Legislation Seeks to Route North Country Trail Through Arrowhead
Rep. Nolan introduces bill to resolve long-standing issue, take advantage of existing hiking trails in northeastern Minnesota
Search Results for: superior hiking trail
Boundary Waters Advisory Commission Meets with Forest Service to Discuss Restoration of Pow Wow Hiking Trail
When most people think of summer recreation in the Boundary Waters Wilderness, images of canoes, blue lakes and fishing come to mind. To a cadre of backpacking enthusiasts the BWCAW is …
North Country National Scenic Trail to Cross the BWCAW
By Matthew Davis The National Park Service and North Country Trail Association (NCTA) are trying to obtain passage of legislation in Congress that would enact the “Arrowhead Re-route”– a proposal to …
Fall Surprises on the Section 13 Cliffs
“That will make a great story,” I thought, as I started my climb to the Section 13 Cliffs on the Superior Hiking Trail. I was only 0.3 miles into my hike and I already had a story to tell.
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…
USFS to purchase 80,000 acres from the DNR within the BWCAW
Update: public comment period extended. State and federal agencies are collaborating to transfer 80,000 acres within the BWCAW to the federal government. “School Trust Lands” originally aimed to provide long-term revenue for Minnesota’s public schools, but wilderness protection measures have limited their ability to generate sufficient income. Groups see the move as a win both for wilderness and for public schools.
Some BWCAW entry points closed due to storm damage
Heavy rainfall from severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage to roads and flooding within the Superior National Forest (SNF), including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). In response, the USFS – Superior National Forest has closed several entry points. As a result, individuals with BWCAW permits reserved through June 22, 2024, are being notified directly of the cancellation and refunded.
Global environmental organization plants 2.3 million trees in northern Minnesota
Over the past year, state, federal, and environmental groups have partnered to plant millions of trees in northern Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy reports that the state’s forests have decreased from 31.5 million acres to 18 million acres since the 1800s. They aim to reverse this trend by boosting forest resiliency and diversity while adapting to long-term climate change.
Project 2025: Conservative proposal may overturn Boundary Waters mining ban
Project 2025, founded by a coalition of conservative organizations, urges the next Republican administration to overturn the 20-year ban on new mineral leasing near the BWCAW. Environmental advocates raise concerns about the risk of pollution and wilderness protection.
Advocacy group purchases land near the BWCAW
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness recently purchased 361 acres of land along the South Kawishiwi River. This scenic river borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and is considered one of America’s most endangered rivers.
Get involved: conservation and counting loons in Minnesota
There are growing concerns that loons will no longer summer in Minnesota as soon as 2080 due to the changing climate. Environmental and state organizations seek volunteers to help count loons.
Proposed amendments aim to overturn the 20-year mining ban
Last week, Representative Pete Stauber attached five amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. These aim to overturn the 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). While four of those amendments were defeated, one remains under review.
Should life jackets be required in the BWCA?
Recent incidents in the BWCAW have resurfaced a long debate about whether people should be required to wear personal flotation devices…
Hike to Devil’s Kettle at Judge C.R. Magney State Park
Where does the water from Devil’s Kettle go? Hike to the mysterious waterfall that splits across ancient rock, tumbles down 50 feet and disappears into a giant pothole…
Northeast Minnesota summer bucket list
I wonder if this has ever been true for you. Somewhere around mid-August, you realize that summer is almost over and you have yet to do most of your favorite summer activities. Here are six must-dos in northeast Minnesota this summer. #1 Camp in breathtaking places. #2 Hike a remote trail. #3 Swim in a lake…
Elder trees of the BWCA may not survive climate change
The oldest known tree in Minnesota grows in the Boundary Waters, estimated to be over 1,000 years old and informally known as the “Legacy Cedar.” Although past logging practices obliterated numerous trees, remnants of these ancient giants still linger in isolated pockets within the wilderness. Forest managers now consider their vulnerability to warming climate conditions.
New BWCAW Collaborative promotes shared learning with the USFS
The Superior National Forest and stakeholders who care about the BWCA collaborate on topics including forest stewardship, visitor use, fire management, impacts and restrictions…
No longer “off the grid” – phone satellite coverage coming to BWCA
Full smartphone satellite coverage may be coming to the Boundary Waters sooner than you think. If made permanent, users would have the same level of connectivity that they experience daily. Wilderness areas like the BWCA could have full coverage by 2025. Search and rescue response expects to benefit…
Bill targets gray wolf endangered status
Lawmakers passed a bill titled “Trust the Science Act” which would delist gray wolves from the endangered species list. If the bill passes into law, management would shift from federal to state governance.
Everything you need to know about the new BWCA food storage order
The USFS has updated the regulations concerning food storage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hanging items in a tree or using approved bear-resistant containers has been a part of the regulations and rules, and now violations can bring penalties. Learn how to hang a food pack from a tree and travel safely through bear habitat.