2025 Annual Report
Overview
In 2025, the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee continued its mission to preserve and maintain historic wilderness trails in the BWCA. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, BWAC strengthened its stewardship programs, expanded outreach, and maintained strong financial health.
2025 Highlights
17 trail‑clearing trips completed
110 volunteers contributing 11,491 hours
109 miles of trail cleared and one new latrine installed
Zero injuries throughout the season
10 events held for training, recruitment, and volunteer recognition
$14.6k in revenue and a year‑end cash balance of $20.4k, reflecting responsible fiscal stewardship
A Heartfelt Thank‑You
BWAC is an all‑volunteer organization, and every accomplishment this year is the direct result of people who care deeply about the Boundary Waters. To all our volunteers, donors, partners, and crew leaders, thank you. Your time, energy, and generosity keeps these trails open, safe, and accessible for everyone who loves the wilderness.
2026 Trail Clearing Crews
Our trail crews make it happen and have some fun while doing it, thank you all!
Trip # 1 Brule Lake Trail
Crew #1, aka The Pungee Patrol, has returned from the Brule Lake Trail. The crew began the trip battling 18 hours of rain, snow, flooded trail, an 8-inch snow pack, and new treefalls. Thanks to our crew’s efforts, the trail is now safe for hikers to navigate the center 2.75 miles west of Ball Club Creek.
Trip #2 Sioux-Hustler Trail
Crew #2, aka The Tree Piranhas, experienced temps in the low 40s overnight and highs approaching an unseasonably warm 90F during the day on their Sioux-Hustler Trail clearing trip. Crew members managed to clear 9.25 miles of tree falls (127 trees in total!!) from the Sioux-Hustler trailhead to Devil’s Cascade campsite and the Shell/Little Shell campsite spur.
Trip #3 Brule Lake Trail
Two crews arrived at the Crescent Lake Campground on Thursday evening to set up multiple base camps for several days of trail clearing on the nearby Brule Lake Trail. Weather conditions were very favorable over two full days of trail clearing, netting one full mile cleared to U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest standard. Crews also tackled a large patch of very overgrown alders that had severely constricted the trail. Skies were mostly clear during work days, with only a short sprinkle on Friday, and no bugs!
Trip #4 Sioux-Hustler Trail
The initial day for Crew #4, aka The Four Seasons, on the Sioux-Hustler Trail was quite warm, and they capped it off with a swim at their campsite on Agawato Lake. The following days were spent clearing the trail, working their way up to the northeast bay of Emerald Lake. Temperatures steadily dropped over the weekend, and on their final day, snow flurries accompanied the crew as they hiked out. In total, the crew cleared approximately 75 treefalls to restore the trail from the entry point to Emerald Lake.
Trip #5 Powwow Trail
Rain, wind, sleet, and mud couldn’t stop our fifth trip this past weekend. Crew #5, aka The Danglers, cleared 1.5 miles of the Powwow Trail from brush and treefalls as well as hauled a latrine to the Rock of Ages Lake campsite. Despite cold temps and storms, spirits stayed high with loon calls and beaver tail slaps at night and campfires to dry work gloves and soggy socks. Huge thanks to our hard-working crew of nine, the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, and Kawishiwi Lodge for their support. Let’s hear it for trail work with purpose, sweat, and a little wilderness magic!
Trip #6 Powwow Trail
Crew #6, aka The Latriners, completed their mission to clear 0.63 miles of the Powwow Trail north and south of the Path Lake campsite. They also carried a latrine from the point where it was left by crew #5 to south of Path Lake campsite. The crew enjoyed a 6-mile paddle to and from the Kawishiwi Lodge to Lake Three, a 2.5 mile hike, two days of navigating brush growing on the trail, cutting through one huge white pine, and a genuinely good time was had by all! The weather was mostly fine, but at one point it threw a little hailstorm at them.
Trip #7 Powwow Trail
Crew #7, aka Groundbreaking Latrine… with A Chance of Hail, had a successful trip to the Superstition Lake area of the Powwow Trail over Memorial Day weekend. Following an 11+ mile hike to basecamp, the crew had a mission in addition to trail clearing: a new latrine installation at Superstition! With guidance from the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, the crew dug a hole for the latrine, assembled it, and installed it, which is a first for BWAC volunteers.
Trip #8 Powwow Trail
Crew #8 - The "BWAC Bigboys" completed a spring circumnavigation around the Powwow Trail. Winter storms brought down many new deadfalls, so the crew’s work was plentiful. During the circumnavigation, 250 treefalls were cut and removed from the trail to allow hikers a navigable path for the season. The Diana creek bridge was also repaired for crossing.
Trip #9 Powwow Trail
A mixed group of new and returning volunteers base camped at the beautiful Isabella site on the Powwow Trail last weekend, and focused on clearing heavy brush growth west of the "wye". Amazing (and tiring) work was done digging out root balls encroaching on the trail, but that didn't stop us from telling stories around the campfire and going for a refreshing swim after we knocked off for the day.
Trip #10 Sioux Hustler Trail
A mixed group of new and returning volunteers base camped at the beautiful Isabella site on the Powwow Trail last weekend, and focused on clearing heavy brush growth west of the "wye". Amazing (and tiring) work was done digging out root balls encroaching on the trail, but that didn't stop us from telling stories around the campfire and going for a refreshing swim after we knocked off for the day. Additional work was done near the campsite to ensure the Isabella waterway will be safe to cross for future hikers!
Trip #11 Powwow Trail
Crew #11 - “The Merit Badgers” completing a 5-day canoe and hiking trip to the west side of the Powwow Trail. Base camping at Path Lake, the crew continued clearing south, using a full arsenal of Radius Root Slayer shovels to remove large root balls and regrowth in the tread. The latrine destined for Mirror Lake was carried further down the trail as well. Highlights of the trip were the amazing campsite at Fall Lake, full of nesting painted turtles. Sighting a wolf pack with two adults and six pups, perfect canoeing conditions, and a great crew that embraced the challenging work.
Trip #12 Eagle Mt / Brule Lake Trail
Trip #12 patrolled the Eagle Mt / Brule Lake trail in late July. Work included surveying boardwalks and clearing fallen trees along 5 miles from the trailhead to the North Branch Cascade River crossing. The short bridge and two boardwalks are in disrepair and will need replacement asap. The 300 ft section through the bog should be the priority as the decking is sinking below the water surface. The North Whale Lake campsite was in good shape and works well for interior clearing trips. Many day hikers were seen heading up to enjoy the views from Eagle Mt.
Trip #13 - Powwow Trail
In late September, a crew of five dedicated BWAC volunteers paddled through Lakes One, Two, and Three to reach the Powwow Trail, where they cleared one mile of trail between Path Lake and Mirror Lake. Using root slayers, saws, and loppers, the team removed heavy brush and downed trees to keep the trail accessible. Warm fall weather made for hard work on sunbaked rock plateaus, but the crew also enjoyed unforgettable wilderness moments—spotting eagles, hearing wolves howling, and hosting a suspicious nighttime tent visitor that inspired their crew name.
Trip #14 - Powwow Trail
In late September, a crew of five dedicated BWAC volunteers paddled through Lakes One, Two, and Three to reach the Powwow Trail, where they cleared one mile of trail between Path Lake and Mirror Lake. Using root slayers, saws, and loppers, the team removed heavy brush and downed trees to keep the trail accessible. Warm fall weather made for hard work on sunbaked rock plateaus, but the crew also enjoyed unforgettable wilderness moments—spotting eagles, hearing wolves howling, and hosting a suspicious nighttime tent visitor that inspired their crew name.
Trip #15 - Powwow Trail
BWAC Crew #15 — “The Feathered Foresters” — spent a mid-October weekend tackling the south side of the Powwow Trail. Armed with root slayers, saws, loppers, and a Pulaski, the crew cleared brush and downed trees through some of the trail’s toughest stretches. Perfect fall weather, crisp nights, and wildlife sightings—including beavers, grouse, woodpeckers, and even a fleeting glimpse of a lynx—made for a memorable weekend filled with teamwork, learning, and the last golden colors of autumn.
Trip #16 - Sioux–Hustler Trail
BWAC Crew #16 — “The FKTers” — wrapped up the 2025 trail-clearing season with an impressive effort on the eastern edge of the Sioux–Hustler Trail. Reaching Hustler Lake required crossing one river, seven lakes, and seven portages before the real work began. Over two days, the crew sawed, lopped, dug, and hauled brush to clear 0.85 miles of trail to maintainable standards and open another 0.7 miles through heavy treefall. We’ll be back in the spring to tackle more brush and those massive root balls!