Only have one day to explore the Boundary Waters?
There are several great day trips you can do around the Gunflint Trail, some of them right from our dock at Hungry Jack Outfitters. We have several configurations of canoes to fit any group – solo, 2, 3 and 4 seat canoes. We provide maps and will walk through all the highlights with you before you trips begins. We’ll also help you with paddle and portage technique if you’re new to this or just need a refresher.
Our Dock to Stairway Portage and Rose Falls. This is the one that checks all the boxes for most folks. Leaving from our dock it’s about 1.5 to 2 hours of paddling with two portages of less than a quarter mile each each way to Rose Falls. The waterfalls go down to Rose Lake and are adjacent to Stairway Portage. Why Stairway? There’s a150 elevation change between the two lakes with stone stairs on down to the bottom – thus the waterfall. The main falls is about a 30 foot drop but the cascade keeps going all the way down.
The real attraction at Stairway Portage is the Border Route Hiking Trail and the many overlooks you can hike to east or west of the portage trail itself. Hikes range from a few minutes to the east for the closest lookouts to about 1.5 hours each way for the full experience. The long hike to the west offers some of the most spectacular views in the state and the boundary waters overall. Bring a lunch and water and make a day of it. We encourage a minimum of 5 hours for this one. Seven hours if you do the long hike. Bring a picnic lunch or get some snacks from us. Have enough water and clothes for the weather. Wet shoes are gonna happen.
Daniels Lake – If you want to fish for lake trout or bass, or you just want get a taste of the real essence of wilderness – quiet – this is a great option. There are no singular attractions but the place is beautiful, the fishing is great and it’s very achievable for most folks. There is a large cliff on the west end of the lake with a precarious hike to the top for the surefooted. There are camp sites if you want to stop for lunch or just hang out for a while.
Hungry Jack Lake – No portages! Leave right from our dock and paddle around Hungry Jack Lake. There’s a great short hike to Honeymoon Bluff at the east end of the lake. It’s about a 45 minute paddle each way and the hike would be around an hour for most folks. There is also a “campsite” on the east end of the lake where you can have a nice lunch and enjoy the view of the lake from a lower elevation. Guaranteed loons and great bass fishing most of the summer. Did we say no portaging?
Iron and Little Iron Lakes –This is a very different type of northern landscape. Long skinny lakes with lots of bays and shallow water. Just the kind of place moose like to hang out in. Yup – moose. This is the place we send people if seeing a moose is the goal. There are perennial bulls and there always seems to be at least one cow and calf hanging out chewing on lily pads somewhere in these connected lakes. It’s also an excellent alternative if it’s just too dang windy to be on one of the bigger lakes or longer trips for the day. There is a picnic area (with latrine) and there are a few small islands that are just perfect to have lunch or just lay out on a rock on a sunny day. Good fishing for northern pike, walleye, some pan fish and bass. Also a fine habitat for waterfowl. It’s not a “wilderness” lake, you can hear the Gunflint Trail but sometimes there are fewer people there than inside the wilderness area itself. This is a few miles up the Gunflint Trail and you’ll need to cartop the canoe or we can transport for a fee.
There are others of course but these are the ones we find people love.