There seems to be quite a few people here either planning or dreaming of doing this route with questions. So to help you out with a starting point for your planning I'll summarize some stat's from my solo trip this past July.

Starting Point: Rainy Lake public access about 5 miles east of International Falls (this is outside the BWCA but in the Voyageurs National Park, no permits needed).
Ending Point: Lake Superior at the Grand Portage National Monument site (they have constructed a reenactment of the Northwest Company garrison and buildings).
Route Length: 280 miles
Trip Duration: 15 days (July 1, 4 pm to July 16, 1 pm)
Number of Portages: about 40 depending on water levels
Canoe Used: Mad River Malecite, Kevlar 16.5' solo/tandem hybrid
Planned Itinerary: 12 traveling days, 2 extra days for wind-bound conditions or fishing, and 1 day for Grand Portage.
Average Traveling Speed (paddling and portaging): 2.6 mph

Trip Comments and Observations:
I went west to east for three reasons: take advantage of prevailing winds, reduced pack weight by the time I hit the 3 toughest portages all located east of Gunflint area, and just wanted to end the trip on Lake Superior. My longer traveling days were 25 to 30 miles traveled requiring 11 or 12 hours in the canoe. I wouldn't plan on more than this per day and may not be possible in spring or fall due to daylight limitations. Half days of 16 miles/day were easy and allowed some time to rest/fish/hike. I was only wind bound for 1/2 day. I could have compressed the trip down to 12 days if I really pushed it but that would not allow for bad wind or fishing or a little rest.

I double-portaged for the first 10 days switching to single-trip portaging the last 5 days as the packs became lighter. I packed enough food for entire trip (about 40 pounds) and relied on catching some fish for main course for most dinners. I ended up burning probably 10 pounds of food due to overpacking and good fishing. If you want to resupply along the way, Gunflint Lake has outfitters along the south shore.

Biggest Challenges:
Blisters forming on hands from paddling long days in high heat. First couple of days were 85-90 degrees of "blistering" heat. This kind of heat doesn't happen very ofter up there, though. Solution was to vary grips on paddle until calluses formed.
Portaging the 2,720 rod Grand Portage. This is just plainly a long way to hike with 110 pounds of canoe and packs on! I chose a day with stifling heat and humidity and wet feet from previous days river walking. Completed portage in 6 hours with blisters.

I hope this information helps with your planning. BeaV

Green with envy...my bucket list is transforming into a barrel list

Wow - that must have been an amazing journey. Do you have a full trip report published somewhere?

Been thinking about this - but was going to start at South Fowl and end at Crane Lake. May have to reconsider.

Thank you for sharing. Definitely looking at doing this some day.

wcummin1 and BWP,
In my trip summary above, I forgot to mention the most important thing- that this trip was a great route and adventure. Definately worth adding to the "bucket". I haven't written a full Trip Report, yet, and probably won't (don't like to write about self).

Billconner01,
Going from east to west does have one advantage (if you're not doing the Grand Portage), it's almost all downhill to Crane Lake. Everything flows west from the "Height of the Land Portage" which means portages are generally downhill and rivers and current between lakes is with you.

Where did you get your information on the Rainy Lake access? Wanting to confirm the information so that I can follow the regulations. Planing on doing the Border Route this year in June or September.

Thanks!

Nivholas: "Where did you get your information on the Rainy Lake access? Wanting to confirm the information so that I can follow the regulations. Planing on doing the Border Route this year in June or September.
Thanks!"

Wow, this is an old post! Forgot I wrote it up. And this quote makes me smile now- "I could have compressed the trip down to 12 days if I really pushed it..."

To your question about Rainy Lake access- there are multiple public boat accesses that you can choose to launch from or a city-owned beach near International Falls. I have done this trip multiple times now and have launched from 3 different locations between I.F. and the end of county road 11 at Dove Island. I can post a google earth image here if you tell me roughly where you prefer to launch between those two locations.

Regulations- not sure what you are asking on this since public boat accesses are just that - open to launching a boat....no real regulations to deal with. Clarify if I'm missing something here.

Voyageurs Nat'l Park Rules- there has been one change that I am aware of since my first trip in 2011. If you plan to camp within the Park, you need to reserve a designated campsite ahead of time.

I too am planning another border route trip this August...my 9th along this route now. Feel free to ask more questions.

BeaV- have you gone further west of IF? Rainy River and LOW?

BeaV: "Voyageurs Nat'l Park Rules- there has been one change that I am aware of since my first trip in 2011. If you plan to camp within the Park, you need to reserve a designated campsite ahead of time."

I do have one logistical question along this line - if you do choose to spend a night in Voyageurs, how do you handle having the EP 12 permit issued, since the soonest it can be issued is the day prior to entry?

billconner: "BeaV- have you gone further west of IF? Rainy River and LOW?"

I've looked it over on google earth but have not paddled it. Looks to be slow moving water on the Rainy with limited faster moving narrow spots. A dam or two. Good walleye fishing all the way I bet!

Porkeater: "

BeaV: "


Voyageurs Nat'l Park Rules- there has been one change that I am aware of since my first trip in 2011. If you plan to camp within the Park, you need to reserve a designated campsite ahead of time.


"

I do have one logistical question along this line - if you do choose to spend a night in Voyageurs, how do you handle having the EP 12 permit issued, since the soonest it can be issued is the day prior to entry?"

You pull the permit the day you enter VNP. You then have that day and the next at midnight to legally enter at EP 12. It's 60 miles from I.F. to EP 12 along the border or 52 miles if you take the shortest route through Black Bay to Kab. to Namakan.

If you don't want to do that many miles in 2 days....another option is to paddle to an outfitter on Crane Lake to pull your permit. This will add about 9 miles to your route. I think Anderson's Canoe Outfitters are located about a mile off the water of Crane Lake. I've never contacted them or know if they are a permit issuing station. I've always just done the miles in the time allowed.

@BeaV Thank you for clarifying that!

If you could enter through Canada, you can get a "from Canada" permit in advance (unless it just changed). I think there is a lot of Crown Land in addition to Sandy Point PP. Some work to figure it out but seems like a possibility.

I have always envisioned going other way - GP to LOW - and figured I'd get a sat phone (and an I 68 and an RABC) and reserve a Voyageurs Park site by phone.

52 miles is a bit much for me in two days - maybe if weather and water were perfect I could do it - but not willingly.

Good point billconner...maybe porkeater may just want to call the LaCroix ranger station and ask the USFS if you can get a permit issued earlier then the norm that would allow you to enter 2 or 3 days after issuance. They maybe understanding once you explain the circumstances...I don't know.

I gave been told they only do that for 72-from canada but ask - who knows.

Permits are full already for the 28th. So, I grabbed a permit for the 27th.

skier: "Permits are full already for the 28th. So, I grabbed a permit for the 27th."

It would be great to have you join the Challenge this August. You might think about going to WaterTribe.com and sign up to be part of the Kruger-Waddell Border Route Challenge. That way you would get information as the Challenge gets organized and plans are made. Send me an e-mail if I can help.