More old vacation photos – this time from a trip I took with my father, brother, and a family friend during the pandemic (September 2020). This was my 5th lifetime experience in the BWCA, short for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, an area covering 1,000,000+ acres in northern Minnesota in which logging, mining, and (most) motorized boating is heavily restricted under federal law. This is one of the most pristine wilderness areas I’ve ever seen, and it’s what keeps me coming back.
After flying into Duluth, you take a 3.5 hour drive up the Lake Superior coastline, turning inland at Grand Marais to head down the Gunflint Trail. There are many lodging/outfitting options along this trail – we’ve been visiting Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters my whole life and I would recommend, but I’ll admit we’ve never really explored alternatives. Once properly outfitted, you can be dropped off at one of 75+ Paddle-Only access points (most with permit-restricted daily entries) and enter the wilderness.
This trip was a 3-night, 4 day trek putting in and out of the Cross Bay Lake access point (50). We made 2 separate campsites, and traveled about 13 miles in total via canoe and the occasional portage. Crystal clear night skies, glass-smooth water, and natural beauty abound. We even saw a moose!
Enjoy this gallery of select photos from the trip. You’ll have to trust me on the moose though – I was too transfixed to get the camera.
