Volunteer opportunities, local hikes, backpacking trips, canoe trips and more.
Join Crew Leader Matt Leister and Co-leader Paul Stelter for a survey trip around the Sioux Hustler Trail. We will be surveying the trail for the upcoming trail clearing season, and doing some “as needed” trail clearing along the way.
Priority registration for this session is reserved for the Spring Trip #3 crew members.
We welcome others that are interested in a future BWAC trail clearing trip. Bring your questions and come learn about the BWAC trail clearing trip options- car camping, backpacking or canoeing.
This is a hike-in trip to clear the area south of the Wye. With only a 1-mile backpack in to our campsite, it is ideal for first-time backpackers. And the campsite on the Isabella River is beautiful! Experience is not required. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Join crew leaders Doug Rude and Deb Kuehne as we clear the gateway of the Sioux Hustler Trail. Most of the work will be clearing brush and new treefalls.
Join Verena and Goeran on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle North on the Little Indian Sioux River, and Upper and Lower Pauness Lake to get to our camp site by Devil's Cascade. From there we will clear the nearby section of the Sioux Hustler Trail from tree falls and brush.
Join crew leaders Lucas Raudabaugh and Eric Rawls on our first clearing trip to the Brule Lake Trail. We will hike to Eagle Mountain (the highest point in MN!!!), assess conditions, and clear the Brule Lake Trail. Conditions are unknown since we've never cleared here before!
This is a Canoe and backpack work trip to the Sioux Hustler Trail in the BWCAW. Some backpacking and canoeing experience is required. Tools and training will be provided. Additionally, we will provide you with a gear list.
Join Mark and Lucas on this 4-day, 31 mile Powwow Trail survey and clearing adventure. This is an advanced level backpacking trip on a remote wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Join Mel and Valentin on this 4- day backcountry trail clearing-adventure. We will be hiking 6 miles into the beautiful Pose Lake campsite, which will be our base camp. We will be working to clear brush and treefalls mostly east and south of Pose Lake. This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Itching for a long walk in the woods before jumping into volunteer trail work? If so, join us for this hike-in trail clearing trip to Superstition Lake! We’re looking for self-motivated, nature-loving, goal-oriented team members willing to tackle unknown trail and weather conditions to help us take care of the Powwow Trail. Prior trail clearing experience not required, but since we have a whopping ~11 mile hike in, we will be carefully vetting volunteers for fitness and hiking experience!
Join Zach and Trina on this 4.25-day back-country trail clearing combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
Join Caitlin and Sara on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
Come spend some time with BWAC on April 21 while you scope out some new gear for the upcoming paddling, hiking and backpacking season! We will be tabling at REI Roseville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and would love to chat about what we do and what we are up to. Swing by!
Registering for a spring trip? This required orientation is one of the building blocks supporting safe and rewarding experiences on the trail. Curious about volunteering? All are welcome to attend this event.
We will be meeting in the large conference/community room at REI in Bloomington, MN
Come join us in a new location for connection over our shared passions for the outdoors and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Gather with us, hear from each trail partner to learn of trail updates, needs, challenges, and more. Lunch will be served, to be followed by our keynote speaker, Teri Fick. Teri is the Leave No Trace advocate for Minnesota, and we are excited to learn more from her. Our speaker will be followed by several clinics related to outdoor wilderness trails, skills, and information.
Join the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee volunteers and friends for
our 2024 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner at the Dakota Lodge in West St. Paul. This will be a great night to reflect on the many accomplishments in 2023 by all of our hard-working and committed volunteers. Renew connections with your crew mates, trip leaders, and club organizers, while we celebrate another successful year of advocacy, education, and stewardship!
Hi Everyone! It is time to celebrate our Duluth Chapter 2023 achievements! We are hosting a dinner at Pizza Ranch near the Miller Mall to thank everyone for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. This is also a time to welcome new volunteers to meet the Duluth crew and learn more about getting involved.
Join us for a 3 mile hike through gently rolling prairie and oak forest and get ready for your first snow camping trip (later in winter)! Bring a training pack, 1 qt of hot beverage, TP, and dress for the weather. After brief safety talk at visitor center we will hike at about 2 MPH pace. During or after the hike there will be demonstration of white gas stoves: vintage Optimus 111B (expedition stove), Optimus NOVA, Primus Omnilite Ti, and compressed gas MSR Reactor along with a tutorial of pros and cons of each.
Join us! Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) is holding an award recognition event for the esteemed USFS Ranger Jon Benson to honor 15 years of partnership in maintaining BWCAW trails.
This is a backpack work trip to the Powwow Trail in the BWCAW. Some backpacking experience is required. All tools, training, and a gear list will be provided.
Thursday morning we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to the Powwow Trail, entry point #86. We will hike together to scenic South Wilder Lake and make our base camp, approximately ten miles from the trailhead.
Group hike and gear check for the volunteers headed to South Wilder Lake on October 12th, although anyone who'd like to tag along for a hike is welcome. We will review trip plans and gear before heading out for a short hike.
This is a hike-in trip to clear the areas west of Pose Lake. This will be a 6.25-mile hike-in Thursday afternoon and back out Sunday morning. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
The Duluth BWAC Chapter is calling back those enthusiastic volunteers who signed up for a trip last spring but were unable to attend. The mission is back on and this time we will be cleaning up the Powwow Trail! Our mission is to remove brush crowding the trail and cut new tree falls along the gateway.
This is a hike-in trip to clear the areas east and west of Campfire Lake. This will be a 9-mile hike-in Thursday morning and back out Sunday morning. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Join crew leaders Doug Rude and Deb Kuehne as we clear the Sioux Hustler Trail. Most of the work will be clearing brush and new treefalls.
This is the required Meet & Greet hike for October 5-8, 2023 Powwow Trail fall clearing crew #15, led by Zach Thorson and Susan Pollock.
We welcome those who aren't on the crew but would like join us for our meeting, gear talk, and a short hike.
This is intended as a "Meet & Greet" hike for the crew participating in the Powwow trail clearing trip on September 30th.
If you are interested in joining us for this hike but are not joining the September 30th crew, please see contact information below.
This is a car camping trip to clear the areas near the Powwow Trail "Gateway" corridor. There will be a short hike-in and back out each work day to and from our base car-camping location. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Itching to get your feet wet (canoeing and portaging) before jumping into volunteer trail work? If so, come and join us for this canoe/hike trail clearing trip to North Wilder! We’re looking for self-motivated, nature-loving, goal-oriented team members willing to tackle unknown trail and weather conditions to help us take care of the Powwow Trail. Prior trail clearing experience not required.
** Required for Duluth Sept 30th Trip **
Interested in helping to restore BWCA Wilderness Trails for hikers and backpackers like you? This 1.5 hour workshop will make you familiar with wilderness trail clearing topics: cutting tree falls safely, trail clearing standards, participant and team expectations, proper clothing and gear for the trip, goals, food and itinerary. This workshop is required for volunteers on the Sept 30th Powwow Trail clearing day trip. Even if you participated in past trail clearing trips, please attend to refresh your skills. Not going on this trip? Anyone can attend!
Priority registration for this session is reserved for the Fall Trip #17 crew members.
We welcome others that are interested in a future BWAC trail clearing trip. Bring your questions and come learn about the BWAC trail clearing trip options- car camping, backpacking or canoeing.
Have you volunteered on the Powwow Trail before, and now you’re ready to see all 31 miles of it? If so, come and join us for this fall's circumnavigation survey trip!
This is the required, combined Meet & Greet hike for the September 14-17, 2023 and September 28-October 1, 2023, Powwow Trail spring clearing crews #12 and #13, led by Mel Yackley, John Mattson, and Paul Stelter. If you are not part of these clearing crews you are still welcome to attend. If you are curious about BWAC, come and ask some questions.
Curious about a trail clearing trip but would like to meet some people and ask questions first? Already signed up and training for a trip? Or maybe you'd just like to go for a walk and enjoy the wildflowers? This in an evening hike through Afton State Park, open to anyone who is interested.
** Required for BWAC Twin Cities Trips **
Registering for a fall trip? This required orientation is one of the building blocks supporting safe and rewarding experiences on the trail. Curious about volunteering? All are welcome to attend this event or watch via Google Meet and / or a live stream from our Boundary Waters Advisory Committee ( BWAC) Facebook page.
Most people know that you can canoe in the BWCAW. But, the best kept secret is that there are "Hidden Gems" beyond the canoe that can only be found on foot!
Join us for a presentation on how these "Hidden Gems" are preserved by volunteers. Martin Kubik will share photos, maps, stories and more about the Kekekabic, Powwow, Sioux Hustler and Eagle Mountain/Brule Lake trails.
Join us for a hike and/or overnight camping event within Wedge Hill Group Camp 1 at William O’Brien State Park! We’ll hike; we’ll camp; we’ll chat about BWAC, our mission, and all things Boundary Waters, trips, and gear! All are welcome, up to 35 - we look forward to connecting with you.
Note: Please prepare for this as if you were going backpacking, with food and gear that you would bring on an overnight trip to the Boundary Waters. Food will not be provided. Not sure what to bring? Click here.
Site has running water, vault toilets. There is a very short walk from the parking lot, with carts provided. While we love pets, we are not able to allow them for this event. Please be mindful of quiet hours after 10 p.m. within state parks. Alcohol is not allowed at this event.
Even if you can’t join for the overnight, feel free to join for any portions of the weekend!
Please arrive with full pack you intend to use on trail. *Tents only please*
Schedule of Events:
*PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY*
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Arrive at Campsite/Setup Camp
5:30 p.m. Hike
6:30 p.m. Dinner/Fire
7:00 p.m. Discussion
9:00 a.m. Depart
The Wedge Hill Group Camp is a walk-in site with carts available near walk-in parking. Once that parking area is full, please use the Overflow parking area at the Visitor Center, which is a short walk away from the campsite.
Campfire Lake campsite - Powwow Trail
This is a backpack work trip to the Powwow Trail in the BWCAW. Some backpacking experience is required. All tools, training, and a gear list will be provided.
Thursday morning we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to the Powwow Trail, entry point #86. We will hike together to scenic South Wilder Lake and make our base camp, approximately ten miles from the trailhead.
Friday and Saturday we will be hard at work clearing the northern section of the trail, where fallen trees and thick brush abound.
Finally, on Sunday morning we will pack up our camp and head out, stopping for a meal together on our way home.
We will be clearing sections of the Sioux Hustler Foot Trail based on the results of our survey trip in early May. We will leave mid-afternoon on Thursday, June 1, and stay overnight at the Lake Jeanette Campground just down the road from the trailhead. On Friday morning, we will set off on the trail to establish a base camp and begin clearing the trail.
We will resume clearing sections of the trail on Saturday. On Sunday morning, after a hearty breakfast, we will return to the trailhead, stop for lunch in Ely, and be back in the Twin Cities by early evening.
This is a very rigorous trip and will require good skills and endurance. Contact organizer with any questions.
This is a hike-in trip to clear the areas east and west of Campfire Lake. This will be a 9-mile hike-in Thursday morning and back out Sunday morning. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Join crew leaders Doug Rude and Deb Kuehne as we clear the Powwow Trail west of the Wye. We will be clearing new treefalls, and cutting out brush.
