The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) covers 1 million acres with over 1,100 lakes along 150 miles of the Minnesota-Canada border. Get the latest news on BWCA regulations, the mining debate, wildlife, trail conditions, camping permits and more.
A once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rose Lake in the BWCA
“We worried about crowds and finding a campsite on the popular Rose Lake in the BWCA. But were rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.”
Congressional committee passes ban on copper mining near Boundary Waters
A bill sponsored by Rep. Betty McCollum to permanently prohibit mining copper and other sulfide ore in the watershed of the Boundary Waters wilderness cleared a key House committee this week…
Canada to resume remote area border crossing permits, allow travel between Boundary Waters and Quetico
Permits shut down due to pandemic will soon be available again to people paddling between U.S. and Canada.
Lake trout no longer stocked in northeastern Minnesota waters
Fishery managers say population is stable where possible, and not feasible in other lakes.
Historic high water hits Rainy Lake region
Catastrophic floods are inundating parks, historic sites, resorts, homes, experts say water may rise another 10 inches this week.
All eyes on the ice: Canoe country still frozen as permit season starts
Spring has been slow to arrive in northern Minnesota this year, and it’s keeping the region cold.
10 questions to ask before booking your first (or twenty-first) Boundary Waters permit
Ready for the solitude and challenge of the BWCAW? Here are some key questions to ask yourself before booking your first Boundary Waters permit.
Calling on volunteers for Boundary Waters wilderness hiking trails
The BWCAW isn’t just for canoeing. Volunteers help clear and maintain 200 miles of hiking trails in the Boundary Waters annually.
Duluth woman will cross Boundary Waters to support wilderness education
Emily Ford will follow up inspiring trip last winter with trip along the frozen Border Route.
Forest Service finalizes BWCAW entry point permit cuts
After pressure on lakes and campsites in recent years, the Forest Service decided to cut about 37 BWCAW permits per day across 27 entry points.
New tribal liaison helps Superior National Forest respect treaty rights
A new staff member with the U.S. Forest Service will provide dedicated communication and coordination with tribes and tribal entities in northern Minnesota.
Rare October tornado reported in Boundary Waters
Unusual autumn twister leaves four-mile path of downed trees across popular BWCA wilderness lakes.
Feds consider mining ban upstream of Boundary Waters
Officials with the U.S. Forest Service have taken a decisive step toward long-term protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, resuming study, could lead to 20-year mining moratorium.
Tracking change in the path of the Pagami Creek Fire 10 years later
Ten years after the biggest wildfire in a century, the forest is full of life, and reminders of the Boundary Waters inferno.
Fire FAQs: Critical context for canoe country wildfires
Questions and answers about the wildfires consuming parts of northern Minnesota. Where do the animals go? How much of the BWCA has burned?
Boundary Waters Wildfires 2021
Superior Hiking Trail closed, Boundary Waters closed due to fires. Updated maps, photos from fires in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest as official information is available. Greenwood Fire grows, Moose Lake Fire detected…
Boundary Waters permits will be issued in person starting mid-July
Forest Service will return to near normal permitting process as the public health threat passes.
Forest Service reports 2020 Boundary Waters visitor numbers, signs point to another busy season
A significant increase in visitors last year showed value of wilderness, while posing some challenges.
Minnesota representatives introduce legislation to block and boost mining proposals
Members of Congress offer competing bills on copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Forest Service changes Boundary Waters permit process to increase Leave No Trace awareness
Permit holders will be required to receive training this year to help prevent problems seen last summer.
Former Minnesota governor calls on Biden to protect Boundary Waters from mining pollution
Mark Dayton: “…the only acceptable goal is permanent protection from copper mining near the Boundary Waters.”
Adventurer skiing 250 miles through Boundary Waters to support Lakota people
Expedition raises funds and awareness for Pine Ridge reservation with trek across Border Route Trail from Rainy Lake to Grand Portage.
Incredible journey of collared wolf that left Isle Royale
GPS collar let scientists see where a wolf that was brought to Isle Royale as part of reintroduction effort went after crossing ice back to mainland.
Celebrating 80 years of woods, waters, and wilderness in the Conservation Volunteer
The Minnesota Conservation Volunteer has been published by natural resources departments for nearly half the state’s history.
Cell tower approved on Gunflint Trail, extending service into the Boundary Waters
County commissioners approve relatively short, unlighted tower primarily to serve emergency responders.
Snowshoes to Hok skis, exploring the Boundary Waters in winter
Snowshoes, boots or Hok skis? Enthusiasts share tips for heading off the beaten path so you can get the most out of canoe country in winter.
Ice skating in the Boundary Waters – the slightly obsessive search for “wild ice”
“It’s this magical moment that opens up between paddling and skiing in the Boundary Waters.”
Biggest jack pine in America discovered in Boundary Waters
Forest surveyors find massive specimen of the boreal tree species in remote area of wilderness.
Sixty-year-old seaplanes still serve in the Superior National Forest
Aircraft purchased by the Forest Service in the late 1950s work on everything from wildfire, search-and-rescue, to wildlife management.
Paddling through history: Canoe crew retraces historic Boundary Waters ‘Circle Tour’
A legendary BWCAW canoe route, almost 100 miles long, pioneered by early trappers and conservationists was nearly lost to time.