Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
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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
Reminders about BWCAW rules and best practices:
One permit per day, per permit holder: When a permit holder makes multiple reservations on the same entry date or has overlapping reservations, all but one permit will be cancelled by the Forest Service without notification. This is because a group leader can only lead one trip at a time and must remain with their group for the duration of the trip.
Alternate Permit Holders: Alternates cannot be added once a reservation has been made. Check the box under a group member’s name to select an alternate who can pick up the permit if the group leader can’t go.
Issue Stations: Pick an issue station near your entry point prior to making a reservation. Check the “Issue Stations” tab for hours and locations.
Non-profits: Click for information about reserving BWCAW permits for a non-profit organization
Plan Ahead and Prepare: All permit holders are required to watch three Leave No Trace education videos and review the BWCAW Regulations and Rules prior to receiving their permit:
- Watch parts 1 & 2 of the BWCAW Leave No Trace video series prior to departing. To receive credit, click the links in the emails sent to the permit holder to access the videos (use Chrome to avoid errors). If you have not viewed parts 1 and 2 of the video series before arriving at your issue station, you will need to watch the complete BWCAW Leave No Trace video series before receiving your permit.
- Thoroughly review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide. A fed bear is a dead bear! Thoroughly review the BWCAW Trip Planning Guide. A fed bear is a dead bear! Hang food using these food hanging diagrams or choose an IGBC certified bear-resistant container. Always leave a trip itinerary with family or friends prior to departure and remember to call and let them know once you’ve exited the Wilderness.
Near Wilderness Experience: Discover a gem of a campsite just outside the Wilderness. The Superior National Forest has 254 backcountry campsites with fire grates and latrines that provide a unique backcountry experience with no reservations or fees required. The Superior National Forest has 254 backcountry campsites with fire grates and latrines that provide a unique backcountry experience with no reservations or fees required.
Road Construction Alert: Please allow extra time for travel to your issue station for those driving Hwy 61 through Two Harbors on your way up the North Shore. For more information from MDOT, click here.
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Shift in hours of operation for Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Stations
Effective immediately, these two locations will be operating Wednesday through Sunday only from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST through September 30th. To pick up your permit on a Monday or Tuesday, consider moving your permit to the Forest Superior’s Office in Duluth. The Supervisor’s Office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST through September 30th located at 8901 Grand Ave Place, Duluth, MN 55808.
1.) Need a later pickup? Review additional locations and hours of operation under Issue Stations. 2.) Then contact Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777 or email a Forest Service office to request an issue station change.
Border Route Trail - Storm Damage Alert
Hikers traveling along the Border Route Trail may encounter sections of extensive windfall due to the June 18th storm that impacted the Superior National Forest. Forest Service crews and volunteer trail partners have assessed and cleared some sections of the trail, but there are several areas that have not yet been evaluated. As always with remote wilderness travel, visitors should plan routes that are within their abilities and be prepared to navigate by compass and map or GPS if the trail is obscured.
Bridge Construction Alert for Brule Lake, Homer Lake, and Eagle Mountain Trail Entry Points
Forest Road 170 - The Grade, will be closed at the east and west crossing of the Cascade River for construction. Please use alternate routes. Alternate Route 1: Caribou trail to MN Highway 61, to the Gunflint trail to Cook County 8 “Devils Track Road” and Cook County 27 “Ball club road”. Alternate Route 2: FR158 “Bally Creek Road”, this route is not plowed during winter.
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-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 also required for Day Use Motor 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).
A BWCAW permit allows a group of up to 9 people and 4 watercraft to enter the Wilderness.
- One permit per group per trip.
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).
- One permit per day, per permit holder. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to make a reservation, when a visitor makes multiple reservations on the same entry date or has overlapping reservations, all but one permit will automatically be cancelled by the Forest Service. Cancelled permits will be returned to the inventory and permit holders will not be notified prior to cancellation.
- 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 on the permit. Allow extra time to discuss wilderness principles and current conditions when picking up permit. Office hours vary, see "Issue Stations" tab for hours of operation.
- Once a permit is placed with a cooperator, issue station cannot be changed.
- Cooperators may charge a service fee for issuing permit (up to $2 per overnight permit).
- No refunds. See Fees.
- BWCAW quota permit requirements are strictly enforced.
BWCA 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 Video Series with their group prior to departure:
Part 2: Plan Ahead and Prepare
Part 3: Know Before You Go Part 3 will be shown to all groups at permit issuance.
Learn about 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
The Senior/Access pass discount applies to the recreation fee of the pass holder only. All Interagency Senior and Access Passes must be presented for validation when picking up permit or 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-up permits cannot be cancelled once they are issued.
- BWCAW permits are not transferable.
No refunds are granted for weather events including but not limited to storms, rain, wind, hail, ice, snow, flood, lightening, tornados, 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
