Granite River pin

Travel north via an old Voyageur route along the Granite River from Gunflint Lake to Saganaga Lake.  This fairly easy, scenic trip with some rapids has fabulous fishing for smallmouth bass, walleyes and northern pike.

Check out a guest’s experience of this route!

US Forest Service entry permit needed (route can be done in either direction): #57 Magnetic Lake – or – #55 Saganaga Lake – or – #54 Seagull Lake

Maps for this route –

  • Fisher Maps – F12 & F20 & F19
  • McKenzie Maps – 5 & 6

(Route lines are an approximation and should not be used for navigation.)

Start on Gunflint Lake

  • Paddle into Magnetic Lake
  • Portage 5 rods into the Pine River – be sure to check out Little Rock Falls!
  • Portage 30 rods around some rapids on the Pine River – 1 campsite
  • Portage 100 rods into Clove Lake – 3 campsites
  • Portage 48 rods into the Granite River
  • Portage 72 rods around some rapids on the  Granite River
  • Portage 25 rods around some rapids on the Granite River
  • Portage 25 rods into Gneiss Lake– 3 campsites
  • Paddle into the Devil’s Elbow – 4 campsites
  • Paddle into Maraboeuf Lake– 8 campsites
  • Portage 27 rods around Horsetail Rapids
  • Portage 25 rods into Saganaga Lake Saganaga Falls is a great spot to stop for a break
  • Explore and camp on Saganaga Lake’s numerous campsites and islands then paddle south to our private tow dock for a pick up

Route extension: To extend your trip, continue across Saganaga Lake 

  • Paddle into Red Rock Bay
  • Portage 10 rods into Red Rock Lake – 8 campsites
  • Portage 50 rods into Alpine Lake – 21 campsites
  • Portage 100 rods into Seagull Lake – 38 campsites
  • Paddle to the public access for a pick up

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Snapshots from this route

Little Rock Falls near the start of the Granite River

Gunflint Trail Sunset on the Granite River canoe route in the Boundary Waters

Pine River Campsite

Clove Lake is a popular lake for anglers in the BWCA, accessed from Larch Creek or Magnetic Lake on the Granite River

Clove Lake

Granite River between Clove and Marabouef Lakes

Marabouef Lake Campsite Granite River BWCA canoe route paddle trip

Marabouef Lake Campsite

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Granite River blueberries

Granite River portage around Horsetail Rapids

Start of the Horsetail Rapids portage