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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: MOST SCENIC AREA TO DAY TRIP IN THE BWCA
 
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Michwall2
06/21/2025 12:31PM
  
Depends on what you consider scenic. Here are a couple suggestions:

1. Sawbill Lake - Kelso Loop. Rent a canoe at Sawbill Outfitters. Paddle north on Sawbill Lake into the bay that heads to Kelso Lake/River. Portage (short) to the Kelso River and paddle northwest into Kelso Lake. The Kelso river has wonderful wetland flora and fauna. Lots of painted turtles sunning themselves. Chance to see moose. Beaver lodges. Etc. You will enter Kelso Lake proper. This is an old lake with wetlands and islands throughout. Paddle north into the Kelso River again to find two items. First find the endangered carnivorous pitcher plants. One of the few places in the world to see them. Second, find the Viking Dolman. This rock sitting on a tripod of smaller rocks could either be a sign that the Vikings visited this far west of the east coast or a freak happenstance of the glaciers. Paddle back south through Kelso Lake to the southern end and take the portage into Alton Lake. This large lake can be tricky in the wind. Paddle to the southern end to visit the beautiful islands and when you are ready, head back to the portage into Sawbill Lake where you can see the dock you left earlier in the day from the end of the portage. Have extra time and an adventurous spirit? Wear or take your swimsuits along and hike over the portage from Alton to Beth Lake. Here you will find an excellent rock jumping site. Not too high, not too low. Always check out the water below your jumping spot to make sure it is deep enough. If you want to portage the canoe over from Alton, Beth Lake is a very pretty lake with crystal clear water.

If there is a forecast for afternoon winds, do this loop in reverse. Go to Alton Lake first and then head north to Kelso Lake. Or skip Alton altogether and paddle to the north end of Sawbill Lake. The geology changes some as you travel north. You will see more rock and small outcropping islands.

2. Up the Gunflint, I think I would go to Clearwater Lake. (Again watch your wind forecast.). Paddle east to the portage to Mountain Lake. As you portage to Mountain Lake take the trail to the scenic overlook. Get out on Mountain Lake and enjoy the scenery as you look into Canada (You are likely to encounter motorboats on Mountain Lake. Simply retrace your paddle back to the start.

Hope this helps.

 
TuscaroraBorealis
06/23/2025 01:25PM
  
If you haven't seen it already? This forum might give you some ideas too.
 
PointMe2Polaris
06/21/2025 10:06AM
  
I have been going to the Boundary Waters pretty much annually since 2011. My wife loves to canoe and loves beautiful scenery as much as I do; however, there is no way she will actually rough it in the wilderness, so she has not come on any trips with me.

I'd like to take her up the Boundary Waters and just rent a canoe for a day and get a day pass at one of the EPs. Where would be a great place where my wife could get a taste of everything the Boundary Waters has to offer in a 6-10 hour day? Not sure if there is any area in the lower part of the BW that compares to upper Crooked Lake or Lac La Croix, but if there is, I'd love to know where.

Darin
 
marsonite
06/23/2025 08:02PM
  
My vote would go to the Little Gabbro entry. It's a very scenic area with lots of exposed bedrock, cliffs, etc. Depending on your ambition level there a number of loops you can do. I like to padded around to the kawishiwi entry and walk the road back to our car.
 
jamotrade
07/02/2025 02:10PM
  
Michwall2: "Depends on what you consider scenic. Here are a couple suggestions:


1. Sawbill Lake - Kelso Loop. Rent a canoe at Sawbill Outfitters. Paddle north on Sawbill Lake into the bay that heads to Kelso Lake/River. Portage (short) to the Kelso River and paddle northwest into Kelso Lake. The Kelso river has wonderful wetland flora and fauna. Lots of painted turtles sunning themselves. Chance to see moose. Beaver lodges. Etc. You will enter Kelso Lake proper. This is an old lake with wetlands and islands throughout. Paddle north into the Kelso River again to find two items. First find the endangered carnivorous pitcher plants. One of the few places in the world to see them. Second, find the Viking Dolman. This rock sitting on a tripod of smaller rocks could either be a sign that the Vikings visited this far west of the east coast or a freak happenstance of the glaciers. Paddle back south through Kelso Lake to the southern end and take the portage into Alton Lake. This large lake can be tricky in the wind. Paddle to the southern end to visit the beautiful islands and when you are ready, head back to the portage into Sawbill Lake where you can see the dock you left earlier in the day from the end of the portage. Have extra time and an adventurous spirit? Wear or take your swimsuits along and hike over the portage from Alton to Beth Lake. Here you will find an excellent rock jumping site. Not too high, not too low. Always check out the water below your jumping spot to make sure it is deep enough. If you want to portage the canoe over from Alton, Beth Lake is a very pretty lake with crystal clear water.


If there is a forecast for afternoon winds, do this loop in reverse. Go to Alton Lake first and then head north to Kelso Lake. Or skip Alton altogether and paddle to the north end of Sawbill Lake. The geology changes some as you travel north. You will see more rock and small outcropping islands.


2. Up the Gunflint, I think I would go to Clearwater Lake. (Again watch your wind forecast.). Paddle east to the portage to Mountain Lake. As you portage to Mountain Lake take the trail to the scenic overlook. Get out on Mountain Lake and enjoy the scenery as you look into Canada (You are likely to encounter motorboats on Mountain Lake. Simply retrace your paddle back to the start.


Hope this helps.
"


These are the exact 2 that I thought of when I saw your question. Clearwater has incredible cliffs and you can walk up to the top of the portage to Mountain Lake for some truly memorable BWCA vistas. Like Alton, Clearwater can be a real bitch if it's windy. If she wants to stay close to the BWCA you can try to grab one of the lodge rooms or cabins at Clearwater Lodge.
 
MoosilaukeJohnny
07/05/2025 02:38AM
  
Treat your wife to a night (or two or three) at Gunflint Lodge (about 45 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais) - and paddle across Gunflint Lake into (and around) Magnetic Lake - ending up at the entry point at the start of the Granite River. Leave your canoe there and walk the portage trail for about 1/4 mile to a beautiful wild waterfall with a great swimming hole underneath...ready for a spontaneous skinny-dip (or plan ahead and bring/wear your bathing suits).


Next day...either by paddle or small motorboat which you can rent very reasonably from the lodge - travel eastward down the six mile length of Gunflint Lake...stopping along the way for the short hike up to Bridal Veil Falls - then continuing on to the nice beach at the end of the lake, which is a great place to have a picnic lunch.


Meanwhile...Gunflint Lodge is a great place to hang for a few days. You can either stay in one of their basic "canoer cabins," or spring for a fully equipped and comfy lakeside cabin. Lots of activities or just relax at their beachfront and maybe indulge in their water toys (paddle boards and/or sit upon kayaks). Sip a cocktail on the large patio under a picnic table umbrella - and the breakfast/lunch/dinner menu is wonderful!


Finally, I do admit to a bias here - as I was a naturalist/canoe guide at Gunflint Lodge back in 1976. My wife and myself (we live in Vermont) returned for a couple of nights in 2019 - then again in 2021, with just the two of us paddling my favorite guiding route...nine days on the water...up the Granite River into Clove Lake where we got lucky and found (for two nights) the amazing beach campsite at the far (northern) end available, then two nights at Gneiss lake, a night on Saganaga, two nights in Red Rock Bay, a night on Alpine, then back out through Seagull for our pickup. Wonderful!
 
straighthairedcurly
06/22/2025 02:09PM
  
Gunflint Trail - about half way up the trail turn on Hungry Jack Road. Put in at West Bearskin Lake. Just one portage into Duncan Lake. Then set your canoe well off to the side of the portage to Rose Lake and walk the portage to Rose Falls for a scenic lunch and a swim. You can also hike along the Border Route Trail from the portage and find some stunning overlooks and views of Canada.


The Kelso route described by Michwall2 also has other bog plants including some orchids if there at the right time of year. Such a pretty area if you love bog plants like I do.

 
YaMarVa
06/24/2025 07:07AM
  
You could loop from Cross Bay EP to Round Lake off the Gunflint trail. Travel the Cross River in hopes of seeing Moose.




 
JD
07/01/2025 06:04PM
  
I think a Cross Bay loop would be great, as well as an in-and-out to visit Johnson Falls via East Bearskin. Or, though I haven't had the chance to do this area yet, perhaps a Poplar Lake entry to Caribou-Horseshoe-Vista... it seems like a gorgeous area. The east side definitely has more good day trip routes IMO, whereas the west side is more in-and-outs with rivers. Though, a Mudro entry with a loop through Fourtown and Horse wouldn't be a bad day to spend a nice day either... but I'd rather spend a day on the intimate lakes on the east side, especially with a BWCA newbie if you're not super gung ho on fishing where the west side might be better.
 
papalambeau
07/02/2025 11:23AM
  
marsonite: "My vote would go to the Little Gabbro entry. It's a very scenic area with lots of exposed bedrock, cliffs, etc. Depending on your ambition level there a number of loops you can do. I like to padded around to the kawishiwi entry and walk the road back to our car. "


+1 for Little Gabbro for a scenic day trip.