🔥 Current Fire Conditions
Track active fires, smoke impacts, wildfires near the Boundary Waters and North Shore updates during the 2026 fire season. Latest Updates >
A rapidly spreading wildfire northeast of Two Harbors has forced mandatory evacuations, damaged structures, and closed a major stretch of Highway 61. Driven by dry conditions and high winds that sparked fires across the region, crews are working to contain the Stewart Trail Fire. Here is what wilderness travelers and North Shore visitors need to know.
A local company is using trees damaged by wildfire on state and federal lands to make lumber, pallets, and other products. As crews open areas, the Forest Service will restore some of the fire-impacted land with new tree seedlings and seeds.
In an effort to restore state land affected by wildfires or windstorms, crews with the Minnesota DNR will plant almost 2 million tree seedlings on state-owned land this spring. This will include over 2,000 acres in the northeastern part of the state.Â
Smelt season has officially arrived in Duluth. From the flickering headlamps of Park Point to the late night pulls of the seine nets, the annual spring run is more than just fishing—it’s a North Shore tradition 70 years in the making.
There is now evidence that cougars, which used to be native to Minnesota, are reproducing in the state again. A recent video shared by the Voyageurs Wolf Project caught a female cougar and three kittens on one of their trail cams.
The Forest Service has published its latest permit and visitor-use report for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). While visitor numbers remain about the same, cancellations and no-shows continue to rise.
Spring in the Boundary Waters offers unmatched solitude and the first signs of life, but the beauty hides a deadly risk: water temperatures that linger in the 40s and 50s long after ice-out. An experienced guide shares tips to help stay safe, warm, and prepared for the unpredictable conditions of a BWCAW shoulder-season adventure.
In a narrow 50-49 vote, the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 140, effectively overturning a 20-year moratorium on mineral leasing in the Superior National Forest. The move clears a major federal hurdle for the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine.
Each spring, the Forest Service plans prescribed burns throughout the Superior National Forest. The work is expected to begin this month and, depending on conditions, will go through June. This is done annually to help safeguard communities from wildfires and reduce fuel loads. See which areas are scheduled for burning.
Experience Minnesota’s dark skies during International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20. Minnesota is home to two certified dark-sky sanctuaries – the BWCAW and Voyageurs National Park.
The U.S. Forest Service recently announced that it will move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah. The move is part of a broader restructuring of the agency. Closer to home, two research and development facilities in Ely and Grand Rapids are slated for closure. We reached out to the Superior National Forest to learn what this may mean for the national forest.
When the ice will be out on Boundary Waters lakes? Using scientific and historical data, an online thaw tracker provided by the Minnesota Sea Grant helps estimate when ice will disappear from Minnesota lakes.
From the successful restoration of the fire-ravaged Powwow Trail to an ambitious new project rebuilding boardwalks on the popular Eagle Mountain Trail, BWAC volunteers are the boots on the ground keeping wilderness paths open. Crews paddle or hike in, and use traditional hand tools to clear deadfalls and protect the trail experience for thousands of hikers.
Moose populations continue to be stable, according to the most recent survey by the Minnesota DNR. The state, along with tribal, federal, county, and other partners, plans to implement a new, long-term plan to improve moose habitat across three counties and 50,000 acres.
We eagerly await each year’s announcement from the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness—images that capture the people, seasons, and quiet moments defining canoe country, and remind us why this landscape deserves protection.
One of Minnesota’s most scenic and longest hiking trails turns 40 this year. The Superior Hiking Trail began as a grassroots effort by hiking enthusiasts who wanted to create a long-distance trail in the state. The trail, which loosely follows the rocky spine overlooking Lake Superior, is popular with hikers who explore it each season.
Three important parcels of land totaling 87 acres that originally belonged to the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa in northern Minnesota have been returned. The agreement was reached through a collaboration with the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the Minnesota Land Trust. Although the land was lost through questionable actions, the Band sees this as a hopeful step towards restoration.
Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota is a unique place where species thrive that you won’t find elsewhere in the U.S. In spring, myriad birds seek varied habitats to nest or rest briefly during migration. Visitors can come and witness this spectacular seasonal movement.
It’s no secret that Minnesota has a lot of lakes—the DNR has listed 11,842 of them. Although Lake Superior is the deepest overall, Saganaga Lake in the BWCA ranks as the deepest natural inland lake. Its easy access draws all kinds of adventure-seekers to its cool, clean waters each summer.
“We really are being welcomed into the hospitality of a community of earth, plants, and animals…” Step into the changing seasons with a new book by Mary Casanova and read our exclusive Q&A with Duluth artist Jordan Sundberg on finding inspiration in the forest.