Border Route Trail ‘impassable’ after possible tornado rolls through BWCA

The National Weather Service in Duluth continues to research and analyze a possible tornado in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Clearwater Lake.

This week, hikers and Gunflint Trail residents took photos and videos of major tree damage along the Border Route Trail. A similar video was shot last week on Clearwater Lake. Both videos show significant amounts of downed trees, including massive pine trees that violently splintered and are now horizontal to the ground.

The damage likely occurred Oct. 10 during an intense storm that included a tornado warning for parts of Cook County.

During a post Oct. 19, the Forest Service says the storm caused significant damage along the Border Route Trail. There is damage on Clearwater Lake, Alder Lake and the Border Route Trail is impassable in places, according to the Forest Service.

WTIP reached out to the Border Route Trail Association earlier this week for comment on the situation and has yet to hear back.

Joe Friedrichs October 20, 2021