Photo: Maxime Doré on Unsplash.com

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - January 25, 2026

Permit reservations for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) will become available beginning at 9 a.m. (central time) on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. The permits cover the upcoming season, which runs from May 1 through September 30.

To prevent "stockpiling and hoarding" of permits, the USFS has established a policy that cancels all but one permit if a holder makes multiple reservations for the same entry date or has overlapping dates. According to the Forest Service, these cancellations may occur without notification.

The USFS recommended in a press release that visitors should have at least three trip options ready, including different dates and entry points, before attempting to make a reservation. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of nine people and four watercraft at any time. 

Visitors should book reservations online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. 

Related: Following "dramatic reduction" in human-bear conflicts, USFS extends mandatory food storage order in BWCAW