Kekekabic Trail (BWCAW, MN)

There are few areas in the US that feel instantly as if you’re being transported back to fur trading days. In some of the most remote acreage of the midwest you’ll find the Kekekabic Trail that fights its way through the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in Minnesotta.

At just over 40 miles you’ll be on the trail anywhere between 4 days to a single day depending on how fast you want to move. Hikers beware, though, when you get to the eastern terminus you’ll be in the middle of… nowhere at all!

Make sure to have a shuttle or ride prepared or plan on doing a yo-yo hike (out and back).

In this area you’ll be swarmed by fishermen and blackflies alike at certain times of the early season. If you get out early, like late April or early May you might avoid the bugs and the crowds but be prepared for freezing conditions as the weather fights between spring and winter conditions with abandon.

Mid summer can be a good time but you’ll want to sidestep the bug season. Keep in mind, too, that you’re in the land of 1,000 lakes so mosquitoes will haunt your steps during their hatches. Try early to mid-autumn before the temps drop too low and you might even get to enjoy the fall color change without bugs!

The easiest way to get there is from Ely, MN. In fact there’s even a connector trail that comes right out of town up to the trailhead if you want to make a longer trip out of it.

That said, Ely is the biggest town for expeditions into the BWCAW so you’ll be able to find shuttles to any destination within 75 miles easily.

Make it simple and just have an outfitter drop you off, but make sure to arrange for pickup from the distant trail terminus which is quite deep into the wilderness.