2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #7 Powwow Trail
Crew #7 had a successful trip to the Superstition Lake area of the Powwow Trail over Memorial Day weekend. In addition to trail clearing, they had a mission: a new latrine installation at Superstition! We are so glad trail users will now have access to a latrine at this remote site.
In addition to this accomplishment, the crew cleared a quarter mile south from the campsite in rocky, exposed terrain.
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. We are so glad trail users will now have access to a latrine at this remote site.
In addition to this accomplishment, the crew cleared a quarter mile south from the campsite in rocky, exposed terrain, which meant mostly hot working conditions. It also turns out our work helmets are useful for more than just trail work, as the crew was happy to have them on while being pelted during a full ten minute hailstorm mid-workday Saturday.
There’s never a dull moment with our volunteers!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #5 Powwow Trail
Rain, wind, sleet, and mud couldn’t stop Crew #5 this past weekend.
The crew 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.
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!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #4 Sioux-Hustler Trail
Crew #4's initial day on the Sioux-Hustler Trail was quite warm, and they capped it off with a swim at their campsite on Agawato Lake. However, a short-lived but severe storm that evening downed trees across the lake and behind their campsite. Temperatures steadily dropped over the weekend, and on their final day, snow flurries accompanied them as they hiked out.
In total, the crew cleared approximately 75 treefalls to restore the trail from the entry point to Emerald Lake.
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. However, a short-lived but severe storm that evening downed trees across the lake and behind their campsite. 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.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #2 Sioux-Hustler Trail
Crew #2 experienced temps in the low 40s overnight and highs approaching an unseasonably warm 90F during the day on the Sioux-Hustler Trail. Crew members cleared 9.25 miles of tree falls (127 trees in total!!) from the Sioux-Hustler trailhead to the Devil’s Cascade campsite and the Shell/Little Shell campsite spur.
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.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #3 Brule Lake Trail
Two crews arrived at the Crescent Lake Campground on Thursday evening to set up multiple basecamps 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.
Two crews arrived at the Crescent Lake Campground on Thursday evening to set up multiple basecamps 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!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #1 Brule Lake Trail
It’s finally the season opener for our trail crews! Crew #1 has returned from the Brule Lake Trail. 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.
It’s finally the season opener for our trail crews! 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.
Two upcoming trail crews will be tackling the remaining 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
⚠️Note to hikers: The trail crossing of Ball Club Creek is flooded with a swift water current
2025 Spring Crew Member Orientation and Safety Training
We had an incredible turnout Tuesday night for our Spring 2025 Crew Member Orientation at REI Bloomington. This is a required part of the process for crew members as we prep them for our clearing trips, where we cover our history and mission, safety, trail standards, and gear. We look forward to another successful trail clearing season!
We had an incredible turnout Tuesday night for our Spring 2025 Crew Member Orientation at REI Bloomington. This is a required part of the process for crew members as we prep them for our clearing trips, where we cover our history and mission, safety, trail standards, and gear.
As our Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness trips are done in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, attendees are also provided the opportunity to view required videos related to obtaining wilderness permits ahead of our trips. Our goal is always safe and fun trips, and this level of preparedness for our volunteers is a key part of that.
We look forward to another successful trail clearing season!
2025 Hike and Camp with BWAC
We had a fantastic time at our Spring Hike and Camp at Carver Park Reserve this past weekend! A sunny day and warm spring weather made for a beautiful hike, where we swapped stories about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and shared our mission with the group. At camp, we cooked dinner, talked gear, and ended the night around the fire with trail tales and lots of laughs.
We had a fantastic time at our Spring Hike and Camp at Carver Park Reserve this past weekend!
A sunny day and warm spring weather made for a beautiful 3-mile hike near Parley Lake, where we swapped stories about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and shared our mission with the group. After the hike, we set up camp, cooked dinner, talked gear, and ended the night around the fire with trail tales and lots of laughs.
Thanks to everyone who joined us—it was such a joy to connect and share what makes the Boundary Waters so special. Stay tuned for more adventures with BWAC!
2025 Boundary Waters Trails Kickoff
We had so much fun with friends this weekend at our annual Boundary Waters Trails Kickoff event. This successful event included many opportunities for the 70 attendees to connect over a shared love for our wilderness areas.
We had so much fun with friends this weekend at our annual Boundary Waters Trails Kickoff event! Our co-hosts North Country Trail Association, Kekekabic Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, and Border Route Trail Association put on a successful event that included many opportunities for the 70 attendees to connect over a shared love for our wilderness areas.
We welcomed new tabling guests from the Northwoods Volunteer Connection, Leave No Trace, and MN Rovers. After enjoying a meal and hearing from trail representatives about their respective trails, what it takes to maintain them, and how to get involved, several clinics followed in the afternoon.
Topics covered were Orienteering 101; Food, Water, & the Backcountry; and What’s in Your Pack. Participants also had opportunities to win prizes from many great contributors, including Piragis Northwoods Company, Myrmel Maps, Cnoc Outdoors, McKenzie Maps, and True North.
We hope folks left feeling energized about our local wilderness trails and the upcoming hiking, paddling, and backpacking season.
2025 Canoecopia Paddlesports Expo
We hosted a booth at the 2025 Canoecopia Paddlesports Expo in Madison, WI, to raise awareness of BWCAW wilderness trails and recruit volunteers for spring trips. Our volunteers engaged with hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts, sharing trail information and listening to personal stories about past BWCAW adventures.
We hosted a booth at the 2025 Canoecopia Paddlesports Expo in Madison, WI, to raise awareness of BWCAW wilderness trails and recruit volunteers for spring trips. Over three days, our volunteers engaged with hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts, sharing trail information and listening to personal stories about past BWCAW adventures. Many visitors expressed their gratitude for the organization's accomplishments and showed interest in volunteering on future trail clearing trips.
