The Superior National Forest Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) quota permit update for 2025 includes office hour adjustments and the Trout Lake Day Use motor entry point to be issued remotely (LaCroix District).

“Due to staffing limitations, we are adjusting office hours at select District Ranger Offices in coordination with our cooperators, and providing a temporary modification to issue permits remotely for the Trout Lake Day Use Motor Entry Point to meet the needs of our visitors,” said Tom Hall, Forest Supervisor, Superior National Forest, “We have on-going coordination with our cooperators, guides and partners to ensure our visitors have the amazing trip they have dreamed of to our forest.”

Reduction in Forest Service Office Hours in 2025 and BWCAW Permit Issuing. Office hours at some Forest Service locations will be reduced in 2025 due to staff shortages starting May 1. (See full details listed below).

• Permit holders traveling to Gunflint Ranger District on Saturday or Sunday when the office is closed will be amply served by (16) commercial issue stations located near BWCAW entry points.
• Permit holders traveling to Tofte Ranger District on Monday when the office is closed will be issued permits by Gunflint Ranger District and multiple issue stations in the Tofte/Grand Marais area.
• The closure of LaCroix Ranger District (LAC) Saturday through Monday could impact some permit holders who may travel further to pick up a permit due to a lack of issue stations in the area.
• Kawishiwi and Laurentian Ranger District Office hours will not change.

Trout Lake Day Use Motor Entry Point - Temporary & Limited Permit Modification (LaCroix District) for 2025. Many permits printed by the LaCroix Ranger District are issued for Day Use Motor on Trout Lake and a significant portion of these permits are issued to residents. Local Day Use Motor permit holders for Trout Lake may be disproportionately impacted by having to drive further to pick up a permit when LAC is closed. This could result in fewer Trout Lake reservations which may impact the operating hours of the mechanical portage.

A temporary and limited modification to issue permits remotely is warranted for permit holders most impacted during the shift in office hours at the LaCroix Ranger District. The goals of a temporary and limited permit modification are to:

• Provide excellent customer service to BWCAW visitors with fewer staff.
• Prevent resource damage by maintaining the integrity of the facility business rules and the effectiveness of the Leave No Trace (LNT) education program.
• Reduce barriers to visiting public when obtaining a permit.
• Keep the mechanical portage at Trout Lake open seven days/week.

2025 Superior National Forest Office Hours. The Superior National Forest ‘open to the public’ office hours May 1 through September 30 for the 2025 BWCAW quota permit season are as follows:

Kawishiwi Ranger District (Ely, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. seven days a week:

Sunday – Saturday. [email protected] (218) 365-7600

Gunflint Ranger District  (Grand Marias, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. five days a week:

Monday – Friday. [email protected] (218) 387-1750

Tofte Ranger District (Tofte, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. six days a week:

Tuesday – Sunday. [email protected] (218) 663-8060

LaCroix Ranger District  (Cook, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. four days a week:

Tuesday – Friday. [email protected] (218) 666-0020

Laurentian Ranger District (Aurora, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. five days a week:

Monday – Friday. [email protected] (218) 453-8650

Forest Supervisor’s Office (Duluth, MN) will be open 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. five days a week:

Monday – Friday. [email protected] (218) 626-4300

Click here to read the press release shared Dec. 16, 2024.