Reservations for overnight camping permits in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) open today, January 31st, at 9am CST. Permits can be reserved online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
The BWCAW is a 1.1 million acre wilderness area located in northeastern Minnesota.
To preserve the wilderness character and prevent overcrowding, the U.S. Forest Service requires backpackers and paddlers to obtain quotas for each overnight entry point between May 1st and September 30th.
Competition for permits has grown more intense since 2022 when the Superior National Forest reduced quota permits by 13% to address overcrowding and resource damage. Popular entry points tend to book up very quickly.
The Forest Service recommends having multiple date and entry point options planned out ahead of time in case your first choice is not available.
They also advise being open-minded to exploring new areas rather than fixating on a particular favored route.
Officials strongly discourage “prospective” permit bookings for trips you may not end up taking.