Sea Gull to Saganaga
2–4days on the water
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.
- Sea Gull and Saganaga
- Island campsites and cliffs
- Border water and Canadian shoreline
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 | Sea Gull Lake | Cook | 14.3 ft |
| 2 | Alpine Lake | Cook | 12 ft |
| 3 | Red Rock Lake | Cook | 12 ft |
| 4 | Saganaga Lake | Cook | 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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.
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, 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.