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As wildfires continue to burn across northern Minnesota, forcing evacuations and threatening homes and businesses, they’re also disrupting a cherished summer tradition for many people: a Boundary Waters canoe trip.

Renowned for its quiet lakes, rugged campsites, canoe routes and solitude, the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness draws about 150,000 visitors every year.

Get the latest information on wildfires in Minnesota

On Tuesday, though, the U.S. Forest Service closed the wilderness to all visitors, canceling permits for planned entries this week as wildfires swept across the landscape. The BWCA is closed for at least several more days, and likely longer.

While there’s no perfect substitute for the Boundary Waters, paddlers and campers can still find peaceful water, star-filled skies and off-the-beaten-path experiences in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Here’s where to look. 

Voyageurs National Park, northwest of the Boundary Waters along the Canadian border, is one alternative. As of Thursday, the park remained open and wasn’t seeing much smoke from the fires, according to park officials. 

At more than 218,000 acres — about 40 percent of it water — it delivers much of the same up-north experience as the BWCA, said Kate Severson, interpretation program manager at Voyageurs.

“So when you come out, you’re going to be looking at very classic North Woods Minnesota scenery,” Severson said. 

The park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places in the state to see the Milky Way and a sky filled with stars, free from light pollution.

There are a few key differences. Unlike the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs allows motorized boats on most of its lakes. And because many of those lakes are much larger, paddlers should be prepared for bigger waves and windier conditions.

Visitors can reserve campsites and check for any closures through the National Park Service’s 

Other northern Minnesota lakes outside the Boundary Waters also remain open for paddling, fishing and swimming. They may not have the same wilderness restrictions, but many are just as scenic and less crowded than people might expect.

Sawbill Lake sits on the southern edge of the BWCA away from the wildfires. Clare Shirley, owner and operator of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, said they’re still sending people on canoe routes unaffected by the closure, including the Timber-Frear, a chain of lakes with campsites.

“It’s a very Boundary Waters-esque sort of experience,” Shirley said. 

People looking for an easier getaway can also stay at nearby national forest campgrounds on Sawbill or Crescent lakes and spend their days paddling quiet, undeveloped lakes, she said.

“It's still pretty quiet, but you can have a car-camping campsite. You can be connected,” Shirley said. “You can know if you know something comes up or conditions change, you'll be aware very quickly. So it's a very safe proposition.”

Visitors headed to northern Minnesota should check 

 and watch for changing fire conditions. And be aware of a campfire ban across much of the region.

If you’re willing to trade lakes for rivers, the St. Croix River offers one of the Midwest’s classic multiday paddling trips.

Protected as a scenic riverway, the St. Croix winds through forests and sandstone bluffs, and is known for clean water and abundant wildlife.

Want a longer trip? Start upstream on the Namekagon River in Wisconsin before floating into the St. Croix. Riverside campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Several Minnesota state parks also offer canoe-in campsites. 

St. Croix State Park near Hinckley has 10 sites along the St. Croix and Kettle rivers that are only accessible by water. Farther downstream, Wild River State Park has four more canoe-in campsites.

In Itasca County, Scenic State Park near Bigfork has five reservable canoe-in sites off Coon-Sandwick Lake. They offer that on-the-lake experience away from other campers, said Lauren Peck, parks and trails communications specialist at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“It’s also a great park if you're looking for just a day-use experience that is really water-heavy, like the Boundary Waters,” Peck said. 

At Glendalough State Park in Otter Tail County, campers can paddle on Annie Battle Lake, a designated heritage fishery lake where motorized boats and electronic fish finders aren’t allowed. There are three canoe-in sites on the lake.

For a very different experience, try paddling abandoned mine pits filled with deep, clear water in Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Crosby. There are also a handful of walk-in campsites.

If you’re just looking for solitude and don’t need to be on water, several Minnesota state parks offer backpack camping for campers willing to hike in with their gear. Depending on the park, that hike can range from about a half-mile to four miles.

Don’t expect many amenities. Most sites have a tent pad, fire ring and primitive toilet. Some also include water and a picnic table.

At parks like Itasca, some backpack sites sit beside remote lakes that are otherwise difficult to reach, Peck said.

Other options include Afton State Park near Hastings, where all campsites require a hike, and woodsy Lake Maria State Park near Monticello.

State parks can be an ideal place for people who want to try backpacking for the first time, Peck said.

“You can get your practice in or do something a little bit lower key, but still have to haul in all your gear, do kind of a walk-in and be away from most other campers,” she said. “RV campers aren’t even allowed in those parks, because there’s no place for them. So it’s pretty quiet.”

For a rugged getaway, try state and national forests

Minnesota’s 46 state forest campgrounds offer an experience that’s quieter and more rustic than state parks. 

Most campgrounds have between five and 20 sites, with basic amenities like picnic tables, water and vault toilets — but not much else.

Reservations are made the same day, and campers simply choose an available site after they arrive.

 is allowed in many state forests outside designated campgrounds. That means no amenities, so campers should come prepared to be completely self-sufficient and practice “leave no trace” principles.

National forest campgrounds also offer another option for primitive camping. The Superior and Chippewa national forests in northern Minnesota both have rustic campgrounds and backcountry campsites that are outside of the fire zone. To make reservations, go to 

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Kirsti Marohn

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There’s no perfect substitute to the BWCA. But paddlers and campers can still find peaceful water, star-filled skies and off-the-beaten path experiences in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Here’s where to look. 

Evan Frost | MPR News 2016

Canoes sit at a public landing on the St. Croix River

Boundary Waters closed? These alternatives can deliver a wilderness fix

Go Deeper.

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