By John Keefover of Keefography
BOREAL BACKCOUNTRY CABINS FALL GETAWAY
3 DAYS AND 2 NIGHTS AT THIS HIKE-IN BACKCOUNTRY CABIN OFF THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL.
This trip is different than most of my other backpacking trips. Instead of sleeping in my tent, we headed to a backcountry cabin! Boreal Backcountry Cabins are two off-grid, hike-in cabins right off the Superior Hiking Trail in between Britton Peak & LeVeaux Mountain in Tofte, Minnesota on the North Shore of Lake Superior. These cabins are brand new having launched in August of 2022. They were putting the finishing touches on as I was Thru-Hiking the trail back in June. This was actually my first time back on the SHT since then and it sure was a nice time. Keep reading below to read more about the cabins and our experience!
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BOREAL BACKCOUNTRY CABINS SHT GETAWAY
My partner Julie joined me for this trip as a fun way to relax and spend time together without distractions. From the Britton Peak trailhead it’s 2.7 miles to the cabins which isn’t too bad. Most people staying at the cabins will likely be SHT Thru Hikers or Sections Hikers looking to take a break from the trail, but for us this was our destination. We did do some day hikes around from our base camp at the cabin though.
Our cabin for 3 days.
We hiked into the cabins from the Britton Peak trailhead and of course we had to take the short, but steep spur trail up to the top of the peak. Once we reached the top we were completely fogged in with the rain but fall colors were still popping through.
Fogged in with fall colors on Britton Peak.
The trail was was also full of color for a little bit before we ended up in a thick green tunnel for most of the way. That wasn’t particularly a bad thing since it was raining we were well protected by the canopy above and hardly got any rain on us, our rain gear took care of the rest.
Rainy boardwalks and blue blazes along the SHT.
We passed several groups of hikers on the way in while passing Springdale Creek. Through small talk they were quite jealous that we were staying in a cabin tonight while they were heading off to the next campsites in the rain! As we got to the trail junction for the cabins we saw another group up ahead. They warned us there was a bear right on the trail just up ahead. We told them we were turning here to stay at the cabins and they actually were too! They stayed the night before as well and were just getting back from dayhiking around. The spur trail to the cabins is .4 miles long on an easy going trail.
.4 miles from the SHT to the cabins.
The other group in front of us walked past the first cabin we came across so we figured we were the first one. That is one thing of note is that there’s no signage on the cabin letting you know which one is yours, but signage will be going up soon I found out later. We made ourselves at home in the beautiful new cabin. The heater was on already when we went inside and we turned it up a little more to warm up from the cool fall rain. Inside there were bunk beds with a full on bottom, and a twin on top. There was also a couple tables, board games and books, some cook wear and solar powered lights & outlets for charging. Big open windows provided an amazing view of the forest that felt like we were practically in it. I mean I guess we were out here! There was also a nice little screen porch at the entrance as well.
The inside of our cabin.
Outside there was a fire ring with a grill over it and 3 chairs around it, along with a nearby table. Back behind the cabin was a shower set up outside. There was a refillable bag attached to hanging trees that you hoist up using a pulley. The bag had a gravity fed shower nozzle on the bottom that you just turn a lever to open up the flow on top of you. Great option for hikers looking to clean up a little bit! Then you can warm up right after at the fire. Unfortunately with all the rain we won’t be having a fire but they did leave dry wood under the cabins for us to use, and there was a bucket of kindling in the porch to get it going.
The outside of our cabin with a fire ring and the outdoor shower seen back right.
If you’re wondering about how you fill the bag for the shower well there’s a fancy artesian well right next to the cabin! They had a spigot set up and the water was some of the best I’ve had! We had our fill throughout our stay.
The Artesian Well.
Just passed the well was the outhouse. I know it’s new but it was still one of the cleanest outhouses I’ve been in! The inside was painted orange and had 3 great wildlife themed paintings. They were stocked up on toilet paper which was inside of a mailbox next to the toilet. Guess that’s a good way to keep the critters from getting into it and making a nest. Julie said she saw a mouse while she was in there in the dark though and freaked out a little bit. I couldn’t help but laugh. Sorry Julie!
Outhouse.
We enjoyed the rest of our evening in the cabin and went to bed early. It’s supposed to rain all day tomorrow and then clear up for sunset so we might go explore later on in the day.
We both got some much needed sleep and slept in until 9 AM. It was quite warm inside the cabin. The heater was turned way down overnight but the rising sun on the big open windows really heated things up quickly. It seemed like a gorgeous fall day. Maybe the weather forecast for rain was wrong after all. Didn’t have enough service to check though.
After we had coffee and breakfast the other group walked past our cabin as they headed out. Sonja, one of the hosts & owners of the cabins, walked down the trail and we got to talk with her for a bit. She told us the cabin we are staying at is a brand new build, and the other cabin was built around 10 years ago. Their dream of building these backcountry cabins has been 10 years in the making! We got to check out the other cabin since the other group left.
The other cabin exterior with the Solar Panel seen to the right.
This one was a little bigger and more secluded in the woods up on a little hill. The inside featured a wall map of the SHT and several books on it along with a few other books & board games.
The inside of the other cabin.
There was also another campfire set up with an outdoor shower as well.
The campfire & shower set up at the other cabin.
We said good bye to Sonja and went out for a day hike to the nearby LeVeaux Mountain which is roughly around 3 miles to the top. It was beautiful out now. A little chilly, but the sun was shining. At least it wasn’t raining like it was supposed to do all day! Shortly into our hike we came to the marked Cedar Overlook. This spur trail is a set of switchbacks leading up to an overlook that is surrounded by cedar trees, as one could probably assume. The overlook itself is pretty grown in which was unfortunate because it had what would be an incredible view of LeVeaux Mountain, Oberg Mountain and Moose Mountain. It was hard to see them through the trees and leaves. Using a big telephoto lens I took a picture of the side of LeVeaux Mountain with the shadows of passing clouds creating dappled lights on the hillside. You could also see a rocky outcrop on the side of the mountain as well. That’s an overlook we’ll be on soon enough!
While we were up on Cedar Overlook there was just enough service to check the weather. The radar looked clear and the hourly said there wouldn’t be rain for several more hours. Once again though the forecast proved to be wrong. Almost immediately after we got back on the main trail it started hailing! It didn’t last very long but it was wild! A few minutes after that we came across another hiker and he said he didn’t have any hail or or anything. What the heck! You never know what the weather is going to do this time of year up North here. After about a mile we came to LeVeaux Pond which was surrounded by vibrant fall colors and had a big beaver lodge on it. Bright white fluffy clouds drifted across the horizon and now there was actually blue sky too after we had just got hailed on!
From the boardwalk over the pond it’s not far to the campsites right on the water. The first one we came across was West LeVeaux Pond which is a big multi-group site with plenty of tent pads. We took a break here to snack a bit and take some more photos of the scenic pond.
LeVeaux Pond from the West LeVeaux Pond campsite water source.
The other side of the pond had East LeVeaux Pond which was a much smaller site. Could get 1-3 tents in there maybe. It was a little overgrown as well and didn’t have as good of a view from the pond here. By now another storm seemingly appeared out of nowhere. We were still determined to get to the top of LeVeaux though. The sky grew darker as we approached the spur trail up to the loop around the top. Once we started climbing the wind really started whipping at us. The first overlook we got to was spectacular! Fall colors covered the peaks and and ridges in front of us and you could see LeVeaux Pond where we just were.
A view of LeVeaux Pond surrounded by fall colors.
From that spot you could also see where it was absolutely pouring right across from us! We continued on to finish the loop. Momentarily using some cedar trees as a shelter from the heavy rain and wind. There was no lightning at least.
A storm rolling in over fall colors and the Sawtooth Mountains.
We waited out the rain for a brief reprieve and then went out onto the last overlook. Where we were standing now is the same spot I took a picture of back on the Cedar Overlook. From up here though everything was just layers of rain and fog. It looked pretty incredible. The photos didn’t do it justice for what we saw with our own eyes. Carlton Peak stood out prominently even in the haze.
Carlton Peak after a passing rain storm.
After taking some photos we finished up the loop and started to head back to the cabin. Of course the sun started to come back out now too! Some wildly unpredictable weather today made it pretty entertaining. As long as you’re dressed and prepared to be out in those conditions it’s just fine. The walk back to the cabin went way faster which usually seems like the case. Once back we ate our backpacking dinners and hung out in the cabin where it was warm & dry! Another brief rainstorm passed over us again but at least we had a roof over our heads. After todays adventure we were both feeling an early bedtime.
Since we have to leave today of course the sun was shining now! The morning light lit up the inside of the cabin and the fall colors outside the windows. In the span of 3 days the colors had changed dramatically. By the time we got up and ready to go we saw Sonja again doing some cleanup around the property. We thanked her for the hospitality and headed back to the trailhead where our car was at. The walk back was much nicer this time around with the sun out and mostly dry trail. Definitely some muddy spots though after all the recent rain.
We got to the spur trail up to Britton Peak pretty quickly so we decided to head back up there again. Thankfully this time you could actually see the view since it wasn’t fogged in. From here you get an amazing view of Carlton Peak though the colors haven’t turned very much on it yet. As of reading this now it’s probably at peak or close to it! The ridges and hills around it was already covered in brilliant red, orange and yellow colors.
We took in the views for some time before climbing back down to the trailhead and our car. From there we took the backroads along Heartbreak Ridge for a leisurely drive back home. Lots of other people were enjoying the fall colors through here as well even for a Monday. It was a good thing we were done hiking for the day because we got rained on again! We didn’t take any pictures through here, it was more just for us to share that moment. I suggest you go check it out for yourself, and the Boreal Backcountry Cabins sometime! The next trips will be back in the tent, including a Thru-Hike of the 65 mile Border Route Trail in the BWCAW! Stay tuned for that trip report.
Cell phone selfie at Britton Peak feeling good after the trip!
Keefography is reader supported. If you enjoy this free content please consider making a CONTRIBUTION, buying my 2023 PHOTOGRAPHY CALENDAR, purchasing PRINTS, and following along on Social Media at Instagram, Facebook, & YouTube. Your support is greatly appreciated to help cover travel costs, permits, gear acquisitions, and time commitments needed to get outside and share these adventures with you all. Thanks!
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