Sawbill & Alton
2–3days on the water
The easiest way into the central wilderness from the North Shore. A short first portage from Sawbill drops you onto Alton, an ideal base camp with dozens of campsites and gentle day-trip options.
- End-of-the-road Sawbill Trail put-in
- Base-camp friendly
- Great for families and first solos
The route
Lakes on the route are mapped; the entry point is ringed in dark. Toggle the portage layer to see the carries.
The water you'll paddle
| # | Lake | County | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sawbill Lake | Cook | 6.6 ft |
| 2 | Alton Lake | Cook | 13.5 ft |
Every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury advisory — see eating your catch.
Where to stay for the Sawbill & Alton
Base your trip in Tofte — outfitters, cabins, and lodging near the Sawbill Lake.
Top-rated places to stay near Tofte
Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It's rated beginner and typically takes 2–3 days covering roughly ~10 miles. The easiest way into the central wilderness from the North Shore. A short first portage from Sawbill drops you onto Alton, an ideal base camp with dozens of campsites and gentle day-trip options.
At Entry Point 38 (Sawbill Lake), which releases 11 permits per day. Reserve it through Recreation.gov during the May–September quota season.
The lakes on this route, Sawbill Lake, Alton Lake, have nutrient, algae and clarity readings on record from state and federal monitoring, shown below. Remember that every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury fish-consumption advisory regardless of clarity.