Gunflint Trail (north shore/grand marais) TT free camping?

EsoxLucius wrote:
There was also a large fire in the area in 2007, probably started by boondockers.

That was the Ham Lake fire. It was human-caused, but not by RV boondockers. It was by a man that was canoe camping just outside the BWCA boundary. He was accused of starting a fire and then leaving it unattended and not completely extinguishing it. It ultimately burned 75,000 acres or about 117 square miles, destroyed 140 structures and 10 year-round homes. It also burned into Canada. It was the largest wildfire in Minnesota since the 1918 Moose Lake/Cloquet fire.

It was a sad situation all the way around. Ultimately, prior to ever going to court, the 67 year old man committed suicide in 2008. He was facing up to 5 years in prison and paying the millions of dollars in suppression costs related to the fire.

Just a year before, in 2006 the Cavity fire just to the west of the Gunflint trail burned 30,000 acres. That fire was lightning-started and burned predominantly in the dried timber that blew down in the 1999 windstorm. But that fire did not reach the private lands and homes of the Gunflint trail.

There was also a large fire in the area in 2007, probably started by boondockers.

dewey02 wrote:
Generally the Forest Service tries to not locate or build portages in swamps and wet areas. Sometimes it is unavoidable to cross a wet area because it is the only route to get from one lake to another. In many, but not all cases, they put primitive boardwalks through the wet areas.

Come to think of it, I did do a swamp portage on one of my first BW trips. Along with allot of other miserable things.
I do have more good memories, and bad ones turn good. Like shooting newton falls solo in my tandem kayak to skip the portage.
Paddling next to a moose. Being dragged by a huge northern.
Being blown to the shore on 2 foot white cap rollers solo.
Guiding a lost girl scout troop towards home..
The list goes on and on. That's why after over 20 years I keep thinking about it.

It must be the solitude and beauty I miss after my latest visits to crowded colorado.

Generally the Forest Service tries to NOT locate or build portages in swamps and wet areas. And yes a portage would seldom begin or end in a swamp. But sometimes it is unavoidable to cross a wet area because it is the only route to get from one lake to another. In many, but not all cases, they put primitive boardwalks through the wet areas.

dewey02 wrote:

Black spruce bogs, black spruce swamp, tamarack swamp, alder swamp, beaver marshes, wet meadows. Many lakes in the BWCA have a black spruce swamp on one end of them.
You've been to the Boundary Waters many times and have never seen these?

Sure I remember.. But portages never started or ended in one.. I don't consider them swamps if they are part of a lake.

When robbiesgram said "The Gunflight is very heavily wooded and has miles and miles of swamp. Think heavy black fly, gnat and mosquito infestations during July and August. We have been in Grand Marais in July & people were leaving the Gunflint due to flys being so bad."

I immediately remembered returning from a two week solo trip in the BW where you couldn't see my back bone after thousands of bites due to the swelling.

Don't forget to try the Whitefish or Lake Trout at the Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais.

Currently in Ashland, WI

rerod wrote:

rexlion wrote:
I believe I asked the same question a few years back, and no one had any suggestions except someone in Grand Marais who offered his yard.

Thanks everyone..

I guess I will forget about this gunflint trip and go to colorado again. Maybe I can get away from the crowds this time.
Iv been in the boundary waters plenty of times, but I don't remember swamp land's which would help breed Minnesota's famous bird.. That, combined with no boondocking was the last nail in the coffin.

Thanks again!

Black spruce bogs, black spruce swamp, tamarack swamp, alder swamp, beaver marshes, wet meadows. Many lakes in the BWCA have a black spruce swamp on one end of them.
You've been to the Boundary Waters many times and have never seen these?

A bit of history for you..

Take co rd 92 "Old Gunflint Trail" right after Poplar Lake. Its one of the last stretches which is on the original Gunflint Trail. A trail that Paleo-Indian's probably traveled 10,000 years ago after taking down a mastodon, saber tooth or giant beaver.

Prehistoric Camps have been found on gunflint lake, and close to Pincushion overlook just out of Grand Marais which was lakeside, as lake superior was 200 feet higher back then..

This year Im having a hard time finding motivation to go back to colorado due to the crowds and thought I might reconsider gunflint..

I think a full dress bike and cabin would be the best approach for gunflint.

Great link - thanks

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5295334.pdf
See "Dispersed Camping" section. Then you are on your own.