Fishing: Too many lakes to mention; see description below
Maps: Fisher F-12, F-13, F-14; McKenzie #1, #2
Trail Water Views: Too many to mention; see description below
Fire History: Ham Lake Fire 2007, 2002 prescribed burn (Magnetic Rock section)
Wildlife Seen on Visits: Bald Eagle, Beaver, Loons
Campsites: 16 including those on spur trails; (1 visited)
Highest Trail Elevation: About 2050 feet +/- 40 feet
Last Visited: October 27, 2022
Scenic Overlooks: Too many to mention; see description below
Trail Connections and Trailheads: Too many to mention; see description below
Border Route Trail
Gunflint Ranger District
The Border Route Trail is a 65-mile-long hiking trail that spans the northeastern corner of Minnesota along the Canadian border. The trail is part of the Superior National Forest and offers hikers stunning views of the surrounding wilderness.
The Border Route Trail is known for its rugged terrain, steep elevation changes, and rocky paths, which make it a challenging but rewarding hike. The trail traverses a variety of landscapes, including dense forests, rocky ridges, and crystal-clear lakes. Hikers can experience the unique beauty of the region, including breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscape and a chance to observe a wide range of wildlife, including bears, moose, and wolves.
The Border Route Trail is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, backpackers, and nature lovers. Hiking the trail can take anywhere from three to seven days, depending on the hiker's pace and the section of the trail they choose to hike.
The Border Route Trail (BRT) is sandwiched between the Kekekabic Trail on the west and the Superior Hiking Trail on the east. Combined, all three trails make up the eastern portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail's route through Minnesota. The BRT winds its way through a boreal forest that grows on the thin soil that has developed over the underlying Canadian Shield, a billion plus year old rock formation. Much of the trail is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).
The BRT is about 65-miles long. It's western trailhead is on the Gunflint Trail. The eastern end of the trail is along Otter Lake Road which can be accessed from the Arrowhead Trail (County Road 16). You don't have to start at either end of the BRT. The trail also has several access trails, which are themselves excellent hikes. Using these access trails, you can do day hikes or shorter overnight hikes. Access trails include:
Caribou Rock Trail
Crab Lake Trail
Moss Lake Trail
Mucker Lake Access Trail
South Lake Trail
Also, for sections of the trail that are outside of the BWCA, there are several access points where the trail crosses roads.
The first 1.46-miles of the BRT starting from the western trailhead heading east are shared by the Magnetic Rock Trail.
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HIKING FROM THE BORDER ROUTE TRAIL WEST TRAILHEAD TO MAGNETIC ROCK
Start of the Centennial Trail (and the Kekekabic Trail).
The first section of this trail shown in this video is about 0.6 miles long. This is Site #1 in the Centennial Trail Interpretive Guide. You are hiking from the trailhead to the Gunflint Lookout Tower spur trail. This section of the trail is shared by both the Centennial Trail and the Kekekabic Trail and was built in the 1930's specifically to provide a way to get to the fire tower. The Kekekabic Trail continues after splitting off from the Centennial Trail about 0.6 miles past the spur trail. The Kek continues for a total of 38.6 miles, bisecting a large portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and finally ending near Snowbank Lake. Past Snowbank Lake, you can continue hiking on the North Country National Scenic Trail.
This overlook provides a nice view to the south. The pond is the one you passed not long after leaving the trailhead.
Fine view of some beaver ponds located in a depression surrounded on one side by the ridge you are standing on and by hills on the other side. This view is toward the west. The pond in question is located about 300 yards east of the Gunflint Trail.
Another wider angle view of the image above.
This is the eastern end of the Larch Creek valley overlook.
Looking in a more westerly direction of the rest of the Larch Creek valley. The creek runs along the far side of this bog along the tree line.
As you head east down the trail, this will be your first view of Magnetic Rock. This is 1.46-miles from the trailhead. The Border Route Trail Guide states that the height is 40 feet.
View from the otherside of Magnetic Rock. You are facing to the southeast.
Close up view of the base of Magnetic Rock.
HIKING FROM CLEARWATER LAKE TO GOGEBIC LAKE
This is Clearwater Lake looking in the southwest direction. The Border Route Trail is combined with the Clearwater Lake/West Pike Lake portage from this point until about halfway across the portage. At roughly the halfway point, the portage and the BRT split. There is a campsite located on that point to the right side of your view. The BRT runs right behind that campsite which is BWCA Campsite 684.
For about a 100 rods or so, the Border Route Trail follows the same path as the portage between Clearwater Lake and West Pike Lake. It then splits off to the right and soon crosses a small bridge over a babbling creek. This creek drains Clearwater Lake into West Pike Lake. The trail continues to the east/southeast in an undulating, snaking manner to the shore of Gogebic Lake. The Last 50 rods or so of this section follow the rather difficult portage between Gobebic Lake and West Pike Lake.
HIKING FROM GOGEBIC LAKE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 723 ON GOGEBIC LAKE
View of Gogebic Lake as you clear the trees along the Border Route Trail.
Once the BRT reaches the north shore of Gogebic Lake, it bends to the west and follows the shoreline fairly closely until reaching BWCA Campsite 723.
The view you'll have of Gogebic Lake from the campsite. The shoreline is easily accessed from this site. Gogebic Lake is regularly stocked with brook trout if you happened to pack a fishing pole.
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HIKING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 723 ON GOGEBIC LAKE TO WHERE TRAIL LEAVES GOGEBIC LAKE
HIKING FROM GOGEBIC LAKE TO CLEARWATER LAKE
HIKING FROM MAGNETIC ROCK TO THE BORDER ROUTE TRAIL WEST TRAILHEAD
Traveling westbound along the combined Magnetic Rock/Border Route Trail. This section takes you from Magnetic Rock to the Border Route Trail West Trailhead (which is also the trailhead for the Magnetic Rock Trail).
The Border Route Trail's western trailhead.
If you plan to extend your hike along the Kekekabic Trail, here is the section along the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12) between the Border Route Trail West Trailhead and the Kekekabic East Trailhead.
