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Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Thursday, August 6, 2026 - Thursday, August 13, 2026 -- $1900 ★★

Explore the wild, unspoiled beauty of northern Minnesota on the Snowbank Trail, a 24-mile loop that winds through the legendary Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Known for its vast network of lakes, dense boreal forests, and remote character, the BWCAW offers one of the most pristine and protected wilderness experiences in the United States.


Designated as a federally protected wilderness, the Boundary Waters spans over 1 million acres and includes more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes, over 1,000 lakes, and dozens of hiking trails. While it's most famous for paddle-in camping, the BWCAW is equally rewarding on foot especially along rugged routes like the Snowbank Trail.


This loop hike offers a true backcountry experience, crossing granite ridges, beaver dams, and clear-running creeks. Hiker’s journey through old-growth pine stands with trees averaging 300 years in age, and are treated to panoramic overlooks and remote campsites that offer solitude and unforgettable views.


The trail connects with the Kekekabic Trail to the south and the Disappointment Mountain Trail to the east, providing access to longer backpacking routes and additional exploration. Snowbank Trail is accessible year-round, but is most popular from late spring through early fall, when conditions are optimal for hiking and wildlife viewing.


Camping options include both primitive designated sites with fire rings and pit toilets, and undeveloped sites for those seeking a more immersive wilderness stay. Whether you're an experienced backpacker or a passionate nature enthusiast, the Snowbank Trail offers an unforgettable journey through one of America’s most iconic wilderness areas—a place where silence, stars, and solitude still reign.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See Topo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when backpacking. Historical August weather is much drier than even a month earlier and averages in the high-60s / low-70s during the day and 40s/50s at night. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures in the 80s and freezing temperatures at night, with the threat of rain on any day. But overall, expect a warm, dry end of August treat.



Probable Trip Leaders

Beau Devlin
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Cost

$1900 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. Single room accommodations are available for purchase. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Duluth, MN (DLH) as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals (typically 2 dinners) and any gratuities for guides. You may also be charged for any parking charges for leaving your car at the hotel all week if you drive.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 1 cabin night, storage fees, 6 days of trail meals, airport transfers, ground transportation to/from/within the National Forest, park permits, park entrance fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. Gratuity can comprise a significant and important part of a guide’s compensation. The industry recommended gratuity amount is 10-20% of the trip cost. Gratuities are always optional and based on level of satisfaction but generally account for 30-60% of their income through gratuities. Fitpacking supports tipping to the greatest extent possible while remaining tactful and professional. Guides are not permitted to solicit tips in any way other than doing an exceptional job supporting and providing exceptional customer service to our participants. If your guides have served you well, please support them with gratuities so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Important Notes about this trip


Snowbank Lake received heavy fire damage from a 2000 and again had a small fire in 2018. Certain areas have still not fully recovered. Be prepared for little to no shade, and possibly heavy insect presence in these areas. At times the trail can be difficult to locate, but the Forest Service has marked the trail with tree tags where possible. Much of that section of trail has cairns from previous hikers. In 2016 a severe storm blew through the area causing significant blow downs. It is possible that certain sections of the trail may require a small amount of pathfinding. It is important to get to campsites early as they are first come first serve and generally fill-up midafternoon. BWCA and the US Forest Service limits the amount of participants on a single permit to 9.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Thursday, August 6, 2026

Fly or drive into Duluth (DLH). Please plan to arrive by 2PM if you can as we have a 3 hour drive up to Grand Marais when the entire group is assembled. Since flights to Duluth can be limited, let us know if you can't make it by 2PM so we can make arrangements.

Take the free airport shuttle to local hotel: TBD

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Equipment shakedown. We go through your packs to make sure you're prepared for the trip equipment-wise.

Make-your-own trail mix bar. You craft your personal trail mix from a cornucopia of nuts, fruits, sweets and occasional wildcard items that we provide.

Go to the Trailfitters Store, 600 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802, 218-722-6776 for forgotten and last-minute equipment purchase if necessary. Store is open until 9PM.

Go out to welcome dinner at local restaurant. Cost of dinner not included in trip cost.

Stay in local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined


Friday, August 7, 2026

Free Hotel Breakfast

Check out of Hotel

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage

Shuttle to the trailhead (2.5hrs)

Begin hiking northbound 5.5 miles to Newfound Bay Campsite

Camp at Newfound Bay campsite D, elevation 1450'.

Miles Today: 5.5. Total Miles: 5.5

Possible Bailout: County Highway 18


Saturday, August 8, 2026

Hike 4.9 miles on Snowbank Lake which starts away for the lake for a short time (I don't know what this means either)

Hike 2.1 miles to South junction of Snowbank Lake continuing east on Snowbank Lake Trail to North Disappointment Lake Campsite

Camp at North Disappointment Lake Campsite, elevation 1450'.

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 12.5

Possible Bailout: Frenberg Rd. County 18


Sunday, August 9, 2026

Hike 1.2 miles on Snowbank Lake Trail to junction with Old Pine Trail

Hike 3.4 miles on Old Pines Loop to Alworth Lake Campsite passing a large set of rapids before camp.

Camp at Alworth Lake campsite, elevation 1503'.

Miles Today: 4.6 Total miles: 17.1

Possible Bailout: Frenberg Rd. County 18


Monday, August 10, 2026

Hike 1.0 miles on Old Pines Loop to Kekekabic Trail continue on Old Pines Loop Trail

Hike 2.7 miles on Old Pines Loop Trail back to Kekekabic Trail

Hike 1.6 miles on Kekekabic Trail to Snowbank Lake Spur Trail

Hike 0.6 miles on Snowbank Spur Trail to Disappointment Lake Campsite

Camp at East Disappointment Lake Campsite, elevation 1482’.

Miles today: : 5.9 Total miles: 23.0

Possible Bailout: Frenberg Rd. County 18


Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Hike 0.6 miles back on Snowbank Lake Spur Trail to Kekekabic Trail

Hike 2.1 miles on Kekekabic Trail to Benezie/Becoosin Lake Loop

Hike 4.8 miles on Kekekabic Trail to Parking Lot

Hike 0.6 miles on Snow Lodge Rd.

Stay in Deluxe Cabin at Smitty’s Resort elevation 1425’

Cabin has 4 bedrooms, full kitchen, dinner room, living room, showers, and flushing toilets

Dinner at Smitty’s Resort (Dinner not included in trip cost)

Miles today: 8.1. Total miles: 31.1

Possible Bailout: Frenberg Rd. County 18


Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Breakfast at Smitty’s Resort

Hike 0.6 miles on Snow Lodge Rd. to vehicles or possibly have guides retrieve vehicles and bring them to Smitty’s Resort Load equipment.

End of Hiking

Miles today: 0.6. Total miles: 31.7

Possible Bailout: Frenberg Rd. County 18

Shuttling back to Duluth can take up to 3 hours

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Thursday, August 13, 2026

Free breakfast in hotel

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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