- 4–6 days
- Duration
- Challenging
- Difficulty
- 13 mi
- Total distance
- 9.2 mi
- Paddling
- 13
- Portages · 1,144 rods
About this route
Missing Link–Tuscarora–Gillis Loop
Overview
The Missing Link–Tuscarora–Gillis Loop begins and ends at Entry Point 51 on Round Lake, on the Gunflint Trail. From the landing, the route portages into Missing Link Lake and on to Tuscarora Lake before swinging through Owl, Crooked, and Gillis Lakes, then Bat, Green, and Flying Lakes on the way to Brant Lake, closing the loop through Edith and West Round Lakes back to Round Lake.
Missing Link Lake carries a designated trout-lake classification, and lake trout turn up through Tuscarora, Crooked, Gillis, and Bat Lakes along the way, with northern pike common on several of the same waters. The portage between Crooked and Gillis Lakes passes an old trapper's cabin, unused since the BWCAW's founding in 1978, and burned shoreline from the 2006 Cavity Lake Fire is still visible along parts of Crooked and Gillis Lakes.
This loop suits paddlers with real portaging experience: the carry from Missing Link into Tuscarora Lake runs close to a mile, long enough that it discourages casual traffic and keeps the interior lakes quiet even in season. Entry Point 51 issues five permits a day, so availability tends to be easy even on short notice, and the route's mix of short and long carries makes for a full travel day on more than one stretch.
Route Highlights
- An old trapper's cabin, unused since 1978, on the portage between Crooked and Gillis Lakes
- Burned shoreline from the 2006 Cavity Lake Fire along Crooked and Gillis Lakes
- Lake trout fishing spread across Tuscarora, Crooked, Gillis, and Bat Lakes
- Missing Link Lake's designated trout-lake classification
Updated September 14, 2026
Suggested itinerary
4 days at a steady pace.
Round Lake → Tuscarora Lake
Portage from the Entry Point 51 landing into Missing Link Lake, then make the long carry into Tuscarora Lake for the first night's camp.
Tuscarora Lake → Gillis Lake
Travel through Owl Lake and Crooked Lake, passing the old trapper's cabin on the way to Gillis Lake.
Gillis Lake → Brant Lake
Continue through Bat, Green, and Flying Lakes on a run of shorter portages to reach Brant Lake.
Brant Lake → Round Lake
Close the loop through Edith Lake and West Round Lake back to the Entry Point 51 landing.
The portages
13 carries, 1,144 rods total.
| Portage | Rods | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Missing Link Lake → Tuscarora Lake difficult | 386 | +165 ft |
| Round Lake → Missing Link Lake difficult | 166 | +177 ft |
| Crooked Lake → Gillis Lake moderate | 88 | +20 ft |
| Gotter Lake → Brant Lake moderate | 88 | +62 ft |
| West Round Lake → Round Lake moderate | 77 | +33 ft |
| Tuscarora Lake → Owl Lake moderate | 76 | +20 ft |
| Green Lake → Flying Lake moderate | 73 | +105 ft |
| Owl Lake → Crooked Lake moderate | 55 | +18 ft |
| Edith Lake → West Round Lake moderate | 47 | +13 ft |
| Brant Lake → Edith Lake moderate | 33 | +3 ft |
| Gillis Lake → Bat Lake easy | 24 | +3 ft |
| Bat Lake → Green Lake easy | 18 | +0 ft |
| Flying Lake → Gotter Lake easy | 13 | +19 ft |
Lakes on this route
12 lakes, 31 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.
| Lake | Depth | Size | Campsites | Fish species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Lake (2) | 45 ft | 154 ac | — | northern pikesmallmouth basswalleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
| Missing Link Lake | 25 ft | 37 ac | 3 | brook troutwhite sucker |
| Tuscarora Lake | 130 ft | 805 ac | 10 | — |
| Owl Lake | 70 ft | 77 ac | — | — |
| Crooked Lake (2) | 66 ft | 244 ac | 5 | burbotlake troutwhite sucker |
| Gillis Lake | 180 ft | 616 ac | 7 | burbotlake troutwhite suckeryellow perch |
| Bat Lake (2) | 110 ft | 83 ac | 3 | — |
| Green Lake (2) | 75 ft | 40 ac | — | — |
| Flying Lake | — | 37 ac | — | — |
| Brant Lake | 80 ft | 111 ac | 3 | — |
| Edith Lake | 44 ft | 10 ac | — | — |
| West Round Lake | 20 ft | 11 ac | — | — |
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