Powwow Trail Restoration: A Decade of Dedication and Collaboration

We are thrilled to share some exciting news—after years of hard volunteer work and close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service of the Superior National Forest, all campsites on the historic Powwow Trail are now fully restored.

The Powwow Trail has always held a special place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Established under the 1978 Act that created the BWCA Wilderness, the trail is a “lollipop” route—featuring a 3-mile out-and-back stem that leads into a 25-mile loop. Construction began in 1979, linking former logging roads with wilderness paths to create a truly unique backcountry experience. Hiking the Powwow immerses visitors in remote wilderness, where they’ll encounter a rapidly regenerating mixed forest, scenic overlooks, and numerous wetland and beaver dam crossings.

But in the fall of 2011, the Pagami Creek wildfire changed everything. Burning through more than 95% of the trail corridor, the fire left the route almost unrecognizable. Campsites were destroyed, and the path itself was buried under thousands of fallen trees, charred trunks, and new, dense growth of jack pine and brush.

Since then, volunteers with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service of the Superior National Forest, have worked tirelessly to recover and reopen the trail. Armed only with hand saws, loppers, and determination, crews have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to clearing deadfall, cutting back thick regrowth, and carefully reestablishing the historic route. Last year alone, volunteers contributed nearly 13,000 hours of trail-clearing work—not including the countless hours spent planning, organizing, and supporting this ongoing effort.

The work hasn’t been easy. Each season brought new challenges as conditions on the trail remained dynamic and unpredictable in the years following the fire. But thanks to this long-term commitment, hikers can once again experience the full Powwow Trail—and now, with campsites restored, they can fully immerse themselves in multi-day wilderness travel along this remarkable loop.

What does “fully restored” mean?
Each open campsite now has a fire grate, a latrine, and has been cleared of hazard trees, ensuring that visitors have a safe and functional place to rest along their journey.

The restoration of the Powwow Trail is more than just a success story about reopening campsites. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, persistence, and community. Volunteers and partners came together over more than a decade to restore a vital piece of the Boundary Waters hiking network.

Location:
The Powwow Trailhead, BWCAW Entry Point #86, is located about 250 miles north of the Twin Cities. The trail begins to the right of the wooden kiosk in the northwest corner of the parking lot.

Trail Timeline:

• 1978 – Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act establishes the BWCAW and calls for hiking trail development.

• 1979 – Construction of the Powwow Trail begins, linking former logging roads with wilderness paths.

• 2011 – The Pagami Creek Fire burns more than 95% of the trail corridor.

• 2012–2024 – BWAC volunteers and partners work year after year to reopen and maintain the trail using hand tools.

• 2025 – All campsites along the Powwow Trail are fully restored.

We invite hikers to enjoy this hard-won trail, but also to come prepared. Conditions remain challenging, and the landscape continues to change. For current updates and trip planning resources, visit our Powwow Trail Guide, the Powwow Trail Conditions page, and the U.S. Forest Service website.

And finally—we need your help to keep the trail open. Volunteers are the heart of this work, and the Powwow Trail will only remain accessible through ongoing community effort. If you’d like to join us on a future trail-clearing trip or support in other ways, we’d love to have you be part of the Powwow’s story.

The Powwow Trail stands today as both a wilderness adventure and a living reminder of resilience—of the forest, of volunteers, and of the community that came together to make this recovery possible.