Photo: Lee Vue on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 16, 2025

The United States Forest Service - Superior National Forest (SNF) announced today that it is proposing updates to recreational fees for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). With these changes, the SNF plans to reinvest directly into education, access and safety, maintenance, and the overall visitor experience within the wilderness area. Additionally, support for additional staffing needs during operating seasons could be included. The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, passed in 2004, allows the Forest Service to retain at least 80% of collected recreation fees for local use in operating, maintaining, and improving recreation sites. 

According to a release from the USFS, BWCAW visitors would see "portage, entry point and campsite improvements to degraded amenities such as fire rings, latrines, and many other improvements."

BWCAW fees have not increased since 2008, while, according to the SNF, staffing and maintenance costs have "increased substantially." 

Currently, the cost for a youth trip is $8, and the cost for an adult or senior trip is $16. The proposed changes would increase the price of a youth trip to $20 and an adult or senior trip to $40. 

The public is invited to review the BWCAW Recreation Fee proposal and provide comments through September 2, 2025 (see details below).

After September 2, comments will be reviewed and integrated into the SNF proposal, which will then go to the Regional Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) for review and recommendation. 

Public Engagement Opportunities

The SNF is hosting several open houses for the public to learn more about the proposal and offer feedback:

• In-person Open House (Ely, MN): July 14, 4-6 p.m. at the Kawishiwi District Office.
• Virtual Open House: July 15, 4-6 p.m. via MS Teams.
• In-person Open House (Grand Marais, MN): July 22, 4-6 p.m. at the Gunflint District Office.
  
  

Community members can also submit a written comment via postal mail or a virtual comment via email. Learn more here.

If the proposal is approved, the increased fees are expected to take effect in January 2027.