Last Visited: June 14, 2020; Previous Visit(s): October 9, 2015
Maps: Fisher F-12; McKenzie #7
Daily Quota: 4
Fire History: 2006 Cavity Lake Fire
Nearest Ranger Station: Gunflint Ranger Station, Grand Marais, MN along Hwy. 61 on the North Shore
Portage Length from Parking Lot: 5 rods
Restroom at Entry Point: Yes
Entry Point 52 - Brant Lake
Gunflint Ranger District
From Grand Marais, follow the Gunflint Trail (County Road 12) inland for about 45 miles until you reach Round Lake Road (County Road 47). The Round Lake Road turnoff is past the Gunflint Lake Overlook. Follow Round Lake Road as it parallels the Cross River. In about a mile or so you will see the sign for the Cross Bay Lake entry point (which is BWCA Entry Point #50) and parking lot, but continue past this. The parking lot for both Entry Point 51 and Entry Point 52 (Missing Link Lake and Brant Lake respectively) is just a bit further down the road at Round Lake. You will come to a sign indicating Tuscarora or Round Lake. Tuscarora refers to the Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outffiters located on Round Lake, not the lake itself. Turn and head toward Round Lake which is one mile down the road.
From the parking lot, portage your gear down the steps to the gravel dock that extends out into Round Lake. From here, you can paddle across Round Lake to either the Missing Link Lake portage and Entry Point #51 or toward the portage to West Round Lake which is the route towards Entry Point #52 at Brant Lake.
The forest around this entry point was burned by the 2007 Ham Lake Fire.
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This sign indicates the turn that gets you on the road leading to the entry point landings for Cross Bay Lake #50, Missing Link Lake #51 and Brant Lake #52. Cross Bay Lake entry point is really on the Cross River and is the first one you will come to. Missing Link Lake and Brant Lake entry points are farther down the road and accessed from Round Lake. Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters is also down this way if you need some extra gear or a place to bunk for the night.
Intersection that you come to after you pass the Cross Bay Lake entry point (Cross River). Tuscarora refers to Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters, not access to the lake.
The parking lot at Round Lake.
Your last chance at civility.
This is the now familiar bulletin board that you encounter at all entry points. The day permits are in the box on the left for both the Missing Link Lake and Brant Lake entry points.
Walking about the Round Lake entry points. Round Lake provides access to Missing Link Lake - Entry Point #51 and Brant Lake - Entry Point #52. This area was affected by the 2007 Ham Lake Fire.
Round Lake from the landing. Tuscarora Lake Lodge and Canoe Outfitters is on this lake and is to the left (out of view). The portage to West Round Lake is straight down the shoreline on the right. The Missing Link Lake portage is pretty much directly across the lake.
Here is the actual entry point portage for Entry Point 52 - Brant Lake. The 33 rod portage between Edith Lake and Brant Lake traverses a burn area and is flat and often muddy. You enter the BWCA just as you leave the shoreline of Edith Lake heading in the direction of Brant Lake. Note: To get to this portage, you must first portage from Round Lake to West Round Lake, then paddle across West Round Lake. Next you must portage from West Round Lake to Edith Lake and then paddle across Edith Lake.Once across Edith Lake, you can portage to Brant Lake (video shown above). (See this portage in both directions here.)
Now that you've reached the shore of the lake, visit:BRANT LAKE
