Reservations open for Boundary Waters Canoe Area overnight adventures
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Despite the frigid winter temperatures, it’s time to start making plans for summertime canoe trips. The U.S. Forest Service begins accepting reservations to camp in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for the upcoming season on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m.
Permits to paddle and camp overnight in the wilderness area from May 1 to Sept. 30, 2026, can be reserved at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Officials with the Superior National Forest encourage visitors to plan at least three different travel dates and entry points into the wilderness before making a reservation.
That’s because the most popular dates and places to enter the Boundary Waters fill up quickly in the first come, first served system. That’s especially been the case since 2022, when the Forest Service cut the number of permits available to reduce overcrowding and other issues.
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Canceled and no-show permits can also limit availability. Some campers reserve multiple dates and then cancel later in the year when they firm up their plans. But others fail to cancel, meaning those permits go unused.
Last year, out of about 21,000 overnight paddle permits issued, there were about 2,100 no-shows. That’s a 7 percent decrease from 2023. An additional 9,000 permits were canceled last year; those can be rebooked by other campers.
Cancellations have more than doubled over the past five years, “which suggests some visitors continue to reserve more permits than they can use,” said Superior National Forest spokesperson Joy Vandrie.
“When permits are canceled early, they return to the system and allow others to plan trips. We continue to encourage visitors to cancel as soon as plans change,” Vandrie said.
The Forest Service also said that one change they made last year will continue this coming season — permits will not be available to pick up at the Ely and Grand Marais ranger stations.
Instead, paddlers will have to pick up permits at another ranger station, or from one of several outfitters that partner with the Superior National Forest.
“This model allows us to keep services available while using staff and partnerships efficiently across the forest,” Vandrie said.
Ginny Nelson, who runs Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters in Ely with her parents, said they issued about 700 more permits last year because of the change. And she says she’s been busy this week taking calls from campers reserving canoe trips for this coming summer.
She said seasoned travelers know to book their permits early. She said more inexperienced paddlers often lose out on more desirable entry points by failing to book early.
“But that being said, if you're a little bit flexible on your entry date or entry point, or you have a little bit more last minute availability, there's a lot of permits that people pick up in season to come on trips,” said Nelson.
Nelson said prior to the COVID pandemic many canoeists went on shorter trips, from two to four days. A positive trend she’s seen the past few years is people taking longer canoe trips —up to six days — which she says allows people to travel deeper into the wilderness.
Fees for Boundary Waters trips will remain the same this year. But the Forest Service has proposed more than doubling overnight camping fees starting in 2027.
Other reminders: Group size is limited to nine people with no more than four watercrafts. Visitors are also required to practice Leave No Trace etiquette, and watch a series of videos before entering the wilderness.
The Superior National Forest also publishes an extensive trip planning guide to assist visitors.
