East Bearskin to Pine Lake Loop

The East Bearskin to Pine Lake Loop begins and ends at Entry Point 64 on East Bearskin Lake, creating a challenging loop through some of the most scenic lakes along the Gunflint Trail side of the Boundary Waters. The route starts with a series of smaller lakes before opening onto Clearwater, then continues through West Pike, East Pike, McFarland, and Pine lakes. The return follows Pine, Canoe, and Alder before crossing East Bearskin back to the entry point.

This is a route for paddlers who enjoy big water, long portages, and changing scenery. Clearwater, the Pike lakes, and Pine provide long stretches of open paddling, with forested shorelines, islands, and exposed crossings that can become difficult in strong wind. The portages are a major part of the trip, with several longer carries and noticeable elevation changes—particularly on the return from Pine toward Canoe and Alder.

There are several worthwhile side trips and sights along the way. Clearwater Lake is known for its dramatic Palisades, where rocky cliffs rise above the shoreline and provide one of the area's most distinctive views. Pine Lake is home to Johnson Falls, a popular waterfall reached from the western end of the lake and well worth the effort if conditions and your itinerary allow. The Pike lakes also offer good fishing opportunities, including walleye, making them a worthwhile place to slow down and explore rather than simply treating them as connections between portages.

The route works well as a five-day trip for strong paddlers, but the interconnected lakes give experienced groups flexibility to shorten or extend individual travel days. Wind is an important consideration on Clearwater, the Pike lakes, and Pine, while the longer portages reward an early start and a light, well-organized pack. Overall, this is a demanding loop that combines open-water travel, rugged portages, waterfalls, scenic cliffs, and some excellent Northwoods paddling.

Route Highlights

• Johnson Falls on Pine Lake, one of the area's standout sights
• Palisades on Clearwater Lake, with prominent rocky cliffs along the shoreline
• Big-water paddling on Clearwater, West Pike, East Pike, and Pine
• Good fishing opportunities, particularly around the Pike lakes
• A mix of small, secluded lakes and expansive open water

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 — East Bearskin Lake → Clearwater Lake Leave East Bearskin and work through Moon, Deer, and Caribou before reaching Clearwater. Once on the larger lake, settle in and explore the shoreline or look for the Palisades.

Day 2 — Clearwater Lake → West Pike Lake Cross Clearwater and tackle the portage into West Pike. This is where the route begins to feel more remote, with longer stretches of open water and fewer small connecting lakes.

Day 3 — West Pike Lake → McFarland Lake Continue through East Pike toward McFarland. Take time to fish the Pike lakes if conditions are favorable, as they are more than just passage points on the route.

Day 4 — McFarland Lake → Pine Lake Make the move into Pine Lake and explore its long shoreline. If time and conditions allow, make the trip to Johnson Falls at the western end of Pine for one of the trip's best sightseeing stops.

Day 5 — Pine Lake → East Bearskin Lake Begin the return through Canoe and Alder. Expect some of the more demanding portage work of the trip on this leg before paddling across East Bearskin to finish at Entry Point 64.