Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points now 70% open
The Forest Service says it has now opened over 70% of the one-million-acre BWCAW. Phase 7, effective August 13, will bring the total to more than 1,600 of campsites reopened.
🔥 Current Fire Conditions
Track active fires, smoke impacts, wildfires near the Boundary Waters and North Shore updates during the 2026 fire season. Latest Updates >
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Quetico fire crossed the border into the BWCAW; campsites reopening
The Forest Service lifted closure of Trails End Campground on July 29. Recent rain has moderated fire activity, officials said, the Little Knife Fire area is reopening….
Paddlers will use Wi-Fi to report their entry into Canada; RABC permits extended through November
Starting June 8, the Cache Bay and Prairie Portage ranger stations are expected to implement a new telephone reporting system for paddlers entering Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. Visitors will be able to use the stations’ Wi-Fi to report their entry.
Wildfires burn approximately 68,000 acres in the Superior National Forest and BWCA
Daily updates on wildfires in the Boundary Waters: containment is climbing across the major fires as evacuation zones shrink near the areas closest to the flames. The Forest Service is reopening additional BWCAW entry points for day and overnight use.
What the Boundary Waters looks like fifteen years after the Pagami Creek Fire
Fifteen years ago, the Pagami Creek Fire burned more than 90,000 acres of the Boundary Waters — the largest wildfire Minnesota had seen in nearly a century. Wilderness guide Pam Wright paddled back into the heart of it this summer, days after the area reopened, and found a landscape regenerating…
Quetico closure extended again as Fort Frances 13 burns on
Quetico Provincial Park has pushed its proposed reopening to August 14, the evacuation alert still stands for the Canadian counterpart of the Little Knife Fire grows.
How will wildfires and warming summers shape northern Minnesota’s forests?
With rising temperatures and predictions of increasingly hot, dry summers, what does the future hold for the forest? We spoke with Minnesota ecologist and author Professor Lee E. Frelich about how climate change and future wildfires could reshape the forest.
Campfire ban updates: BWCAW, Superior National Forest and Voyageurs National Park, Quetico
Citing continued dry conditions and wildfire activity, the Superior National Forest is issuing an Emergency Forest Order banning campfires within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, until rescinded.
BioBlitz week at Voyageurs National Park encourages visitors to document plants and animals
Between August 1-9, everyone who visits the park is encouraged to document as many species as possible using the app iNaturalist. The goal of the project is to provide opportunities for the public to contribute to the scientific knowledge of the area, helping to inform park management and conservation efforts.
Permit canceled due to wildfires? Discover new ways to explore northeastern Minnesota
While many permits have been canceled due to ongoing wildfires in the BWCAW, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore areas outside the wilderness and nearby communities. Plan your northern MN adventure with our favorite alternatives to the Boundary Waters.
Boundary Waters temporarily closed to all visitors as wildfires spread
BWCAW permits are cancelled through July 24, and the closure order now formally runs through October 1, or until rescinded. The Forest Service said this week that it is assessing opportunities to reduce the closure in areas where conditions allow.
Escaping ahead of the Little Knife Fire in the BWCA
Their Boundary Waters trip started with mosquitoes, unusually warm weather, and rugged portages. “Little did we know, those trials by fire were going to be just stick kindling compared to the real fires ahead…”
Superior National Forest, emergency responders prepare for the long haul as wildfires burn
Officials representing multiple agencies, including the USFS-Superior National Forest, held a press conference Wednesday at the Kawishiwi Ranger Station in Ely. They provided updates and plans for the wildfires burning in the BWCAW and northeastern Minnesota.
Boundary Waters wildfires closure affecting area outfitters and visitors
With the entire Boundary Waters closed and no reopening date announced, outfitters on both sides of the wilderness are scrambling — canceling and rerouting trips, fielding calls from visitors who flew in from across the country, and hoping the next few days bring better news.
Wildfires close Quetico’s Dawson Trail Campground and Backcountry Entry
Quetico Provincial Park has closed Dawson Trail Campground due to nearby forest fire activity, according to the park’s alerts page. All backcountry entry stations are also closed.
Emergency Closure Order issued for portions of the BWCAW
The USDA Forest Service is closing public access to portions of the BWCAW to protect public health and safety. One order closes three wildfire areas surrounding the Bear Trap, Thumb, and Wolfpack fires in the LaCroix Ranger District, affecting 13 entry points; a second closes 15 lakes in the northwestern Gunflint Ranger District, effective July 12, due to a wildfire in Quetico Provincial Park.
Lightning-caused Long 2 Fire contained in the Boundary Waters
A small wildfire detected in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness last week is now fully contained, the Superior National Forest said in its final update on the fire July 5.
Researchers listen for signs of change in Quetico’s songbirds
A long-term songbird study is underway deep within Quetico Provincial Park. This spring, researchers placed 17 recording units across key habitats to monitor songbird species. Data will reveal trends especially as climate change affects the park and bird species.
Over 12,000 BWCA permits went unused last year, new policy aims to change that
The Superior National Forest is reconsidering their cancellation policy on Boundary Waters Canoe Area permits. The most visited wilderness in the country requires a permit, usually booked online. In recent years, cancellations and no-shows have been on the rise…
Trail to Minnesota’s highest waterfall gets upgrade: Grand Portage State Park receives $1.1M
Minnesota’s highest waterfall is getting an upgrade. Grand Portage State Park will use a $1.1 million Get Out MORE investment to upgrade its iconic High Falls trail and boardwalk by 2027.