Border Route Trail

As its name suggests, the Border Route trail snakes along the US-Canada border, connecting with the Kekkekabic Trail in the west and the Superior Hiking Trail in the east. The trail has the historic distinction of being the first long-distance trail to be built and maintained by volunteer efforts in Minnesota. This is a true wilderness trail. At times it disappears and the flagging or carins you need to navigate by do as well. Some years it is overgrown by raspberry bushes or a tangle of alders and brush. When the trail is good, it’s still rocky and rooty, with plenty of thigh-burning climbs and toe-punishing descents. With these challenges come the rewards of iconic overlooks on towering cliffs and the sense of adventure that you just don’t get on the those wide, clear-as-day trails.