Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness Trip Planning Guide
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United States Department of Agriculture BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS TRIP PLANNING GUIDE our BWCAW dventure tarts ere... Photo courtesy of Ann Schwaller reat glaciers carved the the Superior National Forest in its primitive character and made physical features of what northeastern Minnesota. Over a part of the National Wilderness G is today known as the 1,098,000 acres in size, it extends Preservation System in 1964 with Boundary Waters Canoe Area nearly 150 miles along the subsequent legislation in 1978. Wilderness (BWCAW) by scraping and International Boundary adjacent Designated wilderness offers gouging rock. The glaciers left behind to Voyageurs National Park and solitude, freedom, primitive rugged cliffs and crags, rocky shores, Canada’s Quetico and La Verendrye recreation, challenge, risk, and sandy beaches and thousands of Provincial Parks. The BWCAW personal connection with nature. lakes and streams, interspersed with contains over 1,200 miles of canoe The BWCAW allows visitors to canoe, islands and surrounded by forest. routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 portage and camp in the spirit of The BWCAW is a unique area designated campsites. This area those travelers that came before located in the northern third of was set aside in 1926 to preserve them centuries ago. Smart and Safe Wilderness Travel . 8 Protecting Your Natural Resources . 18 What’s Inside Camping and Fire . 10 Special Uses . 21 Plan your BWCAW Trip . 2 Winter Wilderness Travel . 11 Volunteering . 22 Wilderness Permits: the Basics . 3 BWCAW Entry Point Map . 12 Your User Fees at Work . 22 Leave No Trace Principles . 5 BWCAW Entry Points . 14 Sample Trip Itinerary . 23 BWCA Wilderness Rules & Regulations 6 BWCAW Past and Present . 16 Permit Issuing Stations . 24 Plan Your BWCAW Trip uccessful wilderness trips don’t just Recreation Alternatives in the and water pumps with no fees. Rustic happen. They are the result of Superior National Forest campgrounds are available first come, Scareful planning. Please use this Backcountry Campsites first served year-round. Each campsite trip planning guide to get started. There are 254 backcountry campsites has a picnic table, fireplace, tent pad and However, we suggest that you also use outside the wilderness that offer remote parking. Reservations may be made for guidebooks and maps found in book- paddling, camping and fishing. Here some fee campgrounds by calling (877) stores, local libraries, online and at you can experience solitude without 444-6777 or at: www.recreation.gov outdoor equipment stores. The expertise reservations, fees or permits and still Resorts & Private Campgrounds of outfitters and guides can also be used have a fire grate and latrine. Visitors Near the Forest are a variety of private when planning a BWCAW trip (see page 24). must follow the same Leave No Trace resorts and campgrounds that suit the As you begin to plan your trip, ask principles listed on page 5. For a list of needs of visitors looking for a trip near yourself about the type of experience canoe routes with backcountry campsites the wilderness rather than in it. See you seek. Would your needs for solitude go to: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_ tourism information on page 24. or your quest for the elusive lake trout DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5302434.pdf Day Trips into the BWCAW best be met inside the BWCAW, or would Forest Campgrounds Non-motorized day trips by canoe, kayak, camping in areas of the Forest adjacent The Forest has 23 developed campgrounds standup paddleboard or hiking require to the BWCAW better suit the needs of open from mid-May to mid-September. a Self Issued permit available at entry your group? The BWCAW is only one of Campground facilities vary from flush point kiosks. No reservations or fees are many recreation alternatives on the toilets and showers at fee campgrounds, required for non-motorized day trips. See Superior National Forest. to “rustic” campgrounds with vault toilets page 3 for details. Accept the Wilderness Stewardship Challenge Accepting the wilderness challenge comes process is necessary in order to protect that may impact the integrity of the with great responsibility. Wilderness the BWCAW and to provide a quality wilderness area or put lives in danger. recreation inside the BWCAW requires wilderness experience. Permits are always It is your responsibility to acquire and careful planning, preparation and required to enter the BWCAW (see page 3). maintain necessary skills for primitive involves some risk. Wilderness travel Wilderness visitors face inherent risk travel by foot, canoe or other non- offers great personal freedom, but also of adverse weather conditions, isolation, mechanical means. requires self-reliance and good judgement. physical hazards and lack of rapid If you lack the appropriate skills for The visitor must have knowledge of communications. Search and rescue remote backcountry travel, consider the entry points and routes; and some takes longer in the wilderness than in an using a professional guide (see page 24). research may be needed to gather this urban setting. Be prepared! Prevent the You are responsible for your own information. Each step in the planning need for a search and rescue operation safety and that of your group. Before You Leave Home Check current Minnesota Department of • Sleeping bag and tent Natural Resources fishing, hunting and Trip Itinerary • Water filter or purifier watercraft regulations before your trip Always leave a trip itinerary with • First aid including: someone before leaving home! See kit and necessary • Canoe, kayak, standup paddleboard sample trip itinerary on page 23. and watercraft registrations medications • Fishing licenses and trout stamps Bring survival gear to prevent • Weather radio • Fishing limits and possession of fish becoming injured or lost: • Hunting seasons • Map • Extra food • Watercraft lights • Compass • Warm clothing • Rain gear • Whistle For more information, contact the MN Department of Natural Resources: • Signaling mirror • Nylon cord 888-646-6367 • Fire starter • Folding knife www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations • Water proof pouch • Emergency blanket BOUNDARY WATERS 2 CANOE AREA WILDERNESS Wilderness Permits: the Basics ermits are required year-round for Pall visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Please use the following information to help you determine which type of permit is appropriate for your group. Quota Permits Quota permits are required for any group entering the BWCAW between May 1 and September 30 if they are camping overnight (whether the group is paddling, motoring or hiking) or if they are visiting during the day using a motorized boat. The quota system regulates how many groups may enter an entry point each day.* In addition to daily quotas, motorized Photo courtesy of Robert McAdams use is limited by a weekly motor quota. Groups may only enter the BWCAW on Non-Quota Self Issued Permits Special Use Permits the entry date and through the entry Self Issued permits are required year- Outfitters and guides leading groups point specified on the permit. Permits round for all non-motorized day use into the BWCAW must obtain a special may only be picked up the day before visitors, for any motorized day use use permit and must follow all the same or on the date specified on the permit. into Little Vermilion Lake, and for all rules and regulations (see page 21). Permits may not be transferred to overnight visitors entering the BWCAW someone not listed on the permit. between October 1 and April 30. The User Fees Reservations are recommended since Self Issued forms are available at any User fees are charged for all overnight there is a limited number of quota Superior National Forest Office and at visitors to the BWCAW between May 1 permits available for each entry point. entry point kiosks. No quota is applied Quota permits are issued only and September 30. There are no user fees to this use, so no BWCAW Visitor Self Issued Permit 99500 TRIP LEADER COPY for day use visitors. Fees are as follows: at Forest Service permit issuing reservations are THIS PERMIT IS VALID FOR: stations and cooperating businesses May 1 - September 30 ● NON-MOTOR DAY USE* October 1 - April 30 needed. Please fill out User Fees Per Person Per Trip ● ALL LEGAL USE under a Cooperator Agreement. *Except Day Use Motor for entry point #12 Little Vermilion Lake and beyond. the form carefully Adult . .$16.00 All BWCAW visitors must have a completedRemove permit “Tripin their Leader possession Copy” andwhen keep in the Boundary Waters (one permit per group). with you at all times. Leave “Official Use Copy” in entry point box. First Come, First Served Name____________________________________________________ and review the rules Youth (0-17) . .$8.00 Address ____________________________________ZIP___________ All permits for all entry points will be Phone Number (_____)___________________ on the back of the Interagency Senior/ Entry Point Name or Number _________________________________ Access Card Holders . .$8.00 Please Circle: permit with your released on a first come, first served Method of Travel: Canoe Kayak Foot Motorboat Paddle Board Dogsled Ski Snowshoe Other___________________________ Youth Access Card Holders . .$4.00 basis beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Number of People: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 & Watercraft: 1 2 3 4 entire group. Carry Overnight Trip Date Day Trip : Entry Single ONLY 10/1-4/30 _______ , _________ , __ the top copy of the Time on the last Wednesday in January _________ Entry Date________ , _________ _________ , _________ Exit Date_________ through www.recreation.gov or through permit with you at “Wilderness itself is the Trip Leader Signature: ____________________Date:_____________________ I agree to abide by all laws, and regulations (see reverse) which apply to the BWCA Wilderness and will all times and place the reservation center at: be responsible to see that everyone in our group does likewise. U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE: 2018-535-354 basis of all our civilization.