- 2–5 days
- Duration
- Easy
- Difficulty
- 21 mi
- Total distance
- 21 mi
- Paddling
- 3
- Portages · 155 rods
About this route
The Sea Gull Lake Loop begins and ends at Entry Point 54 (Sea Gull Lake) near the end of the Gunflint Trail. The route travels east across Sea Gull Lake to Alpine and Red Rock lakes before reaching the open waters of Saganaga Lake on the Minnesota-Ontario border, then loops back through Gull Lake to return to the entry point.
Sea Gull Lake is a beautiful, large lake with many islands. Make sure to stop by the Palisades, a prominent stretch of rock cliffs on the north side of the lake. From there, the route connects through Alpine Lake and drops into Red Rock before a short carry into Saganaga, one of the largest wilderness lakes on the border. Saganaga is a sprawling, island-dotted lake with long open crossings along the boundary, and a remote character that sets it apart from more interior routes. The return from Saganaga follows Gull Lake west before the final stretch across Sea Gull back to the entry.
This loop suits paddlers comfortable with big-water travel and open crossings. Sea Gull and Saganaga both require attention to wind and timing, as both lakes can become quite rough quickly. With only three portages on the full loop, this route is suited for groups that prefer to spend their time on the water.
Route Highlights
- Palisades on Sea Gull Lake
- Alpine and Red Rock lakes offer a quieter transition between the larger open waters
- Minimal portaging with only two short carries on the complete loop
- Classic border country scenery at the end of the Gunflint Trail corridor
Suggested itinerary
3 days at a steady pace.
Sea Gull Lake → Alpine Lake
Cross the length of Sea Gull Lake and move into the quieter waters of Alpine Lake to settle in for the first night.
Alpine Lake → Saganaga Lake
Drop through Red Rock Lake on two short portages, then paddle out onto the open water of Saganaga and follow its island-dotted shoreline along the border.
Saganaga Lake → Sea Gull Lake
Move off Saganaga and through Gull Lake, then make the final crossing back across Sea Gull to return to Entry Point 54.
The portages
3 carries, 155 rods total.
| Portage | Rods | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Gull Lake → Alpine Lake difficult | 101 | +40 ft |
| Alpine Lake → Red Rock Lake moderate | 45 | +0 ft |
| Red Rock Lake → Saganaga Lake easy | 9 | +0 ft |
Lakes on this route
4 lakes, 144 campsites between them. Fish species recorded by the Minnesota DNR.
| Lake | Depth | Size | Campsites | Fish species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Gull Lake | 145 ft | 3,958 ac | 41 | black crappieburbotcisco speciesgreen sunfishlake troutlake whitefishnorthern pikesmallmouth basswalleyewhite sucker |
| Alpine Lake | 65 ft | 909 ac | 21 | — |
| Red Rock Lake | 64 ft | 451 ac | 8 | burbotlake whitefishnorthern pikepumpkinseedsmallmouth basstullibee (cisco)walleyewhite sucker |
| Saganaga Lake | 280 ft | 18,767 ac | 74 | black crappieburbotcisco specieslake troutlake whitefishnorthern pikepumpkinseedrainbow smeltsmallmouth basswalleyewhite suckeryellow perch |
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