Meeds Lake Loop

The Meeds Lake Loop is a Boundary Waters loop route that begins and ends at EP 48 (Meeds Lake), with the put-in reached by paddling out from Poplar Lake on the Gunflint Trail. From the entry, the route climbs through Meeds Lake, Swallow Lake, and Pillsbery Lake to Henson Lake, continues to Gaskin Lake and Horseshoe Lake, then returns to Poplar Lake through Caribou Lake and Lizz Lake.

This loop moves through a tight chain of small interior lakes connected by a series of portages, with a longer carry right at the start between Poplar and Meeds setting the tone for the trip. Henson Lake sits at a natural crossroads partway through the route, with portages branching off toward Omega and Otto Lakes for paddlers who want to extend the trip, before the main route continues on to Gaskin and the island-dotted water of Horseshoe Lake. The return leg through Caribou and Lizz threads back to Poplar Lake through a different, more sheltered set of lakes than the outbound trip.

This route suits paddlers comfortable with a run of portages linking smaller lakes rather than long stretches of open paddling. The initial carry from Poplar into Meeds is the most demanding of the trip, and the string of lakes that follows offers a manageable rhythm for a multi-day outing. The loop's modest size makes it a good fit for a shorter trip or as a warm-up before a longer Gunflint Trail route.

Route Highlights

• A demanding opening portage from Poplar Lake into Meeds Lake
• Meeds Lake holds campsites on islands in its western bay
• Henson Lake serves as a crossroads partway through the loop, with routes branching toward Omega and Otto Lakes
• Island-dotted shoreline on Horseshoe Lake