Quetico creativity: Park seeks artists for wilderness residency program
Deadline is March 31 to apply to live and work in the Ontario wilderness park at a rustic studio or travel by canoe.
Parks & Regions
Camping in Quetico-Superior country this winter?
The hardy souls that winter camp in the Boundary Waters and Quetico need to be as conscious of wilderness rules as their summer counterparts. Their reward: the freedom to explore corners of the wilderness that are inaccessible in any other season…
How do wolves hunt beavers?
How do you catch a semi-aquatic rodent that spends very little time on land? Turns out, with patience and a lot of waiting. Researchers use GPS-collars to reveal a predator-prey relationship…
Canada considers request to name Quetico lake after wilderness scientist and advocate
Anyone with knowledge of a small lake in Quetico is invited to offer input on proposal to rename it after Miron “Bud” Heinselman, who advanced scientific knowledge of the boreal forest and pushed for its protection.
Teenagers invited to enter wilderness essay contest for a chance to win a “no parents” Boundary Waters trip
An essay contest for high school students seeks to encourage outdoor experiences and promote paddling to a new generation.
Voyageurs National Park researchers record first-ever footage of wolves catching freshwater fish
Scientists tracking and studying wolves in the park on MInnesota’s northern border have documented the animals fishing, and it could be an important food source.
Somali youth explore winter in the BWCAW
A collaboration between Wilderness Inquiry and youth advocacy group Ka Joog takes kids into the Boundary Waters to share new experiences…
The Banadad Ski Trail – from historic logging road to winter wilderness experience
Snow underfoot, dark pines above, a white path beckons cross-country skiers into the Boundary Waters and offers glimpses into its past.
University researchers working in the Boundary Waters face an uncertain future
The Hubachek Wilderness Research Center sits on the edge of northern Minnesota’s vast wilderness, a launching point into the Boundary Waters. The region has become a focus of controversy. The facilities, which date back to the 1930s, moved to the Fall Lake location…
Boundary Waters created out of conflict and compromise 40 years ago today
Watch an award-winning student film about how the BWCAW Act of 1978 came to pass, and learn more about the long road to wilderness protection.
Journalism professors call for clearer communication about Isle Royale wolf reintroduction
Minnesota and Michigan-based academics say the decision to transport new wolves to the Lake Superior site was based on incomplete information.
Photo Gallery: Fall Colors in Quetico Superior Country
Autumn is in full swing across the Boundary Waters, Quetico, Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Voyageurs National Park and the border lakes ecoregion. We celebrate the fall landscape…
First wolves in reintroduction effort could be brought to Isle Royale National Park this week
Project begins to restore predator population on popular island in Lake Superior, as managers seek to balance natural forces.
Book Review: Iron and Water
Grant Merritt’s memoir tracks his life working to protect the lakes and land of Minnesota, describes the lows and highs of his many battles, recalls a pivotal period in Minnesota history, and reminds us why we must continue to fight to protect nature.
What is Wilderness? Examining tree rings, researchers reconsider the history of human influence in the Boundary Waters
“By examining annual growth rings in increment cores taken from tree trunks, we found that many pines at this site were more than 250 years old. Distinct injuries recorded within their rings denoted the passage of multiple low-severity surface fires that damaged but did not kill many of these trees…”
Martens make a comeback: Research explains how Isle Royale wildlife has changed over time
New study used DNA to determine origin of martens that returned to the island after decades of absence.
Boundary Waters canoe trip provides courage, strength, and starry nights to young East African women
Minneapolis entrepreneurship program takes group of women from immigrant community to the wilderness in search of canoe country’s unique challenges and rewards.
Painter captures forest regeneration after the Ham Lake Fire
“Painting that blackened landscape really taught me how to find beauty in an otherwise not so beautiful environment. The shiny silver patterns on a charred tree or stump against a green back ground were fascinating to me….”
Park Service proposes expanding visitor facilities at Isle Royale
Windigo-area project now open for public comment seeks to accommodate growing number of visitors, replace aging buildings, trails, and other infrastructure.
Honoring Veterans with a Boundary Waters wilderness experience
In July, five veterans of our US armed forces gathered to celebrate Independence Day in the BWCAW. The group had never met and most had never paddled before, but they were all ready to leave civilization behind to enjoy peace and serenity, and hopefully some good fishing.