen it already? Check out the cool spots in canoe country forum. Poking around and following the many links on there should give you plenty of potential ideas.

Thank you!

What entry point permit do you have? That will impact what routes I'd suggest.

Planning on Missing Link but open to others nearby

That's kind of a big deal to enter at missing link and exit at lake one or kawishiwi. It could add many many hours of driving. Sounds fun though! Have you considered starting at Snowbank (lots of permits in late September) and exiting at Lake one? You could go all the way out to the lakes you mentioned with all the time you have.

Young1: "Planning on Missing Link but open to others nearby"

At that time of year I'd be less likely to suggest the Frost River. You could head through Little Sag/Makwa/Adams/Ledge/Fee and back out through either Missing Link, Brandt, or Cross River via Howl and Snipe.


My son and I did a version of that loop a few years back, here's a trip report

A Paddler's Guide to Type 2 Fun

Update, I've changed my mind about the full canoe route due to the idea of hiking the BRT while the trees are changing colors,

I have a Missing link permit for the the 16th and a BRT East Permit for the 23rd. (Good call on the driving that would suck). Hoping to get back to the car after the hike on the 30th.

Ive got 2 plans for the Missing Link permit. (16th-23rd)

Missing Link-> Tuscarora->Mora-> Little Sag-> Bat-> Missing Link

or if there is significant rainfall before,

Missing Link-> Frost-> Frost River-> Little Sag-> Tuscarora-> Missing Link

Then drive one car to McFarland Lake and Hike the BRT over 7 days.

Is 10 miles a day on the BRT difficult?

Also the lakes mentioned above are just ones I'm trying to make it to so if anyone has any route recs let me know,

Thanks!