Snowbank Lake Trail
- Skill Level
- Challenging
- Days
- 3
- Miles
- 28
- Entry Point
- #74
- Portages
- N/A
- Portage Rods
- N/A
- Longest Portage
- N/A
The Snowbank Lake loop is a great hike for those looking to spend a long weekend (3 to 4 nights) on trail. Though it was impacted by the 1999 blowdown, and more recently, in 2016. This resulted in the loss of some truly gorgeous stands of white and red pine, however, since then, most of the trail has been cleared. However, significant challenges await the the intrepid hiker. This is a rugged trail, with constant ups and downs. In many parts, navigation can get tricky, as the trail is not always clearly marked and deceptive spurs and game trails can take you off course. Keep an eye for flagging and carins to guide you over the granite ridges. Highlights include ridges that provide overviews of Snowbank Lake on the north side of trail, as well with the more remote areas around Disappointment Lake on the eastern side of the trail.
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The Old Pines are there!
I hiked the Old Pines Loop of the Snowbank Trail (BWCAW) in May 2021 to find out if the old pines I saw as a teenager in 1980 had survived the windstorms of the past few decades. I was skeptical any had survived, especially as I saw many big trees had fallen. As I navigated further down the trail, my optimism grew.
For the video, search for “old pines loop” on you tube.
The Snowbank Lake Trail is challenging with many elevation changes. Also, as a result of the 1999 Derecho and another major windstorm in 2016, much of the trail winds through brush surrounded by downed trees. However, these areas, especially along the north side of Snowbank Lake, offer excellent sweeping views of the lake. Thanks to the efforts of volunteer crews, the trail can be navigated but does require paying attention to rock cairns and occasional ribbons.
The trail features several loops allowing hikes from 20 to 30 miles. All of these loops enter the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness so you’ll need a permit. Using the string-on-map method, I calculated my hike to be slightly over 30 miles. My route included the seldom-mentioned southern loop of the Old Pines Trail. I’ve read in blogs, and recall hearing it said over the years, that the white pines on this section of trail are over 300 years old. However, I have not found any study that confirms that age. Regardless, these white pines are huge and it is a pleasure to walk through this stand.
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