Minnesota Boundary Waters Map
An 8-day canoe route & the Superior Hiking Trail, from Grand Marais.
10-day Minnesota wilderness itinerary. Two warm-up days on the Superior Hiking Trail, then an 8-day, 75+ mile canoe route from Sawbill Lake to Polly Lake across 18 portages, exiting at Kawishiwi Lake, all based out of Grand Marais.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family’s trip.
32 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Sawbill → Polly · 75+ miles · 18 portages · Minnesota
5 of the stops on these 10 days.
Plan and book your 10 days in Boundary Waters, one step at a time
How 10 days in Boundary Waters split up
This 10-day Minnesota itinerary pairs the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) with the Superior Hiking Trail. Base your logistics out of Grand Marais on Lake Superior, warm up with two days on the trail, then paddle an 8-day, 75+ mile canoe route from Sawbill Lake to Polly Lake across 18 portages.
Day 1: Arrive in Grand Marais & the Superior Hiking Trail · 5 miles
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Superior Hiking Trail: Oberg & Leveaux Mountains · 6 miles
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Drive to Sawbill & BWCAW Entry · 7 miles paddle, 1 portage
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: Alton to Beth Lake · 8 miles paddle, 3 portages
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Beth to Grace Lake · 9 miles paddle, 4 portages
3 stops · Day five
Day 6: Grace to Frost Lake · 10 miles paddle, 3 portages
3 stops · Day six
Day 7: Frost to Gordon Lake · 9 miles paddle, 2 portages
3 stops · Day seven
Day 8: Gordon to Polly Lake · 9 miles paddle, 3 portages
3 stops · Day eight
Day 9: Polly Exit & Drive to Grand Marais · 5 miles paddle, 2 portages
3 stops · Day nine
Day 10: Depart from Grand Marais
2 stops · Day ten
Arrive in Grand Marais & the Superior Hiking Trail · 5 miles
Drive the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior on Highway 61 to Grand Marais, an artsy harbor town about two hours from Duluth International Airport (DLH). Check into your lodging, then stretch your legs on your first section of the Superior Hiking Trail along the Kadunce River gorge toward Judge C.R. Magney State Park.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Xopher Smith / CC BY 2.0Drive from~2 hr · ~110 mi to Grand Marais on Hwy 61 · DriveFly into Duluth International Airport (DLH) and drive the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior on Highway 61 to Grand Marais, an artsy harbor town about two hours (110 miles) north. This is your base for the whole trip, so top up on groceries, fuel, and anything else in town before heading inland.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0Superior Hiking Trail: Kadunce River~5 mi · ~300 ft gain · river gorge & Lake Superior · HikeWarm up with a 5-mile out-and-back on the Superior Hiking Trail up the Kadunce River gorge toward Judge C.R. Magney State Park. It stretches your legs with river and Lake Superior views before the wilderness stretch of the trip. A Minnesota State Park pass is required if you park at the state-park trailhead.
Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Overnight in Grand MaraisHot shower · celebratory dinner · lodgeCheck into a comfortable lodge in Grand Marais, take a well-earned hot shower, and celebrate with dinner in town. After nine days out, a real bed and a restaurant meal feel like genuine luxuries. Book this night ahead in peak season.
Superior Hiking Trail: Oberg & Leveaux Mountains · 6 miles
Drive about 25 minutes south to the shared trailhead on the Onion River Road (Forest Road 336) for two of the most loved loops on the Superior Hiking Trail. Hike the Oberg Mountain Loop first, a series of overlooks with the best fall-color and Lake Superior views on the trail, then connect to the more rugged Leveaux Mountain Loop above the Temperance River valley.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive to Oberg Mountain trailhead
~25 min · ~18 mi · FR 336 (Onion River Rd) · DriveDrive about 25 minutes south from Grand Marais and turn up the Onion River Road (Forest Road 336) to the shared Oberg/Leveaux trailhead. It is a Superior National Forest lot, not a state park, so no state-park pass is needed. Arrive early, as the lot fills fast, especially in fall color season.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0Oberg Mountain Loop~2.5 mi · ~400 ft gain · panoramic overlooks · HikeHike the Oberg Mountain Loop, a series of overlooks with the best fall-color and Lake Superior views on the Superior Hiking Trail. It is a moderately strenuous climb with a string of viewpoints looking out over the lake and the inland forest.
Lorie Shaull / CC BY 2.0Leveaux Mountain Loop~3.5 mi · ~500 ft gain · Temperance River valley · HikeConnect to the more rugged Leveaux Mountain Loop from the same trailhead. It is rockier and usually less crowded than Oberg, with rewarding views over the Temperance River valley. Together the two loops make a roughly 6-mile day, the final tune-up before the Boundary Waters.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY 2.0Overnight near Lutsen or Grand MaraisResort amenities or more dining options · lodgeStay overnight in Lutsen for resort amenities or return to Grand Marais for more dining choices. Either way, get a good meal and solid rest, then repack, because tomorrow you drive to Sawbill and enter the BWCAW.
Drive to Sawbill & BWCAW Entry · 7 miles paddle, 1 portage
Head inland on the Sawbill Trail (Cook County Road 2) to Sawbill Canoe Outfitters at the Sawbill Lake landing, part of it unpaved. This is your last stop for gear, a final briefing, and pickup of your reserved BWCAW entry permit (Sawbill Lake, entry point #38). Attend the mandatory wilderness orientation covering Leave No Trace and current fire conditions.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive to Sawbill Canoe Outfitters
~1 hr · ~55 mi · Sawbill Trail (partly unpaved) · DriveHead inland on the Sawbill Trail (Cook County Road 2), part of it unpaved, to Sawbill Canoe Outfitters at the Sawbill Lake landing. This is your last stop for gear, a final briefing, and the launch point for the canoe route. Outfitting, canoe rental, and portage packs are available here.
- Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0BWCAW permit pickup & orientation
Sawbill Lake EP #38 · reservation required · ViewpointPick up your reserved BWCAW entry permit (Sawbill Lake, entry point #38) at the outfitter or adjacent ranger station and attend the mandatory wilderness orientation covering Leave No Trace and current fire conditions. You must have a Recreation.gov reservation, and you must enter on your reserved date and entry point. Group size is capped at 9 people and 4 watercraft.
- daakrolb@hotmail.com / CC BY-SA 3.0Paddle Sawbill Lake to Alton Lake
~5 mi paddle · 1 short portage (~10 rods) · HikeLaunch onto Sawbill Lake, a large open lake where wind and waves matter, and cross to the first short portage (about 10 rods) into Alton Lake. Focus the first day on efficient packing, paddling, and portage technique. No cans or bottles are allowed in the BWCAW, so repackage food before you launch.
- Jonah docter-loeb / CC BY-SA 4.0Camp on Alton Lake
First night in BWCAW · designated site · lodgeFind an available designated campsite on Alton Lake, set up camp, and cook your first wilderness meal. Sites are first-come, first-served with provided fire grates, so stop paddling with daylight to spare. Store all food in a bear-resistant container or a hung bear bag overnight.
Alton to Beth Lake · 8 miles paddle, 3 portages
Break camp and paddle across Alton Lake, then string together three portages through Kelso and Lujenida Lakes to reach Beth Lake. The carries are moderate, some rocky, and reward you with a clear, narrow lake and secluded campsites that feel noticeably deeper in the wilderness.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Intelligence3 / CC BY-SA 3.0Paddle Alton to Kelso Lake~2 mi · 1 portage (~40 rods) · rocky carry · HikeBreak camp and paddle across Alton Lake, then take a moderately challenging, sometimes rocky portage into Kelso Lake, a smaller lake known for its beauty and good fishing. Careful footing and efficient gear transfer make the carry go smoothly.
Superior National Fore / CC BY 2.0Paddle Kelso to Lujenida Lake~3 mi · 1 short portage (~20 rods) · HikeContinue through Kelso and take a short portage into Lujenida Lake, a smaller lake that connects onward to other major routes. The section mixes open water with narrower channels where you may spot beaver activity.
- PAUL FARMER / CC BY-SA 2.0Paddle Lujenida to Beth Lake
~3 mi · 1 portage (~30 rods) · HikeThe final leg of the day crosses another portage to Beth Lake, a long, narrow lake with clear water, good swimming, and several secluded campsites that feel noticeably deeper in the wilderness.
Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0Camp on Beth LakeDesignated site · wilderness solitude · lodgeMake camp on Beth Lake and settle into the rhythm of the route. This area feels more remote, so you are likely to enjoy greater solitude. Practice Leave No Trace, store food securely, and prepare for bug activity in the evening.
Beth to Grace Lake · 9 miles paddle, 4 portages
Today is the biggest portage day: four carries, including a longer one into Grace Lake that may involve some elevation. Detour to quiet, less-traveled Phoebe Lake for a serene paddle and wildlife viewing, then return to camp on large, scenic Grace Lake.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Superior National Fore / CC BY 2.0Paddle Beth to Grace Lake~2 mi · 1 longer portage (~50 rods) · HikeStart with a paddle across Beth and the longest portage of the day (about 50 rods) into Grace Lake, which may involve some elevation. Plan to double-carry it. Grace is a large, scenic lake with good walleye and northern pike fishing.
Chad Davis from Minnea / CC BY 2.0Side trip to Phoebe Lake~4 mi · 2 portages (~30 & ~10 rods) · HikeDetour to quiet, less-traveled Phoebe Lake across two shorter portages for a serene paddle and wildlife viewing. Phoebe is relatively quiet and good for spotting birds and other wildlife away from the main route.
- Camp on Grace Lake
Central hub · many sites · layover option · lodgeReturn to Grace Lake and set up camp on one of its many sites. Grace sits at a hub of interior routes, making it the best place on the trip to build in a rest or fishing layover day. On clear, dark nights the interior offers a chance at the northern lights.
Grace to Frost Lake · 10 miles paddle, 3 portages
The longest paddling day of the trip. Leave Grace Lake for quiet Carl Lake, then push through a longer carry into Frost Lake, renowned for its clear, deep water and excellent campsites. The effort is rewarded with a genuinely remote, scenic lake.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- daakrolb@hotmail.com / CC BY-SA 3.0Paddle Grace to Carl Lake
~3 mi · 1 portage (~40 rods) · quiet · HikeDepart Grace Lake for quiet Carl Lake across a moderately long but well-maintained portage. Carl is often peaceful and makes a good spot for a quick break and a look for wildlife before the longer push to Frost.
- Alan Murray-Rust / CC BY-SA 2.0Paddle Carl to Frost Lake
~7 mi · 2 portages (~60 & ~20 rods) · HikeThe longest leg of the trip pushes through a significant portage into Frost Lake, renowned for its clear, deep water and excellent campsites. Start early, since ten miles with three portages is a long day and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
Tony Webster from San / CC BY-SA 2.0Camp on Frost LakeClear deep water · best stargazing · lodgeSecure a campsite on Frost Lake, a genuine highlight. Its clear water is ideal for a warm-afternoon swim, and it offers some of the best stargazing on the route. Sites are popular, so aim to arrive by mid-afternoon.
Frost to Gordon Lake · 9 miles paddle, 2 portages
Paddle from Frost across expansive, island-dotted Long Island Lake, where open sections can get windy, then take a final portage into smaller, sheltered Gordon Lake. The lighter portage load makes this a good day to slow down and watch for wildlife, including moose and a range of birds.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- daakrolb@hotmail.com / CC BY-SA 3.0Paddle Frost to Long Island Lake
~5 mi · 1 portage (~40 rods) · windy · HikeDepart Frost and paddle across expansive, island-dotted Long Island Lake, which can get windy on open sections, after a moderate portage. Break the crossing into island-to-island legs if the wind kicks up, and stay off the open middle.
- Paddle Long Island to Gordon Lake
~4 mi · 1 portage (~30 rods) · HikeCross Long Island and take the final portage of the day into smaller, sheltered Gordon Lake. The lighter portage load makes this a good day to slow down and watch for moose and a range of birds.
Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 3.0Camp on Gordon LakeSheltered sites · quiet water · loons at dusk · lodgeEstablish camp on quiet, intimate Gordon Lake. Being smaller and sheltered, it usually offers calmer water and one of the most peaceful evenings on the route. Set up early and listen for loons at dusk.
Gordon to Polly Lake · 9 miles paddle, 3 portages
Paddle across Gordon and take a short portage into secluded, often-overlooked Hazel Lake, then make the day's main push through two moderate portages to large, scenic Polly Lake. Polly is a hub with many campsites and marks the end of your deep-wilderness canoe route.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Sharon Mollerus / CC BY 2.0Paddle Gordon to Hazel Lake~2 mi · 1 short portage (~20 rods) · HikeBegin by paddling across Gordon and taking a short portage into secluded, often-overlooked Hazel Lake, a small, forested lake with usually calm water. A quiet start before the main push of the day.
- Paddle Hazel to Polly Lake
~7 mi · 2 portages (~50 & ~30 rods) · HikeThe main push of the day runs through two moderate portages to large, scenic Polly Lake, a hub with many campsites that marks the end of your deep-wilderness canoe route. Arrive early, as Polly can be busier than the interior lakes.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY 2.0Camp on Polly LakeLast night in BWCAW · many sites · lodgeClaim a campsite on Polly Lake for your last night in the Boundary Waters. Enjoy a final campfire if conditions allow, reflect on the journey, and pre-pack what you can so tomorrow's exit and drive go quickly.
Polly Exit & Drive to Grand Marais · 5 miles paddle, 2 portages
Complete the final paddle across Polly and two short portages out to the Kawishiwi Lake exit (entry point #37). After officially leaving the BWCAW and returning any rented gear, drive back toward Grand Marais on partly unpaved forest roads as cell service returns.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- daakrolb@hotmail.com / CC BY-SA 3.0Paddle Polly to Kawishiwi Lake exit
~5 mi · 2 short portages (~20 & ~10 rods) · EP #37 · HikeComplete the final paddle across Polly and two short portages out to the Kawishiwi Lake exit (entry point #37). It is a straightforward exit with short final portages that marks your departure from the BWCAW.
- Xopher Smith / CC BY 2.0Drive Kawishiwi Lake to Grand Marais
~1.5 hr · ~70 mi · partly unpaved · DriveAfter officially leaving the BWCAW and returning any rented gear, drive back toward Grand Marais on partly unpaved forest roads. Cell service returns as you near the North Shore, and the scenery feels different after nine days out.
- Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Overnight in Grand Marais
Hot shower · celebratory dinner · lodgeCheck into a comfortable lodge in Grand Marais, take a well-earned hot shower, and celebrate with dinner in town. After nine days out, a real bed and a restaurant meal feel like genuine luxuries. Book this night ahead in peak season.
Depart from Grand Marais
Enjoy a final North Shore breakfast at one of Grand Marais's cafes and, if time allows, stroll the harbor, visit the lighthouse, and browse the art galleries and outfitters in town. Grab a coffee and a local pastry before you point the car south.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Myotus / CC BY-SA 4.0Breakfast & harbor stroll in Grand MaraisNorth Shore cafes · lighthouse · galleries · activityEnjoy a final North Shore breakfast at one of Grand Marais's cafes and, if time allows, stroll the harbor, visit the lighthouse, and browse the art galleries and Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. Grab a coffee and a local pastry before you point the car south.
Sharon Mollerus / CC BY 2.0Drive to Duluth International Airport (DLH)~2 hr · ~110 mi south on Hwy 61 · DriveDrive Highway 61 back along Lake Superior toward Duluth International Airport, roughly two hours (110 miles) south, with an optional stop at Split Rock Lighthouse. Allow ample time for the drive and traffic near Duluth before your flight home.
Book the 9 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Boundary Waters
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Essential wilderness rules & planning.
BWCAW permits & quotas
A BWCAW entry permit is required for overnight trips and is issued through a daily quota per entry point on Recreation.gov. Reservations typically open in late January for the following season, so book the Sawbill Lake entry point (#38) as soon as the window opens for June through August. You must enter on your reserved date and through your reserved entry point.
Group size & watercraft
Group size is capped at 9 people and 4 watercraft per permit in the BWCAW. Plan your party within that limit. All members should be present or listed on the permit at pickup, handled through Sawbill Canoe Outfitters or the ranger station.
Camping, fires & no cans
Camp only at designated sites with the provided fire grates, which are first-come, first-served. Fires are allowed only in the grates using dead-and-down wood. Cans and bottles are prohibited in the BWCAW, so repackage food before you launch, and pack out all trash and food waste.
Water, waste & Leave No Trace
Filter, purify, or boil all water from lakes and streams; giardia is present. Bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp, and wash at least 200 feet from any water source with biodegradable soap. Leave No Trace is mandatory in both the BWCAW and on the Superior Hiking Trail.
When to go
The season runs late May to early October. Late May and June bring higher water and easier portages but heavy bugs; July and August are warmest and busiest, with common thunderstorms; September into early October offers fewer insects, cool weather, and fall color, though lower water can make some portages harder.
Getting there needs a car
Grand Marais is about two hours (110 miles) from Duluth International Airport (DLH) on Highway 61. Sawbill is roughly an hour inland on the Sawbill Trail, part of it unpaved, and Kawishiwi Lake is reached on forest roads. No public transportation serves the trailheads, so a car is required.
Pack for the portages, not just the paddle
A Kevlar canoe and loaded gear packs must be hand-carried over muddy portages measured in rods, so how you pack matters as much as how you paddle. Use modular, waterproof portage packs with padded shoulder straps rather than skimpy dry bags, which turn every carry brutal. Balance the loads, keep the canoe a one-person carry where you can, and cross the big, exposed lakes at first light when the surface winds are calmest.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Everything you'll actually want to know before a Boundary Waters trip.
Yes. A BWCAW entry permit is required for overnight trips and is issued through a daily quota per entry point on Recreation.gov. Reservations for the season typically open in late January of the preceding year. For popular entry points like Sawbill (#38) and peak dates in June through August, book immediately when the window opens. The Superior Hiking Trail itself needs no permit, but a Minnesota State Park pass ($7/day or $35 annual) is required to park at state-park trailheads.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 9 nights, sites held for you
- Any permits secured before you fly
- Gear rented locally and waiting at the site
- The route pinned to your phone before you leave
- Everything in Camped
- Rooms booked for every night, one base where the route allows
- Dinner reservations on the nights that need them
- A rain-day plan written before you go
- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide for the trip
- Airport pickup and every drive handled
- All the gear rented and waiting, so you pack clothes and nothing else
- Weather turns and they rewrite the day while you are still at breakfast
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Builds every custom itinerary herself and leads guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests. Based in Seattle.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family's trip.