Day Hikes

Hike

This page contains recommended routes for day hiking on the Border Route Trail (BRT). Check the Trail Conditions and Hike Planning webpages for additional important information.

For backpacking information, visit the backpacking webpage..

Out & Back Routes

  • Magnetic Rock (2.9 miles)

  • Loon Lake Landing to Gunflint High Cliffs (0.8 miles)

  • Loon Lake Road to Bridal Falls (6.5 miles)

  • Caribou Rock to Stairway Falls* (7.7 miles)

  • McFarland to East Pike (8 miles)

  • McFarland to John Lake Overlook (1.8 miles)

  • McFarland to South Fowl Bluffs (8.7 miles)

  • SHT Junction to 270 Degree Overlook (1.8 miles)

*Permits are required when entering the BWCAW. Day hikers are free and can self-register at a trailhead kiosk.

Loop Routes

  • Magnetic Rock / PAD&W (3.1 miles)

  • Magnetic Rock / Cross River (5.6 miles)

  • Sock Lake Loop* (5 miles)

  • Rose Cliffs Loop* (Caribou Rock, BRT, Sock Lake, Moss Lake) (13.2 miles)

*Permits are required when entering the BWCAW. Day hikers are free and can self-register at a trailhead kiosk.

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Point-to-Point Routes (Require a Shuttle)

  • Gunflint Trail to Bridal Falls to Heston’s Lodge (6.5 miles)

  • Mayhew Lake Road to South Lake Trail to Rockwood Lodge* (7.5 miles)

  • McFarland to Otter Lake (8.8 miles)

  • South Fowl Bluffs to Pigeon River to Otter Lake (6 miles)

  • South Fowl Bluffs to Pigeon River/Pigeon Bluffs to SHT Junction (9.5 miles)

  • Otter Lake to Pigeon Bluffs to SHT Junction (5.3 miles)

*Permits are required when entering the BWCAW. Day hikers are free and can self-register at a trailhead kiosk.

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Hike & Canoe Routes (for the EXTRA adventurous!)

  • Sock Lake Trail to Rose Lake Cliffs to Rose Lake or Portage Falls* (7.4 miles of hiking, 2.2 miles of paddling and a portage) (requires a shuttle)

  • Clearwater Lake to Daniels Lake to Rose Lake or Portage Falls* (6.3 miles of hiking, 2.2 miles of paddling and a portage) (requires a shuttle)

  • Daniels Lake to Rove Lake to Clearwater Lake* (4.4 miles of hiking and 2 miles of paddling)

  • McFarland to East Pike (4.3 miles of hiking and 2.5 miles of paddling)

*Permits are required when entering the BWCAW. Non-motorized day use visitors are free and can self-register at an entry point kiosk.

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