Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
A Place Worth Preserving
Last season saw unprecedented visitation to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and along with that an unacceptably high amount of resource damage, including cutting of live trees, human waste not being properly disposed, trash left in campfire rings, disruptive and oversized groups, lack of BWCAW permits, improper food storage, and campfires left unattended.
To ensure visitors new to wilderness understand and follow BWCAW regulations and Leave No Trace Principles, we have adopted new methods of delivering this information for permit issue stations that will be operating virtually in 2021 due to covid19. It takes a commitment from everyone visiting these treasured lands to ensure that the lakes, waterways and forests of the BWCAW are protected against resource damage, so the wilderness character is preserved for future generations.
The BWCAW Wilderness
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. For the most current, comprehensive information on planning a trip to the BWCAW, please review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide (PDF).
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
Notifications and Alerts
Successful wilderness trips just don’t happen! They are the result of careful planning:
• Watch the Leave No Trace (LNT) education videos Parts 1 & 2with your group prior to your trip!
• Check the Cooperators tab on this page to see which issue stations are issuing permits in-person and which are operating virtually due to covid19.
• If your issue station is issuing permits in-person: Watch the third LNT video and review the BWCAW Regulations and Rules with your cooperator when you pick up your permit in-person.
• If your issue station is operating virtually (and not issuing in-person): Watch the third LNT video and review the BWCAW Regulations and Rules during an online LNT education session, virtually replicating the normal in-person permit process. Permits will be emailed to permit holders after attending the virtual session. Closer to their entry date, permit holders will receive an email invite with a link to join a virtual LNT session. Permit holders without access to internet, must call the Forest Service to complete the LNT requirement.
• Thoroughly review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide and always leave a trip itinerary with family or friends prior to leaving home (see page 23).
• Carefully review the Need to Know and Fees & Cancellations tabs on this page before making a reservation. (Recreation fees paid will only be refunded for reservations cancelled two or more days prior to entry date. No exceptions).
• One permit per day per permit holder. The Forest Service reserves the right to cancel multiple same-day reservations and overlapping reservations under the same permit holder name.
• See the Overview tab on this page to learn more about why virtual LNT education is required in 2021 for those selecting permit issue stations that are operating virtually.
Canadian Border Remains Closed: Travel to Canada for discretionary reasons (non-essential), such as for tourism, recreation or entertainment is currently prohibited. Access to Quetico Provincial Park from the Cache Bay, Prairie Portage and Lac La Croix entry stations remains closed. For more information, visit the Canada Border Service Agency website and Ontario Parks online.
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. Walk-up 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 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).
A BWCAW permit allows a group of up to 9 people and 4 watercraft to enter the wilderness.
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 into the BWCAW 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.
- When making a reservation, visitors are allowed up to 7 reservations in one cart and 1 cart per transaction.
- 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).
BWCAW Quota Permit Requirements
- One permit per day per permit holder. The Forest Service reserves the right to cancel multiple same-day reservations and overlapping reservations under the same permit holder name.
- Permit holder must stay with group for the duration of the trip, permit is void if permit holder exits before group.
- Permit is valid to enter BWCAW only on the entry date and at the entry point specified.
- Permits can only be picked up on the entry date or one day prior.
- Only permit holder or alternate permit holder specified at time of reservation can pick up permit (photo ID required).
- Reserved permits must be picked up at issue station specified. Office hours vary, see "Cooperators" tab on this page for issue station hours of operation.
- Cooperators may charge a service fee for issuing permits (up to $2 per overnight permit).
- Allow extra time to discuss wilderness principles and current conditions when picking up permit.
- BWCAW quota permit requirements are strictly enforced. No exceptions. No refunds.
BWCA Wilderness Regulations and Rules
Permit holders and group members are responsible for understanding and following all BWCAW Regulations and Rules.
BWCAW Leave No Trace Video Series
Permit holders are responsible for sharing the BWCAW Leave No Trace Video Series with their group prior to departure:
Part 1: Trip Planning
Part 2: Packing and Preparing
Part 3: Know Before You Go
The third video in the series will be shown to all groups when picking up the permit.
Reserving a Permit for a Non-Profit?
Learn more about reserving permits for a non-profit organization
Day Use Motor Permits and Overnight Motor Permits
- Motor-Powered Watercraft Regulations: 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 Horsepower (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 you pick up your permit.
Pass Discounts
All Interagency Senior and Access Passes must be presented for validation when picking up permit or discount will not be honored.
Reservation Policy
Any group member and alternate listed on BWCAW permits at time of reservation must be paid for at check-out.
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. Cancellations made through the call center must be made 9:00 a.m. CT - 11:00 p.m. CT, March 1 - October 31, or 9:00 a.m. CT - 9:00 p.m. CT, November 1 - February 28.
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.
Day Use Motor Permits may be cancelled anytime during the motor week. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it.
The $6.00 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Permits are not transferable (group leader, alternate leaders, entry date and entry point cannot be changed once the permit reservation is made).
Walk-up permits cannot be cancelled once they are issued.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
8901 Grand Ave Place Duluth MN 55808
Permit Reservations: 1-877-444-6777
Phone Number
218-626-4300
