Partial Reopening of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Jul 27, 2026 06:28PM ● By Editor
Image: SNF
From the Superior National Forest - July 27, 2026
From the Superior National Forest - July 27, 2026
The Superior National Forest will implement a partial reopening of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) starting Thursday, July 30. Forty-one entry points in the central and eastern portions of the Wilderness will reopen for day and overnight use, marking Phase 2 of the reopening process following limited day use access earlier this week. These areas represent roughly 39 percent—or about 432,500 acres—of the BWCAW.
The Phase 2 list includes all the same entry points as Phase 1 and adds several entry points in Lake and Cook Counties. There is only one entry point reopening in St. Louis County: Trout Lake (day-use motor only). Day-use motor is also opening on Seagull and Saganaga Lakes in Cook County. Opening of Phase 2 entry points is depicted by the BWCAW Closure Order #09-09-06-26-07 Exhibit B map.
All other entry points will stay closed while multiple wildfires continue to burn in the area. Permits for these entry points have been cancelled from July 30 through August 3. The Forest Service is working closely with partners to determine when conditions are appropriate enough to reopen. Protecting the public and firefighters’ remains the highest priority.
The following entry points are being reopened:
For maps and more information on the Phase 2 partial reopening and fire restrictions please visit: https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
A. Forty-one entry points in the central and eastern portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen for day use and overnight travel. These locations were chosen because, in close coordination with partners, the Forest Service determined that current wildfire conditions allow visitors to appropriately access these areas.
Q. Could the reopening planned for July 30 change?
A. Yes. If wildfire activity increases or conditions shift, reopening plans may be modified. Visitors should check the Superior National Forest’s Alerts page (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts) for the latest closure information.
Q. Why was the BWCAW initially closed?
A. Beginning July 7, the Superior National Forest experienced more than 25 wildfires fueled by extremely dry conditions and hot, windy weather far outside typical summer patterns. Several fires remain active and largely uncontained, and firefighters continue suppression efforts throughout the forest, including inside the BWCAW. To protect both the public and firefighting personnel, the Forest Service temporarily closed the Wilderness.
Q. Why isn’t the entire BWCAW reopening?
A. Many areas of the BWCAW remain heavily affected by wildfire. Active fires continue to burn, smoke impacts persist, and crews must clear hazardous snags, assess damaged infrastructure such as campsites and latrines, and manage the presence of firefighting equipment throughout the region. As conditions improve, portions of the Wilderness will reopen in phases. Phase 1 allowed day use in parts of Cook County beginning July 27, and Phase 2 is reopening 41 entry points—about 432,500 acres—for both day and overnight use beginning July 30, if conditions remain stable.
Q. If I have a permit for an entry point after July 30, can I enter the BWCAW?
A. Yes—if your entry point is included in the Phase 2 reopening and conditions remain stable. Because wildfires can change rapidly, Phase 2 may be delayed if risks increase. Public and firefighter safety is the Forest Service’s highest priority.
Q. I obtained my permit through a cooperator. What should I do?
A. Contact your cooperator to discuss your trip and explore available options.
Q. How long will the rest of the BWCAW remain closed?
A. The Forest Service monitors conditions across the 1,098,000‑acre Wilderness daily to identify opportunities for gradual reopening. Areas significantly affected by wildfire may need more time due to changed landscapes and lingering hazards. The Forest Service aims to reopen portions of the BWCAW on July 30 if conditions allow, restoring overnight access at 41 quota entry points and approximately 432,500 acres.
Q. My permit is for an entry point that remains closed—what other recreation opportunities are available, and are campgrounds, trails, and other areas still open?
A. Yes. The Superior National Forest offers many alternatives, including 23 developed campgrounds, 18 rustic campgrounds, 254 backcountry campsites, numerous hiking trails, and remote canoe routes outside the BWCAW—many of which require no fees, permits, or reservations. Additional recreation opportunities are available on nearby state and county lands, and visitors are encouraged to explore open sites both within the partially reopened BWCAW and across the rest of the forest. However, some recreation trails and camping areas also be temporarily closed from the wildfires. Visitors should check the forest’s Alerts webpage and recreation pages for current conditions and closure updates.
Q. How do I find daily updates or more about the current fires?
A. Visit InciWeb, the official National Fire Incident System: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. The Phase 2 list includes all the same entry points as Phase 1 and adds several entry points in Lake and Cook Counties. There is only one entry point reopening in St. Louis County: Trout Lake (day-use motor only). Day-use motor is also opening on Seagull and Saganaga Lakes in Cook County. Opening of Phase 2 entry points is depicted by the BWCAW Closure Order #09-09-06-26-07 Exhibit B map.
All other entry points will stay closed while multiple wildfires continue to burn in the area. Permits for these entry points have been cancelled from July 30 through August 3. The Forest Service is working closely with partners to determine when conditions are appropriate enough to reopen. Protecting the public and firefighters’ remains the highest priority.
The following entry points are being reopened:
Gunflint Ranger District
- 43 Bower Trout Lake
- 44 Ram Lake
- 45 Morgan Lake
- 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes
- 48 Meeds Lake
- 49 Skipper and Portage Lakes
- 50 Cross River
- 51 Missing Link Lake
- 52 Brant Lake
- 58 South Lake
- 59 Partridge/South Lake Trail
- 60 Duncan Lake
- 61 Daniels Lake
- 62 Clearwater Lake
- 64 East Bearskin Lake
- 66 Crocodile River
- 68 Pine Lake
- 69 Little John Lake
- 70 North Fowl Lake
- 78 Brule Lake Trail
- 79 Eagle Mountain Trail
- 81 Border Route Trail (west)
- 82 Border Route Trail (center)
- 83 Border Route Trail (east)
- J Saganaga Lake (Day Use Motor)
- K Sea Gull Lake (Day Use Motor)
Kawishiwi Ranger District
- 33 Little Gabbro Lake
LaCroix Ranger District
- A Trout Lake (Day Use Motor)
Tofte Ranger District
- 34 Island River
- 35 Isabella Lake
- 36 Hog Creek
- 37 Kawishiwi Lake
- 38 Sawbill Lake
- 39 Baker Lake
- 40 Homer Lake
- 41 Brule Lake
- 67 Bog Lake
- 75 Little Isabella River
- 84 Snake River
For maps and more information on the Phase 2 partial reopening and fire restrictions please visit: https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which BWCAW entry points are reopening for overnight use on July 30, and why were they selected?A. Forty-one entry points in the central and eastern portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen for day use and overnight travel. These locations were chosen because, in close coordination with partners, the Forest Service determined that current wildfire conditions allow visitors to appropriately access these areas.
Q. Could the reopening planned for July 30 change?
A. Yes. If wildfire activity increases or conditions shift, reopening plans may be modified. Visitors should check the Superior National Forest’s Alerts page (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts) for the latest closure information.
Q. Why was the BWCAW initially closed?
A. Beginning July 7, the Superior National Forest experienced more than 25 wildfires fueled by extremely dry conditions and hot, windy weather far outside typical summer patterns. Several fires remain active and largely uncontained, and firefighters continue suppression efforts throughout the forest, including inside the BWCAW. To protect both the public and firefighting personnel, the Forest Service temporarily closed the Wilderness.
Q. Why isn’t the entire BWCAW reopening?
A. Many areas of the BWCAW remain heavily affected by wildfire. Active fires continue to burn, smoke impacts persist, and crews must clear hazardous snags, assess damaged infrastructure such as campsites and latrines, and manage the presence of firefighting equipment throughout the region. As conditions improve, portions of the Wilderness will reopen in phases. Phase 1 allowed day use in parts of Cook County beginning July 27, and Phase 2 is reopening 41 entry points—about 432,500 acres—for both day and overnight use beginning July 30, if conditions remain stable.
Q. If I have a permit for an entry point after July 30, can I enter the BWCAW?
A. Yes—if your entry point is included in the Phase 2 reopening and conditions remain stable. Because wildfires can change rapidly, Phase 2 may be delayed if risks increase. Public and firefighter safety is the Forest Service’s highest priority.
Q. I obtained my permit through a cooperator. What should I do?
A. Contact your cooperator to discuss your trip and explore available options.
Q. How long will the rest of the BWCAW remain closed?
A. The Forest Service monitors conditions across the 1,098,000‑acre Wilderness daily to identify opportunities for gradual reopening. Areas significantly affected by wildfire may need more time due to changed landscapes and lingering hazards. The Forest Service aims to reopen portions of the BWCAW on July 30 if conditions allow, restoring overnight access at 41 quota entry points and approximately 432,500 acres.
Q. My permit is for an entry point that remains closed—what other recreation opportunities are available, and are campgrounds, trails, and other areas still open?
A. Yes. The Superior National Forest offers many alternatives, including 23 developed campgrounds, 18 rustic campgrounds, 254 backcountry campsites, numerous hiking trails, and remote canoe routes outside the BWCAW—many of which require no fees, permits, or reservations. Additional recreation opportunities are available on nearby state and county lands, and visitors are encouraged to explore open sites both within the partially reopened BWCAW and across the rest of the forest. However, some recreation trails and camping areas also be temporarily closed from the wildfires. Visitors should check the forest’s Alerts webpage and recreation pages for current conditions and closure updates.
Q. How do I find daily updates or more about the current fires?
A. Visit InciWeb, the official National Fire Incident System: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
