EVENTS
Spring Hike and Camp with BWAC
Pack up your gear for a hike and camp with BWAC! We’ll hike, we'll camp, and we'll chat about BWAC, our mission, and all things Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, trips and gear.
Spring Crew Member Orientation and Safety Training - Everyone Welcome!
Are you registered for a spring trip, or curious about volunteering? This required orientation is one of the building blocks supporting safe and rewarding experiences on the trail. All are welcome to attend.
What happens on a Boundary Waters Advisory Committee trail clearing trip? Find out more at this orientation and safety training event, presented by crew leaders who will be out on trail with you, keeping wilderness trails accessible to hikers and backpackers.
Trip #1: Brule Lake Trail: Backpack and Clearing with Lucas and Valentin
Join crew leaders Lucas Raudabaugh and Valentin Povarchuk on a backpacking trip to maintain the Brule Lake Trail. This is a beautiful trail through mature forests, leading to the tallest mountain in Minnesota - Eagle Mountain. With a relatively short hike in to the base campsite, this will be a great trip for new volunteers interested in helping to maintain access to beautiful wild lands of Superior National Forest.
Trip #3: Gateway West on Brule Lake Trail with Mel, Trina, Felicia and Aaron
Crew members will set up camp at a USFS campground near the Brule Lake Trailhead and caravan to and from the trailhead each morning to clear trail. The goal is to clear the trail east of the Brule Lake Trailhead (FR 326) with saws, loppers, and root slayers.
Trip #2: Sioux-Hustler Circumnavigation & Saw with Sara and Tonya
Crew members will depart from the Sioux-Hustler Hiking Trailhead, backpacking the full 32-mile loop over three days. The crew will take survey notes on trail condition and each carry one tool to do some acute trail maintenance as required while hiking. The goal is to have a great time and come back with trail insights to help other crews plan their exact work areas.
Trip #4: Backpack to Emerald Lake on the Sioux-Hustler with Katie, Laura & Kait
Crew members will depart from the Sioux Hustler Trailhead (BWCAW EP #15) early Thursday morning and backpack 12.5 miles up the eastern side of the Sioux Hustler Trail to the Emerald Lake campsite, where we’ll basecamp for two nights. Friday and Saturday we will clear trail with saws and loppers east or west of our campsite, depending on the results of a survey trip the prior weekend.
Trip #5: Paddle and Hike to Rock of Ages on Powwow with Verena, Goeran and Eric
We will depart from Kawishiwi Lodge early on Friday morning and paddle from Lake One to Lake Three (with two short portages), then stash our canoes where the Powwow Trail meets Lake Three. We will then backpack 1.5 miles to the Rock of Ages Lake campsite and set up base camp for 3 nights. The goal is to clear trail with saws, loppers, and root slayers North of the campsite.
Trip #6: Powwow Path Lake area, canoe and hike, with Valentin and Chris
Join Valentin and Chris on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite at Path Lake.
Trip #7: Backpack to Superstition Lake with Erin, Mel, and Aaron
Crew members will carpool to the Powwow Trailhead (BWCAW EP #86) on Thursday afternoon. We will disperse car camp near the trailhead. Friday morning, depart trailhead at 9 am and backpack 11.2 miles along the southern loop of the Powwow Trail to Superstition Lake, where we’ll make base camp for three nights. The goal is to clear trail with saws, loppers, and root slayers along the Superstition Lake shoreline.
Trip #9: Powwow Trail, Hike to Isabella or Pose with Sara
Crew members will depart from the Powwow Hiking Trailhead (EP #86), backpacking in either 1 (Isabella) or 6 (Pose Lake) miles. Exact location will be confirmed as trail conditions are assessed. The crew will base camp for 2 nights and clear trail near camp using a variety of tools (hand saws, loppers, root slayers).
Trip #10: Sioux Hustler NW Corner Backpack and Clearing w/ Zach and Caitlin
Crew members will carpool to Lake Jeanette Campground on Wednesday afternoon where we will set up late and car camp for the night. Early the next morning we will depart the Sioux Hustler trailhead and backpack 12 miles along the western side of the loop to the Pageant Lake campsite where we will basecamp for three nights. We will clear the trail with saws, loppers, and root slayers near Pageant and Range Lake.
Trip #11: Paddle & Hike to Powwow West Side with Sara and Lucas
Crew members will paddle and portage from Lake One to Lake Three, stash their canoes and hike 2-3 miles south on the Powwow Trail to set up a base camp. The goal is to put the final trail clearing touches on the west side of the trail, a main area of focus over the last 2 years.
BWAC Tabling Event at REI Bloomington
Come spend some time with BWAC while you scope out some new gear for the upcoming paddling, hiking and backpacking season! We will be tabling at REI Bloomington from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and would love to chat about what we do and what we are up to. Swing by!
2025 Boundary Waters Trails Kickoff
Join us for connection over our shared passions for the outdoors and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Gather with us and hear from each trail partner to learn trail updates, needs, challenges, and more. Lunch will be served, followed by an afternoon of outdoor skills clinics on orienteering, knots and tarps, and backcountry water and food.
BWAC @ Canoecopia Paddlesports Expo
BWAC will have an information table to recruit for BWCAW spring maintenance trips.
Hike with BWAC!
Join Us for a Hike at Crosby Farm Regional Park! This 3.3-mile adventure will take us to a hidden slot canyon, winding through beautiful woods along a river and a serene small lake. During our hike, we'll chat about the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC), all things Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and share insights about our mission. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow nature enthusiasts!
Tails of the Trails: Hiking and Trail Maintenance in the BWCAW Presented by BWAC
Join leadership from Boundary Waters Advisory Committee for a presentation on all things wilderness hiking trails and what it means to maintain them for future generations.
Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner
Join us for the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee's Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner to celebrate 2024's achievements. Enjoy insights into spring events, hear from keynote speaker Pam Wright, and have a chance to win door prizes. All welcome! Live-stream available.
Trip #16: Culvert Cleanup on the Powwow with Sara and Lucas
On this BWAC volunteering adventure, we will depart from the Powwow Trailhead (BWCAW EP #86) early Friday morning and backpack up the eastern side of the Powwow Trail to the Pose Lake campsite, where we’ll make base camp for two nights. The goal is to clear trail with saws, loppers, and root slayers south of the “culvert” landmark where the brush is thick has enjoyed a relatively rainy year.
Trip #15: Hike-In Trip to Superstition Lake Area w/Mel and Mark
This is a hike-in trip to clear the areas around Superstition Lake Campsite. This will be a 11.1-mile hike-in Friday morning and back out Monday morning. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Trip #14: Powwow North of the Wye from Isabella with Caitlin and Zach
Join Caitlin and Zach on this backcountry trail clearing trip with a short pack in. This crew will hike in from the trailhead at entry point #86 one mile to the Isabella River, where we will make camp. We will hike with daypacks to our work area, just north of the wye.
Trip #13: Powwow Western Section by Canoe with Caitlin and Sara
Join Caitlin and Sara on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
Trip #12: Day trip: Trail clearing on the Brule Lake Trail
Help preserve wilderness trails for future generations to enjoy!
Join Lucas and Mel on a one-day clearing trip to the Brule Lake Trail.
All are welcome - no trail clearing experience is required.
Fall Crew Member Orientation and Safety Training
Registering for a fall trip, or curious about volunteering? This required orientation is one of the building blocks supporting safe and rewarding experiences on the trail. All are welcome to attend.
Trip #11 - Powwow Western Section by Canoe with Caitlin and Sara
Join Caitlin and Sara on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
Trip #10 - Western Section by Canoe/Backpack w/ Zach and Trina
Join Zach and Trina on this 4.25-day back-country trail clearing combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
Trip #9 – Hike to Superstition
Itching for a long walk in the woods before jumping into volunteer trail work? If so, join us for this hike-in trail clearing trip to Superstition Lake! We’re looking for self-motivated, nature-loving, goal-oriented team members willing to tackle unknown trail and weather conditions to help us take care of the Powwow Trail. Prior trail clearing experience not required, but since we have a whopping ~11 mile hike in, we will be carefully vetting volunteers for fitness and hiking experience!
Trip #7 - Hike-In to Pose Creek with Valentin and Mel
Join Mel and Valentin on this 4- day backcountry trail clearing-adventure. We will be hiking 6 miles into the beautiful Pose Lake campsite, which will be our base camp. We will be working to clear brush and treefalls mostly east and south of Pose Lake. This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Trip #8 - Powwow Trail Circumnavigation, Survey, and Trail Clearing
Join Mark and Lucas on this 4-day, 31 mile Powwow Trail survey and clearing adventure. This is an advanced level backpacking trip on a remote wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Trip #6 - Canoe-In Sioux Hustler from Shell Lake
This is a Canoe and backpack work trip to the Sioux Hustler Trail in the BWCAW. Some backpacking and canoeing experience is required. Tools and training will be provided. Additionally, we will provide you with a gear list.
Trip #5 - Eagle Mountain and Brule Lake Trail Clearing
Join crew leaders Lucas Raudabaugh and Eric Rawls on our first clearing trip to the Brule Lake Trail. We will hike to Eagle Mountain (the highest point in MN!!!), assess conditions, and clear the Brule Lake Trail. Conditions are unknown since we've never cleared here before!
Trip #4 - Canoe-in Sioux Hustler Trail / Devil's Cascade
Join Verena and Goeran on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle North on the Little Indian Sioux River, and Upper and Lower Pauness Lake to get to our camp site by Devil's Cascade. From there we will clear the nearby section of the Sioux Hustler Trail from tree falls and brush.
Trip #3 - Sioux Hustler Trail Clearing and Car Camp
Join crew leaders Doug Rude and Deb Kuehne as we clear the gateway of the Sioux Hustler Trail. Most of the work will be clearing brush and new treefalls.
Trip #2 - Gateway Backpack-In with Mel, Lynn, and Kaitlyn (Beginner)
This is a hike-in trip to clear the area south of the Wye. With only a 1-mile backpack in to our campsite, it is ideal for first-time backpackers. And the campsite on the Isabella River is beautiful! Experience is not required. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Spring Trip #3 Orientation/Hike @ Battle Creek Regional Park
Priority registration for this session is reserved for the Spring Trip #3 crew members.
We welcome others that are interested in a future BWAC trail clearing trip. Bring your questions and come learn about the BWAC trail clearing trip options- car camping, backpacking or canoeing.
Trip #1 - Sioux Hustler Trail Circumnavigation Survey
Join Crew Leader Matt Leister and Co-leader Paul Stelter for a survey trip around the Sioux Hustler Trail. We will be surveying the trail for the upcoming trail clearing season, and doing some “as needed” trail clearing along the way.
BWAC Tabling Event at REI Roseville
Come spend some time with BWAC on April 21 while you scope out some new gear for the upcoming paddling, hiking and backpacking season! We will be tabling at REI Roseville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and would love to chat about what we do and what we are up to. Swing by!
Spring Crew Member Orientation and Safety Training - Everyone Welcome!
Registering for a spring trip? This required orientation is one of the building blocks supporting safe and rewarding experiences on the trail. Curious about volunteering? All are welcome to attend this event.
We will be meeting in the large conference/community room at REI in Bloomington, MN
Boundary Waters Trails Kickoff
Come join us in a new location for connection over our shared passions for the outdoors and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Gather with us, hear from each trail partner to learn of trail updates, needs, challenges, and more. Lunch will be served, to be followed by our keynote speaker, Teri Fick. Teri is the Leave No Trace advocate for Minnesota, and we are excited to learn more from her. Our speaker will be followed by several clinics related to outdoor wilderness trails, skills, and information.
2024 BWAC Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Join the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee volunteers and friends for
our 2024 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner at the Dakota Lodge in West St. Paul. This will be a great night to reflect on the many accomplishments in 2023 by all of our hard-working and committed volunteers. Renew connections with your crew mates, trip leaders, and club organizers, while we celebrate another successful year of advocacy, education, and stewardship!
Duluth Chapter Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 2024
Hi Everyone! It is time to celebrate our Duluth Chapter 2023 achievements! We are hosting a dinner at Pizza Ranch near the Miller Mall to thank everyone for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. This is also a time to welcome new volunteers to meet the Duluth crew and learn more about getting involved.
Tamarack Nature Center Hike and Winter Stove Demo
Join us for a 3 mile hike through gently rolling prairie and oak forest and get ready for your first snow camping trip (later in winter)! Bring a training pack, 1 qt of hot beverage, TP, and dress for the weather. After brief safety talk at visitor center we will hike at about 2 MPH pace. During or after the hike there will be demonstration of white gas stoves: vintage Optimus 111B (expedition stove), Optimus NOVA, Primus Omnilite Ti, and compressed gas MSR Reactor along with a tutorial of pros and cons of each.