The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a U.S. Forest Service wilderness of over one million acres in the northern third of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. It has more than 1,100 lakes and several hundred streams and is entered by paddle with a permit.
- Wilderness Areatype of place
- Elywhere it is
- Not foundhours on the official page
- Publishedadmission on the official page
Visit Facts
- AdmissionOvernight user fees per person per trip, May 1 to Sept 30: Adults 18+ $16.00; Interagency Senior/Access Pass holders $8.00; Youth 0-17 $8.00; Youth Access Pass holder $4.00; Day use (non-quota self-issued) $0.00. Reservation fee $6.00; minimum deposit (permit holding fee) $32.00; at least 2 adult overnight fees charged when reserving.
- ReservationsA permit is always required to enter. Quota permits May 1 to September 30 (overnight and motorized day trips); self-issued permits October 1 to April 30 for overnight and non-motorized day use. Quota permits go on sale 9:00 a.m. Central on the last Wednesday in January. Reserve via Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777; pick up at an issuing station with photo ID on the entry date or the day before. Walk-up permits at any issue station on the entry date or a day prior when available (May 1 to Sept 30).
- Official pagefs.usda.gov
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | over one million acres of boreal forest |
| Lakes | more than 1,100 lakes and several hundred streams |
| Length along border | extends nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary |
| Neighbors | Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks (Ontario); Voyageurs National Park to the west; Grand Portage National Monument to the east |
| Nearby towns | Crane Lake, Ely, Grand Marais, Tofte/Lutsen, Duluth |
| Party size | Maximum of nine people and four watercraft together |
| Quota season | May 1 to September 30 |
| Self-issued season | October 1 to April 30; no reservations and no recreation fees for self-issued permits (per Forest Service search summary only; fee page itself lists day use $0) |
| Motors | Motorized equipment only in certain areas with a motor permit |
What We Could Not Verify
- Coordinates not printed
- County not stated (spans more than one; not published on pages read)
- Cancellation terms differ between a search snippet and the fee page read; the fee page read says full refund 3 or more days before, $32 deposit kept 2 days or less, whole payment kept for a no-show
- Entry point list, motor-permit rules and wilderness rules page not opened
- Fee amounts for Canada-bound travel not read
- Region North Lakes is a judgment call, not stated by source
- Hours, prices and closures change. Confirm on the official page before you go.
- Map point: no official coordinate was published, so we do not show a map.
More In North Lakes
- Leech Lake
- Big Bog State Recreation Area
- Garden Island State Recreation Area
- Hayes Lake State Park
- Itasca State Park
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area
- Lake Bemidji State Park
- Zippel Bay State Park
- Events in North Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is in Ely, Minnesota. See the official page for the address.
What does Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness cost?
Overnight user fees per person per trip, May 1 to Sept 30: Adults 18+ $16.00; Interagency Senior/Access Pass holders $8.00; Youth 0-17 $8.00; Youth Access Pass holder $4.00; Day use (non-quota self-issued) $0.00. Reservation fee $6.00; minimum deposit (permit holding fee) $32.00; at least 2 adult overnight fees charged when reserving.
Are dogs allowed at Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
We did not find a pet policy on the pages we read, so ask the operator before you bring a dog.
Sources
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (USFS Superior National Forest) (read November 1, 2026).
- BWCAW permits and fees (USFS Superior National Forest) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.
Cite this page: It’s Minnesota. “Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.” itsminnesota.com/places/boundary-waters-canoe-area-wilderness/. Facts read from the sources above on November 1, 2026.