BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDE RNESS T RIP P LANNING G UIDE Your BWCAW Adventure Starts Here... GREAT GLACIERS carved the physical Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park and is What’s Inside… features of what is today known as the bordered on the west by Voyageurs Page 2 . Planning your BWCAW Trip Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness National Park. The BWCAW contains Page 2 . Superior National Forest (BWCAW) by scraping and gouging over 1200 miles of canoe routes, 12 Recreation Alternatives Page 3 . Reservation Basics rock. The glaciers left behind rugged hiking trails and over 2000 designated Page 4 . Leave No Trace cliffs and crags, canyons, gentle hills, campsites. Wilderness offers freedom to Page 5 . BWCAW Rules and Regulations towering rock formations, rocky shores, those who wish to pursue an experience Page 6 – 7 . Smart and Safe Wilderness Travel Page 8-9 . BWCAW Entry Points sandy beaches and several thousand lakes of expansive solitude, challenge and Page 10 . The BWCAW Past and Present and streams, interspersed with islands personal integration with nature. Because Page 10 . The BWCAW Act and surrounded by forest. this area was set aside in 1926 to Page 11 . Fire in the Wilderness The BWCAW is a unique area located preserve its primitive character and made Page 12 – 13 . Protecting Your Natural Resources in the northern third of the Superior a part of the National Wilderness Page 14 . Special Uses National Forest in northeastern Preservation System in 1964, it allows Page 15 . Children’s Activity Page Minnesota. Over 1 million acres in size, visitors to canoe, portage and camp in Page 16 . Contact Information it extends nearly 150 miles along the the spirit of the French Voyageurs of 200 International Boundary adjacent to years ago. USDA — Forest Service Superior National Forest 8901 Grand Avenue Place Duluth, MN 55808 Plan Your BWCAW Trip and Accept the Wilderness Challenge. emember, successful wilderness trips don’t suit the type of trip you want? just happen. They are the result of careful The BWCAW is only one of many recreation planning. Please use this trip planning alternatives on the Superior National Forest. This guide to get started. However, we area allows a visitor to enjoy the wilderness and all Rsuggest that you also use guidebooks and maps that it has to offer. Wilderness recreation that can be found in bookstores, local libraries, requires careful planning and preparation and and outdoor equipment stores. The expertise of involves some risk. Wilderness travel offers outfitters and guides can also be used when great personal freedom, but also requires self- planning a BWCAW trip. reliance and good judgement. Permits are As you begin to plan your trip, ask yourself required to enter the wilderness -. The visitor must about the type of experience you seek. Would your have knowledge of the entry points and routes; needs for solitude or your quest for the elusive lake some research may be needed to gather this trout best be met inside the BWCAW portion of information. These steps are necessary in order to the Superior National Forest, or would camping in protect the BWCAW and to provide a quality areas of the Forest adjacent to the BWCAW better wilderness experience. k Leave a trip itinerary with someone at home including: Before You Leave Home Trip leader’s name _____________ ____ Check current Minnesota Department of Consider specific survival gear to prevent Entry point and date ________________ Natural Resources fishing, hunting and becoming injured or lost in the wilderness such as: boating regulations for: 1. Extra food 10. Fire starter Exit point and date ________________ • Canoe and boat registrations (Minnesota 2. Rain gear 11. Water proof pouch Potential route ____________________ requires all watercraft to be registered and honors any state watercraft registrations) 3. Warm clothing 12. Nylon cord Number of people in the group _______ • Fishing licenses and trout stamps 4. Signaling mirror 13. Folding knife Number of canoes or boats ___________ • Fishing limits and possession of fish 5. Whistle 14. First aid kit • Hunting seasons Nearest Forest Service Ranger Station 6. Emergency blanket and phone number ___________________ • Watercraft lights 7. Map _____________________________________ http://www.dnr.state.mn.us 8. Compass Name of outfitter (if applicable) Wilderness visitors face inherent risk of adverse weather conditions, isolation, physical hazards, 9. Water filter or _______________________________ and lack of rapid communications. Search and purifier Make of car(s) driven & license rescue may not be as swift as expected in an urban setting. Be prepared! Prevent the need number(s)_______________________ for a search and rescue operation that may The Forest Service does not automatically impede the integrity of the wilderness area or initiate searches if a group doesn’t exit as put others in danger. Acquire and maintain planned. If someone is concerned because necessary skills for primitive travel by foot, you are late returning from your trip, they canoe, or other non-mechanical means. should contact the County Sheriff’s office You are responsible for your own safety (See Page 16 for emergency contact info). and that of your group. Superior National Forest Recreation Alternatives If something other than a wilderness trip is more your style, consider one of the following recreation alternatives in other beautiful areas of Superior National Forest. There are many ways to experience the great outdoors; explore what is best for you. Backcountry Campgrounds Commercial Resorts There are a variety of options outside the Boundary The Superior National Forest has 23 developed and Campgrounds Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that can offer the same campgrounds. Campgrounds are generally open from Within the Superior National Forest are a variety of peace and tranquility. In the Superior National Forest, mid-May to mid-September; some are open all year private resorts and campgrounds that may suit the there are over 200 sites outside the Wilderness called with no water or garbage pickup off-season though needs of a visitor looking for a trip near the “backcountry”. These areas offer remote paddling, walk-in access may be required. Campground wilderness rather than in it. Some of these camping, and fishing. Here you can experience facilities vary from flush toilets and showers to rustic accommodations are set up with showers, electrical solitude without fees or permits, and still have a fire campgrounds with vault toilets and hand pumps. hookups, and numerous other amenities. If this grate and latrine. These areas also have fewer Each campsite has a picnic table, fireplace, tent pad describes your needs, you can get more information at regulations. Visitors to backcountry areas should and parking spot. For a fee, reservations may be the chamber of commerce located nearest to the area follow the LEAVE NO TRACE ethic. See Page 16 for made in advance at some of the campgrounds you would be visiting. See Page 8 for chamber of contact information. through the National Recreation Reservation System commerce and tourism contact information. Many of (NRRS) by calling 1-877-444-6777 or at Rustic. There are 17 rustic campgrounds with no fees. the chambers have web pages that may be accessed for www.recreation.gov. Water and garbage are not available. more information. Additional information on campgrounds is available at www.fs.usda.gov/superior and www.recreation.gov boundary waters 2 canoe area wilderness BWCAW Seasonal Fee Card mit when you make a reserva - The purchase of a BWCAW Seasonal Fee Card tion. You can select any issuing The Basics fulfills the user fee requirements for the season, station. The reservation system but does not eliminate the need for obtaining a defaults to the Forest Service BWCAW permit. For reserved permits it does District in which the entry point Wilderness Permits not eliminate the need to pay the $6.00 lies. This default issuing sta - Permits are required year-round for all day and reservation fee and user fee deposit. They may tion may be further from the overnight visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe also be purchased in person after May 1 from any entry point than another Area Wilderness. Please use the following Forest Service Permit Issuing Station. station. For example, information to help you determine which type of Moose River is within the permit is appropriate for your group. Seasonal Fee Card Costs Per LaCroix District Person (Cook) and would Quota Permits Adult $64.00 be the default issu - Any group taking an overnight paddle, motor, or Youth (0–17) $32.00 ing station. Moose hiking trip, or a motorized day -use trip into the Interagency Senior/ River is closer to BWCAW from May 1 through September 30 is Access Card Holders $32.00 the Kawishiwi required to obtain a quota permit. The quota Youth Access Card Holder $16.00 District (Ely). Please system regulates how many groups can begin a make sure you trip at each entry point each day. In addition to reach the Permit the daily quotas, motorized boats are also limited Permit Reservations Issuing Station chosen dur - by a weekly motor quota. Groups may only enter ing their hours of operation. the BWCAW on the entry date and through the First-Come, First-Served and If you chose a Forest Service Office and are expect - entry point specified on the permit. Permits may Lottery ing delays on arrival, please change your issuing sta - only be picked up the day before, or the day of, We will continue to make the reservation system tion to one with longer hours of operation. You entry. Permits are not transferable. Reservations an efficient and effective system. For most of the can change your issuing station from a Forest are recommended since there are a limited BWCAW entry points, our data shows there are Service office to a cooperating business online or by number of quota permits available for each entry permits available throughout the season.