Border Route Trail

The Border Route Trail is a rugged long-distance wilderness footpath in northeastern Minnesota that follows the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, crossing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest. It’s part of the North Country National Scenic Trail designation.

As a through-hike, it’s commonly planned as a 65-mile trip (with many hikers reporting about 72 miles total on the ground when accounting for re-routes and spurs to campsites). Expect steep, rough, and occasionally brushy sections rather than a gentle treadway.

The trail links with the Kekekabic Trail at the western end near Gunflint Trail / Cook County Road 12, and it connects to the Superior Hiking Trail at the eastern end near Otter Lake Road. This makes it practical as a long section hike by joining onto established end-to-end systems.

Because more than half of the route passes through the BWCAW, overnight hikers need a USFS quota permit for BWCAW entry (May through September), and planning ahead is essential since permits are limited. The permit requirement is a defining logistical constraint for the route.

Navigation is a major part of the challenge: in remote areas, trail conditions can fade, so hikers typically plan around offline mapping plus compass work. Dedicated route map resources and apps are commonly used for finding the tread and managing re-routes in the backcountry.

Seasonally, it’s treated as a backpacking route in the May–September window for BWCAW quota permits, with most completion attempts taking about 4 to 6 days for the full line. Several spurs allow shorter 1- to 3-day outings, but the core character remains wilderness travel.

More information: Official website, Official website, Backpacking the Border Route Trail | 65 Miles on the ...