Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
A Place Worth Preserving The BWCA Wilderness is a unique area located in the northern third of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. Over 1,098,000 acres in size, it extends nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary adjacent to Canada’s Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks, bordered on the west by Voyageurs National Park with Grand Portage Monument to the east. The BWCAW contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
This area was set aside in 1926 to preserve its primitive character and made a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1964 with subsequent legislation in 1978. Wilderness offers freedom to those who wish to pursue an experience of expansive solitude, challenge and personal connection with nature. The BWCAW allows visitors to canoe, portage and camp in the spirit of those travelers that came before them centuries ago. The BWCAW Act of 1978 In 2018, we observed the 40th anniversary of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act (PL 95-495). The 1964 Wilderness Act created the National Wilderness Preservation System that included the BWCA. The BWCAW Act of 1978 added more acreage and specific management direction with the purpose to protect, manage, enhance and restore the area. Learn more about the BWCAW Act of 1978 Plan Ahead and Prepare For the most current, comprehensive information on planning a trip to the BWCAW, please review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide from the U.S. Forest Service to help you plan a safe and successful trip, and learn more about the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area.
Notifications and Alerts
BWCAW CLOSURE UPDATE 7/23/26 (12:00pm CT): BWCAW is closed to Overnight Paddle, Overnight Motor, and Overnight Hiking permits for ALL entry points through Wednesday, July 29, 2026, due to extreme weather conditions and numerous wildfires burning in the Superior NF and BWCAW. Refunds are processed automatically during official forest closures.
DAY USE ACCESS: Permits for select entry points in Cook County starting Monday, July 27, 2026, are open for visitor day use. Day use at other entry points in the BWCAW remains closed.
Read the latest press release and review the closure map.
Check inciweb for the latest fire updates and the smoke map.
VISITOR ADVISORY: Due to the varied wildfire activity and weather, the Forest Service advises visitors to be diligent in planning trips into the area. Ensure a travel plan is in place and it’s shared with family or friends, know weather and fire conditions before you go, and understand you are entering a Wilderness area with associated risks due to weather, access and wildfire activity. See tips on planning a wilderness trip.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Forest-wide fire restrictions remain in effect in the Superior NF and BWCAW: Forest Order 09-09-00-26-09.
RECREATION ALTERNATIVES: Canoe routes outside BWCAW provide a unique backcountry experience with no permit reservations or visitor use fees required. Superior National Forest has 265 backcountry sites, some with canoe routes outside wilderness including Hunting Shack River Route, Johnson Lake, Seven Beavers, and Birch Lake.
USFS News Release (Duluth, MN, July 24, 2026): Access Proposal for BWCAW – Phase 2 BWCAW overnight permit access plan could be implemented July 30 – In an effort to re-open select areas of the BWCAW, the Forest Service continues to evaluate fire activity, weather and resources daily. Forest Officials anticipate the ability to open select portions of the BWCAW entry points on July 30, barring no significant wildfire activity over the upcoming weekend. The proposal, when implemented, would open access to overnight use at 37 of the 103 quota entry points and re-open approximately 424,231 acres (39%) of the BWCAW to the public. A decision is planned with an implementation announcement for July 27. The Phase 2 list includes all the same entry points as Phase 1 and adds several entry points in Lake County. There is only one entry point proposed for reopening in St. Louis County: Trout Lake (day-use motor only). Opening of Phase 2 entry points is depicted by the “Phase 2 BWCAW Wildfires Reopening” map.
The following entry points under consideration for opening include: Gunflint Ranger District – 43 Bower Trout Lake; 44 Ram Lake; 45 Morgan Lake; 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes; 48 Meeds Lake; 49 Skipper and Portage Lakes; 50 Cross River; 51 Missing Link Lake; 52 Brant Lake; 58 South Lake; 59 Partridge/South Lake Trail; 60 Duncan Lake; 61 Daniels Lake; 62 Clearwater Lake; 64 East Bearskin Lake; 66 Crocodile River; 68 Pine Lake; 69 Little John Lake; 70 North Fowl Lake; 78 Brule Lake Trail; 79 Eagle Mountain Trail; 81 Border Route Trail (west);82 Border Route Trail (center); 83 Border Route Trail (east) Kawishiwi Ranger District 33 Little Gabbro Lake LaCroix Ranger District A Trout Lake (Day Use Motor) Tofte Ranger District 34 Island River; 35 Isabella Lake; 36 Hog Creek; 37 Kawishiwi Lake; 38 Sawbill Lake; 39 Baker Lake; 40 Homer Lake; 41 Brule Lake; 67 Bog Lake; 75 Little Isabella River; 84 Snake River [continued…].
Permit & Season Information
A permit is always required to enter the BWCA Wilderness:
Visitors taking an overnight paddle, motor or hiking trip, or a motorized day trip into the BWCAW from May 1 – September 30 are required to obtain a quota permit through Recreation.gov. Walk-In permits may be obtained at any permit issuing station on the entry date or one day prior when available, however, reservations are recommended since there are a limited number of quota permits for each entry point.
Self Issued permits are required for ALL visitors from October 1 - April 30. Self Issued permits are available from kiosks at BWCAW entry points and Forest Service offices (no reservation required and no recreation fees).
Self Issued permits are required for non-motorized day use visitors year-round and for all overnight visitors entering the BWCAW from October 1 – April 30. Self Issued permits are also required for Day Use Motor visitors from October 1 - April 30.
One permit per group; 9 people and 4 watercraft limit.
Need to Know
A permit is always required to enter the BWCA Wilderness.
Visitors taking an overnight paddle, motor or hiking trip, or a motorized day trip from May 1 – September 30 are required to obtain a quota permit. Walk-up permits may be obtained at any permit issue station on the entry date or one day prior when available, however, reservations are recommended since there are a limited number of quota permits for each entry point.
Self Issued permits are required for non-motorized day use visitors year-round and for all overnight visitors entering the BWCAW from October 1 – April 30. Self Issued permits are available from kiosks at BWCAW entry points and Forest Service offices (no reservation required and no recreation fees).
When making a reservation, visitors are allowed up to 7 reservations in one cart and 1 cart per transaction.
BWCAW Quota Permit Requirements
Permits are not transferable. Permit holder, alternates, entry date and entry point cannot be changed once the permit reservation is made.
Permit is valid to enter BWCAW only on the entry date and at the entry point specified; or the permit is void. All group members must enter on the entry date specified on the permit.
Permits can only be picked up on the entry date or one day prior. Only the permit holder or alternate permit holder specified at the time of reservation can pick up the permit (photo I.D. required).
One permit per day, per permit holder. Forest Service reserves the right to cancel multiple same day, overlapping, and consecutive reservations under the same permit holder name without notification. This best practice exists to prevent permit holders from stockpiling and hoarding permits.
Permit holder can only lead one trip at a time. Permits are limited to one per day, per permit holder because the permit holder must stay with their group for the duration of the trip or the permit is void.
Reserved permits must be picked up at the issue station specified on the permit. Allow extra time to discuss wilderness principles and current conditions. Office hours vary, see "Issue Stations" section for hours of operation.
Commercial permit issue stations may charge a service fee for issuing overnight permits. Up to $2 per permit.
Permit requirements are strictly enforced. Review the "Fees & Cancellations" section for cancellation policy. Click the "Show Notification" arrow at the top of the page to review important Alerts for the BWCAW Permit. Check the notification banner again before departing for campfire bans, detours and closures.
BWCAW Wilderness Regulations and Rules
Permit holders and group members are responsible for understanding and following all BWCAW Regulations and Rules.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Wilderness trips don't just happen, they are the result of careful planning. Thoroughly review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide and always remember to leave a trip itinerary with family or friends prior to departure (see page 24 for an example).
BWCAW Leave No Trace Video Series
Permit holders are responsible for sharing the BWCAW Leave No Trace (LNT) video series with their group prior to departure: Part 1: Trip Planning Part 2: Plan Ahead and Prepare Part 3: Know Before You Go (Part 3 will be shown to all groups at permit issuance.) For permit holders with multiple BWCAW trips per season: Watch the full video series (8 mins.) in-person at a Forest Service office to earn your seasonal Leave No Trace Education Card. Show your LNT card to expedite permit issuance for subsequent trips. LNT cards expire at the end of each season.
Reserving Permits for a Non-profit Organization.
Day Use Motor Permits and Overnight Motor Permits
Motor-powered watercraft are permitted only on the following designated lakes. All other lakes or portions of lakes within the BWCAW are paddle only. Motors may not be used or be in possession on any paddle-only lake.
Lakes with 10 HP Limit: On these lakes, the possession of one additional motor no greater than 6 HP is permitted, as long as motors in use do not exceed 10 HP: Clearwater, North Fowl, South Fowl, Seagull (no motors generally west of Three Mile Island), sections of Island River within the BWCAW.
Lakes with 25 HP Limit: On these lakes or portions of these lakes, the possession of one additional motor no greater than 10 HP is permitted, as long as motors in use do not exceed 25 HP: Basswood (except that portion north of Jackfish Bay and Washington Island), Saganaga (except that portion west of American Point), Fall, Newton, Moose, Newfound, Sucker, Snowbank, East Bearskin, South Farm, Trout.
Lakes with No HP Limit: Little Vermilion, Loon, Lac La Croix (not beyond the south end of Snow Bay in the U.S.), Loon River.
Portage Wheels: Mechanical assistance is only permitted over the following portages: International Boundary, Four-Mile Portage, Fall-Newton-Pipestone and Back Bay Portages into Basswood Lake, Prairie Portage, Vermilion-Trout Lake Portage.
Fee Policy
Recreation Fee Required for all overnight visitors May 1 – September 30. Per person, per trip recreation fee: Adult $16.00 Child/Youth 0-17 $8.00
Minimum Deposit A minimum deposit of $32.00 (equal to two adult recreation fees) is required when making an advanced reservation for a quota permit. When recreation fees are less than $32.00, the difference will be refunded when the permit is issued.
Pass Discounts Senior/Access pass discount applies to the recreation fee of the pass holder only. Senior and Access Passes (physical or digital) must be presented for validation when picking up a permit or the discount will not be honored.
Reservation Fee The $6.00 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel online anytime up to two days before the entry date for overnight permits. If you cancel reservation two or more days prior to entry date, all recreation fees paid will be refunded. If you cancel reservation on the entry date or one day prior, you will be charged a penalty of $32.00 (two adult user fees), any additional recreation fees paid will be refunded. Cancellations made through the call center must be made 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM CT.
The $6.00 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Walk-In permits cannot be cancelled once they are issued.
BWCAW permits are not transferable.
All cancellations and refunds are calculated using Central Time (CT).
Cancelled permits are randomly returned to the inventory for resale within 24 hours.
No refunds granted for weather events including but not limited to storms, rain, wind, hail, ice, snow, flood, lightening, tornados, smog, excessive heat, cold, bugs, locusts or drought. No refunds for personal, work, or medical emergencies; accidents or casualty. No refunds for operator error, technical issues, or network outages. No refunds for force majeure, unforeseen circumstances or acts of God.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
8901 Grand Ave Place Duluth MN 55808
Permit Reservations: 1-877-444-6777
Phone Number
218-626-4300
