Boundary Waters Advisory Committee - BWAC

06/06/2026

Today, the American Hiking Society hosts National Trails Day—the largest annual celebration of public trails in the United States. At the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC), we believe the best way to celebrate trails is to protect them.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness holds some of the most remote backpacking terrain in the country. Keeping routes like the Powwow Trail, Sioux Hustler Trail, and Brule Lake Trails safe and navigable requires thousands of hours of dedicated volunteer service every year.

Our crews volunteer their time clearing downfall and brush, ensuring these historic paths remain open for future generations.

How you can support our mission today:
We rely entirely on the generosity and grit of our community to keep these trails alive.

🌐 Support Our Work: Visit our website to donate to our cause and fund future clearing expeditions.

🤝 Get Involved: Join us on Meetup to stay informed on our upcoming events and clearing trips. https://www.meetup.com/boundarywatersadvisorycommittee

JOIN US in preserving the wilderness!

06/03/2026

475 hours of hard work, muddy boots, and unforgettable views!

Huge congratulations to Crew 8 for crushing Trip #8! Six incredible volunteers stepped up to clear and maintain our backcountry trails, pushing through everything from chilly rain to mid-80s heat.

What a week looks like on the trail:

The Impact: 475 total volunteer service hours dedicated to keeping public lands open and accessible.

The Hustle: Clearing brush and downed trees with saws, loppers, and root slayers.

The Reward: Setting up camp right on the water at Pageant Lake, spotting eagles at Devil’s Cascade, and swapping stories after a long day's work.

From dealing with thick ticks to pushing through minor trail injuries, this crew showed what true grit looks like. Shoutout to Leaders Sara and Brianna, and crew members Kait, Lon, Alana, and Logan. You all are rockstars!

A massive thank you to the US Forest Service - Superior National Forest (Tofte District) for supporting our crews with essential gear and permits.

Want to be part of the next adventure?
If you’re ready to work hard, camp in beautiful places, and give back to the trails you love, we want you on the team. Comment below or send us a DM to learn how to join a future crew!

05/27/2026

Our 4-person volunteer crew (“To The Left”) just wrapped up a 5-day backcountry mission to clear the trails around Mirror Lake, and they crushed it! From fighting headwinds to evading aggressive bees, this crew put in 427 total hours of volunteer service to keep the wilderness accessible.

Trail Cleared: A total of 0.25 miles of dense trail cleared right around the Mirror Lake campsite, plus 4 major downed trees removed on the hike out!

Weather & Wilderness Life:
The crew experienced a bit of everything! They started the weekend paddling into chilly, choppy headwinds and dodging Saturday morning downpours, but finished strong in sunny, 88°F weather by Monday.

Wilderness highlights included spotting beavers, a turtle near Rock of Ages, and listening to whippoorwills at night. They also noted plenty of moose and wolf s**t along the trail—reminding us who actually owns the woods!

The Spicy Highlights: No backcountry trip is complete without a little drama! The crew got swarmed by some highly territorial bees during lunch at Lake Three. Valentin and Olcay took a few stings for the team, resulting in a swift, action-movie-style escape back into the canoes. Note for the future: pack more Benadryl!

Big Thanks To Our Partners!
A huge shoutout to the US Forest Service (Superior National Forest - Tofte District) for the permits and campground use, and to Kawishiwi Lodge for keeping us afloat with canoes and gear!

05/22/2026

"The Isabella Comedy Crew" (a 5-person volunteer team) just wrapped up Trip #6 on the Powwow Trail, contributing 422.5 total volunteer service hours to keep the wilderness accessible.

The Progress: The team successfully cleared 0.5 miles north of the Isabella River crossing and 0.25 miles south of the "Wye." The trail from the parking lot to the river is now in excellent condition, meeting official trail standards.

Trail & Camp Conditions:
• The Trek: Navigating to the work site required a high-water river crossing and balancing across four beaver flood zones.

• The Wilderness: The crew enjoyed a mosquito-free weekend filled with loon calls, northern lights, and signs of a moose that had walked the trail just ahead of them. They even spotted a distant lynx/bobcat.

• Camp Life: The crew set up basecamp at the beautiful Isabella Lake campsite, which easily fit their five tents and offered perfect views of the sunset. Saturday night, even rewarded several crew members with a view of the northern lights. True to their name as a comedy crew, they kept spirits high when leader Gretchen forgot her spoon, quickly carving a replacement from deadwood. They also adopted a little wooden mascot named "Stub" to keep them company.

Tools & Future Work: The crew spent two days digging out stubborn alder and willow root balls. They recommend that future crews bring one Root Slayer shovel and lopper per person. A one-mile section of the Gateway trail still needs significant brushing work this fall or next spring.

Thank you to the US Forest Service (Superior National Forest) for the permits, and a huge shoutout to Gretchen, Laura, Lynn, Ron, and Bonnie for their hard work and high spirits.

05/20/2026

Our incredible 6-person volunteer crew just wrapped up Trip #5 (May 13–17, 2026), clocking in a massive 644 total volunteer service hours to help restore the Powwow Trail!

Here is how the adventure went down:

The Battle of Lake Three: "The Mighty Headwinds" earned their name on Thursday morning. Facing a fierce South wind and whitecaps on Lake Three, the crew dug deep, hugged the western shoreline, and pushed through. It took a grueling 9.5 hours of intense paddling and hiking to reach the Mirror Lake campsite—but team spirit never wavered!

The mission: Take back the trail from overgrown willow brushes.

The Progress: The crew successfully cleared 0.6 miles of trail between Mirror Lake and Path Lake!

The Action: It was an all-out battle of "Man vs. Willow." The crew focused heavily on digging out massive root balls.

The Casualties: The work was so intense that one Root Slayer shovel completely broke, and a long-handled one bent. (Note to future crews: Bring a Root Slayer and a lopper for everyone!)

Camp Life at Mirror Lake: Mirror Lake treated the crew well with beautiful, flat tent pads. Pro-tip for future crews: Bring a large 10-liter water filtration system to share so everyone doesn't have to brave the steep climb down to the lake for water!

This crucial maintenance work wouldn't be possible without our amazing public and private partners. A massive shoutout to: The US Forest Service (Superior National Forest) & Piragis Outfitters for permits. Frank Udovich at Kawishiwi Lodge for the bunkhouse lodging and essential canoe gear.

The crew returned safe, sound, and a little sore on Sunday afternoon. Thank you to Verena, Goeran, Vamshi, Tony, Kay, and Melinda for your hard work and dedication to keeping our trails open!

05/13/2026

Nothing says "Happy Birthday" quite like 110 hours of backcountry trail work, freezing rain, and helpful beavers.

Crew Leaders Kait and Katie braved chilly spring weather (highs of 40F, light flurries, and freezing rain) to crush some major maintenance goals between the rapids and the Devils Cascade campsite.

What We Accomplished:
- Cleared 30 Treefalls: The saws got a serious workout clearing massive blowdowns blockading the trail.
- Beaver Dam Reroute: Flagged a brand-new reroute to move hikers to drier ground.
- Safety First: Spent time clearing dangerous, angled spikes left behind by previous clearing and enthusiastic local beavers. The beaver trail network is now connected and safely passable.

Trail Conditions Update:
The Good: The trail is surprisingly dry and in great overall shape. The beaver dam is built up and much safer to cross than last year due to lower water levels.

The Caution: The portage trail to the first Shell Lake campsite is flooded halfway through. Plan to hike through to Devils Cascade for camping. Future crews will also need to plan for some brushing from the rapids to the wye.

Huge thank you to Kaitlyn and Katie for putting in 130 total volunteer service hours to keep our trails safe and clear.

05/09/2026

Our 2nd BWAC crew of the season returned from a productive weekend on the Sioux Hustler Trail. Calling themselves "The Geezers plus 2," this squad of seven volunteers proved that dedication and hard work go a long way in preserving our wilderness trails.

The crew focused on the first 5 miles of the Sioux-Hustler Trail, which serves as the gateway to this 30-mile "lollipop" route (a trek featuring a single entry path leading to a large loop).

The Highlights:
- 545 Total Volunteer Hours: A massive contribution of time and effort to the BWCAW.
- Frosty Mornings: The crew braved a crisp 19°F start on the first night before enjoying sunny days in the 50s.
- Dry Trails: Surprisingly dry conditions made for excellent hiking and efficient clearing work.
- Trail Connections: The team encountered several hikers, including a former BWAC volunteer who shared updates on beaver activity and trail conditions further in.
- Tool Lessons: While saws and loppers did the heavy lifting, the crew noted that a "Root Slayer" shovel will be on the must-have list for future root ball removals.

The Experience:
The team had the Lake Jeanette Campground entirely to themselves, providing a peaceful basecamp for the weekend. A special thank you goes out to the USFS LaCroix Ranger District for reserving the sites and clearing downed trees, which provided the crew with plenty of firewood for the chilly evenings. After outrunning a heavy rainstorm on Monday morning, the group headed into town to celebrate a successful mission with a hot breakfast.

05/07/2026

Our first mission of 2026 is officially in the books! A crew of 6 dedicated volunteers from the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee - BWAC just wrapped up 4 days of grit, grime, and heavy lifting on the Eagle Mt. and Brule Lake trails.

This crew traded sleeping in for "spring" temperatures that dipped as low as -4.7°C (23.5°F). Talk about a wake-up call!

The Stats:
- 512 Total Volunteer Hours clocked (That’s a lot of sweat equity!).
- 50+ Deadfalls cleared (RIP trail obstacles).
- 300 ft of Boardwalk wrestled out of the bog.
- 90% Ice Melt witnessed at Whale Lake—spring is finally winning!

The Highlights:
The weekend wasn't just about the work; it was about the reward! After a massive Friday spent lifting submerged boardwalks and restacking lumber, the crew summited Eagle Mountain for those legendary views.

We called the "Root Slayer" shovel our MVP of the trip—it was a hammer, a nail puller, a lever, and a snow-digger all in one. We ended our days at a stunning peninsula campsite on Fishhook Lake, drying our boots by the fire and soaking in 360-degree water views.

Huge thanks to the U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest - for the support. The trails are clearer, the boardwalks are higher, and the BWCA wilderness is ready for you!

Forest

05/05/2026

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a Minnesota treasure, but its rugged beauty depends on dedicated hands to keep its historic trails navigable and safe.

We have a few spots left on our upcoming Spring Trail Clearing Trips, and we’re looking for volunteers who are ready to give back to the wilderness they love. This isn’t just a hike; it’s an opportunity to be part of a lasting legacy, ensuring these paths remain open for generations to come.

Why Join Us?
👉Direct Impact: Clear deadfall and maintain tread on iconic wilderness trails.
👉Community: Work alongside passionate outdoor enthusiasts and experienced crew leaders.
👉Adventure: Experience the BWCAW in its quietest, most transformative season.

Now is the time to act. Help us protect the portages and paths that define the Minnesota Northwoods.

Ready to make a difference?
View our open spring dates and RSVP here:
https://www.meetup.com/boundarywatersadvisorycommittee/events/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize

Meet other people interested in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This group is for volunteers who want to help maintain the wilderness hiking trails in the BWCAW. What's it like? Visit our website at www.boundarywaterstrails.org and stay tuned through MeetUp for events and volunteer opport