A big-water tour of the Gunflint's crown jewels — island-studded Sea Gull, a short hop to Alpine and Red Rock, and out onto border-water Saganaga. Nearly every lake grades A or B.
- Grade-A Sea Gull and Saganaga
- Island campsites and cliffs
- Border water and Canadian shoreline
The route
Lakes on the route are colored by water-quality grade; the entry point is ringed in dark. Toggle the portage layer to see the carries.
The water you'll paddle
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sea Gull Lake | Cook | A | 14.3 ft |
| 2 | Alpine Lake | Cook | B | 12 ft |
| 3 | Red Rock Lake | Cook | B | 12 ft |
| 4 | Saganaga Lake | Cook | A | 13 ft |
Every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury advisory — see eating your catch.
Notable portages near this route
| Portage | Rods | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rock Portage | 45 | 0.14 |
Named portages within ~3 km of the route. Source: OpenStreetMap contributors. Carry a detailed paddling map for the full portage sequence.
Where to stay for the Sea Gull to Saganaga
Base your trip in Gunflint Trail — outfitters, cabins, and lodging near the Seagull Lake.
Top-rated places to stay near Gunflint Trail
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Frequently Asked Questions
It's rated intermediate and typically takes 2–4 days covering roughly ~16 miles. A big-water tour of the Gunflint's crown jewels — island-studded Sea Gull, a short hop to Alpine and Red Rock, and out onto border-water Saganaga. Nearly every lake grades A or B.
At Entry Point 54 (Seagull Lake), which releases 8 permits per day. Reserve it through Recreation.gov during the May–September quota season.
The lakes on this route — Sea Gull Lake, Alpine Lake, Red Rock Lake, Saganaga Lake — carry our A–F water-quality grades, shown below. Remember that every Boundary Waters lake is under Minnesota's statewide mercury fish-consumption advisory regardless of clarity.