Kab-Ash Trail to Red Pine and Blueberry Ridge

Voyageurs National Park (Kabetogama and Ash River)

The Kab-Ash Trail links the Kabetogama and Ash River communities along the southern edge of Voyageurs National Park. Voyageurs is mostly a water park, but the National Park Service says the Kab-Ash is its only trail system with backcountry camping that doesn’t require a boat.

Two small primitive campsites sit along the trail. Red Pine (H1) is 3.2 miles from the Ash River Trail Road trailhead, and Blueberry Ridge (H2) is 1.7 miles from the Meadwood Road trailhead, so a short overnight to either one is the simplest way to sleep in the park without a boat.

The hike

The NPS calls the Kab-Ash a long-distance system of connected trails that can be day-hiked in sections or thru-hiked, which it says takes “several days for the average hiker.” Lengths vary by source: the NPS camping page says nearly 28 miles, Recreation.gov’s site listings say 26, and a 2018 Voyageurs Conservancy article by researcher Tom Gable says a bit more than 20.

The NPS lists trailheads near the Ash River Visitor Center, on the Ash River Trail (County Road 129), in the Ash River community, and on Salmi Road in Kabetogama, which is closed. The Meadwood Road trailhead, shared with the Beaver Pond Overlook Trail, is the closest to Blueberry Ridge. The NPS recommends starting from the trailhead nearest your site, since those sections see the most foot traffic.

Expect rough going. The NPS says the trail is often narrow and overgrown, with exposed rocks and roots, and that over open rock outcrops and ridges the route is marked with cairns. It advises downloading a map to an app and not relying on cairns alone. Gable adds that the trail isn’t regularly maintained in summer and that vegetation can cover it quickly.

Gable’s article describes what you pass: three loops, a granite ridge covered in scrub oak and blueberry bushes, a half-mile boardwalk through a bog, and a bridge more than 100 feet long over the east fork of Daley Bay, about a mile from the Ash River Trail Road parking lot. He also describes a grove of old-growth white pines he estimated at 300 to 400 years old, about 4 miles from the nearest trailhead. The NPS singles out Daley Brook as a good place to watch for wildlife, and Gable reports signs of wolf, fox, fisher, marten, moose, and bear.

The NPS recommends early spring and fall, when biting insects are fewer. Spring and early summer bring mosquitoes, ticks, and rain. The trail is open year-round, and the NPS says winter camping is possible on snowshoes.

For a boat-access trip across the Kabetogama Peninsula, see the Cruiser Lake Trail.

Tips

Reserve first. Book H1 or H2 on Recreation.gov and print the permit.
Start at the nearest trailhead: Ash River Trail Road for Red Pine, Meadwood Road for Blueberry Ridge.
Carry a downloaded map. Cairns mark the open rock, but the NPS says not to rely on them alone.
Bring head nets and repellent, even in late summer.
Leave dogs at home. Pets aren’t allowed on the trail.

Camping

Camping is allowed only at the two designated sites, and the NPS says reservations are required for all camping in the park, made on Recreation.gov or by phone (1-877-444-6777). You can leave your vehicle at the trailhead for the length of your permit. Recreation.gov lists each site for up to six people. Red Pine is small and shaded, with room only for small tents, and Blueberry Ridge suits one small tent.

Both sites have a fire ring and a cleared tent area, but no bear pole and no privy. Hang food and scented items at least 10 feet up and 4 feet out from a tree, or use a bear canister. Burn only dead and downed wood in the metal fire ring, bury human waste in a 6- to 8-inch cathole, and pack out all trash. The park lifted its parkwide campfire ban on Aug. 24, 2026, but warns that drought continues.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending one Kab-Ash site over the other were found. The NPS’s main advice is to hike in from the trailhead closest to your site.

Trail facts

Distance: 6.4 miles round trip to Red Pine (3.2 miles each way); 3.4 miles round trip to Blueberry Ridge
Full trail: about 20 to 28 miles, depending on the source
Route type: Out-and-back to either site
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: Red Pine (H1), Blueberry Ridge (H2)
Water: None listed; carry it or treat what you find
Permits: Recreation.gov reservation required
Food storage: Hang food or use a bear canister; no bear poles
Dogs: Not allowed
Trailheads: Ash River Trail Road (County Road 129); Meadwood Road (Beaver Pond Overlook)
Last verified: October 8, 2026

The Lowdown

Supper at Red Pine, with no bear pole:

Neither Kab-Ash campsite has a bear pole, so meals that pack small and hang easily make camp simpler. See the meals testers rate.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.