Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

How to Get There

From Duluth, MN (120 mi): Take US-53 N from Duluth approximately 60 miles to Virginia, MN, then continue north on US-169 to Ely for western entry points, or take MN-61 E from Duluth to Grand Marais for the eastern entry points.

Overview

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is a 1,090,000-acre (4,400 km2) wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern part of Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service. A mixture of forests, glacial lakes, and streams, the BWCAW's preservation as a primitive wilderness began in the 1900s and culminated in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act of 1978. It is a popular destination for canoeing, hiking, and fishing, and is one of the most visited wildernesses in the United States.

Things to Do

Experience America's Premier Canoe Wilderness

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is one of the most renowned wilderness destinations in North America. Located within the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota, the wilderness encompasses more than one million acres of interconnected lakes, rivers, forests, and wetlands along the Canadian border. With over 1,000 lakes and hundreds of miles of canoe routes, the BWCAW offers unparalleled opportunities for paddling, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and backcountry adventure.

Paddle Through a Vast Network of Lakes and Rivers

Canoeing is the signature activity of the Boundary Waters. Visitors can travel through a maze of lakes connected by historic portage trails, experiencing remote wilderness landscapes that have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Routes range from short day trips to multi-week expeditions through some of the most pristine waters in the United States.

Enjoy World-Class Fishing

The Boundary Waters is considered one of North America's premier freshwater fishing destinations. Anglers can pursue walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and perch while enjoying quiet, undeveloped waters surrounded by wilderness scenery.

Observe Wildlife and Dark Skies

The wilderness supports a remarkable variety of wildlife, including moose, gray wolves, black bears, beavers, river otters, bald eagles, loons, and numerous migratory bird species. Due to minimal light pollution, the BWCAW is also an exceptional destination for stargazing and viewing the northern lights.

Camp in True Wilderness

More than 2,000 designated campsites are scattered throughout the wilderness, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience remote backcountry camping. Wilderness regulations help preserve the area's natural character, providing solitude and an authentic outdoor experience.

Top Trails

Kekekabic Trail

Length: Approximately 39 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Strenuous
Difficulty: Strenuous

One of Minnesota's most challenging and remote hiking trails, the Kekekabic Trail crosses deep wilderness, forests, wetlands, ridges, and lakes. Backpackers seeking solitude and a true wilderness experience often consider it one of the state's premier long-distance hikes.

Border Route Trail

Length: Approximately 65 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Strenuous
Difficulty: Strenuous

Following portions of the international border region, this trail offers spectacular overlooks of lakes, forests, and rugged terrain. The route provides some of the finest panoramic views in northeastern Minnesota and is popular among experienced backpackers.

Eagle Mountain Trail

Length: Approximately 7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate

This trail leads to Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota at 2,301 feet. Hikers pass through beautiful wilderness scenery and are rewarded with views from the state's highest summit.

Angleworm Lake Trail

Length: Approximately 13 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous

This scenic loop travels through forests, ridges, and lakeside environments near the wilderness boundary. It offers excellent opportunities for backpacking, wildlife viewing, and experiencing the natural beauty of the Boundary Waters region.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service official Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness information, including details on canoe routes, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, permits, hiking trails, and wilderness recreation opportunities. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/superior/recarea/?recid=41668
Additional information verified through Superior National Forest resources covering the Kekekabic Trail, Border Route Trail, Eagle Mountain Trail, Angleworm Trail, backcountry regulations, and wilderness stewardship programs throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Geography

The BWCAW extends along 150 miles (240 km) of the U.S.-Canada border in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota. The combined region of the BWCAW, Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and Ontario's Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks make up a large area of contiguous wilderness lakes and forests called the "Quetico-Superior country", or simply the Boundary Waters. Lake Superior lies to the south and east of the Boundary Waters.

190,000 acres (770 km2), nearly 20% of the BWCAW's total area is water. Within the borders of the area are over 1,100 lakes and hundreds of miles of rivers and streams. Much of the other 80% of the area is forest. The BWCAW contains the largest remaining area of uncut forest in the eastern portion of the United States.

The Laurentian Divide between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay watersheds runs northeast-southwest through the east side of the BWCAW, following the crest of the Superior Upland and Gunflint Range The crossing of the divide at Height of Land Portage was an occasion for ceremony and initiation rites for the fur-trading Voyageurs of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The wilderness also includes the highest peak in Minnesota, Eagle Mountain (2,301 feet (701 m)), part of the Misquah Hills.

Located around the perimeter of the BWCAW are six ranger stations: in Cook, Aurora, Ely, Isabella, Tofte and Grand Marais. The two nearby communities with most visitor services are Ely and Grand Marais. Several historic roads such as the Gunflint Trail, Echo Trail (County Road 116) and Fernberg Road (County Road 18) allow access to many wilderness entry points.

Wildlife

Animals found in the BWCAW include deer, moose, beaver, timber wolves, black bears, bobcats, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and loons. It is within the range of the largest population of wolves in the contiguous United States, as well as an unknown number of Canada lynx. It has also been identified by the American Bird Conservancy as a globally important bird habitat.

Recreation

The BWCAW contains more than 2,000 backcountry campsites, 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of canoe routes, and 12 different hiking trails and is popular for canoeing, canoe touring, fishing, backpacking, dog sledding, and enjoying the area's remote wilderness character.

Permits are required for all overnight visits to the BWCAW. Quota permits are required for groups taking an overnight paddle, motor, or hiking trip, or a motorized day-use trip into the BWCAW from May 1 through September 30. These permits must be reserved in advance. Day use paddle and hiking permits do not require advance reservation and can be filled out at BWCAW entry points. From October 1 through April 30, permit reservations are not necessary, but a permit must be filled out at the permit stations located at each entry point.

Hiking

The BWCAW contains a variety of hiking trails. Shorter hikes include the trail to Eagle Mountain (7 miles (11 km)). Loop trails include the Pow Wow Trail, the Snowbank Trail, and the Sioux-Hustler Trail. The Border Route Trail and Kekekabic Trail are the two longest trails running through the BWCAW. The Border Route Trail runs east-west for over 65 miles (105 km) through the eastern BWCAW, beginning at the northern end of the Superior Hiking Trail and following ridges and cliffs west until it connects with the Kekekabic Trail. The Kekekabic Trail continues for another 41 miles (66 km), beginning near the Gunflint Trail and passing through the center of the BWCAW before exiting it near Snowbank Lake. Both the Border Route and the Kekekabic Trail are part of the longer North Country National Scenic Trail.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular activity in the BWCAW. Game species include northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and occasional panfish. Trout including brook trout, lake trout, rainbow trout and splake are also found. White sucker, burbot, and whitefish also occur. Limited stocking of walleye and lake trout is done on some lakes where natural recruitment is limited. The wilderness contains one of the largest concentrations of native lake trout lakes in the lower 48 states.

Night sky viewing

In 2020 the BWCA became a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, one of 15 in the world.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0