Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region. Robert Beymer
SETTING OUT ON YOUR TRIP: Be sure that someone—Forest Service official, outfitter, or friend—knows your itinerary and when you expect to return. They should have instructions to contact authorities if you are overdue. The Forest Service has no way of knowing when (or if) you have exited the BWCAW.
Rules, Regulations, and Recommendations
Even the BWCAW has rules and regulations to follow. The Forest Service enforces these rules and disregarding them can lead to penalties reaching $5,000 in fines and/or six months in jail. All federal, state and local laws must be obeyed. Call the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for questions about boating and fishing regulations: (888) 646-6367 or (651) 296-6157.
Summaries follow but take time to make sure all members of your group are aware of the regulations and the consequences for not following them.
PERMITS: You must enter the BWCAW at the entry point and on the entry date shown on your permit. Expired permits cannot be used on different dates and you may not re-enter on a different date using the same permit. Permits become invalid when the trip leader leaves the wilderness.
GROUP SIZE: Nine people and four watercraft are the maximum allowed together in the wilderness. Not only must two groups of nine people each camp separately, they must also paddle separately.
DOGS: Although dogs have been called “Man’s Best Friend,” Fido may not be so popular in the BWCA. Incessant barking can ruin the experience of campers that you may not be aware are nearby. A chance encounter with wildlife can lead to serious injuries. If your dog experiences his own sense of wanderlust, chasing him down can ruin your trip. If you choose to bring your dog, he must be kept on a leash at landings and on portages.
MOTORS AND MECHINICAL ASSISTANCE: Motor-powered watercraft are permitted on designated lakes only. All other lakes or portions of lakes within the BWCAW are paddle only. Motors may not be used (or be in possession) on any paddle-only lake. No other motorized or mechanized equipment (including pontoon boats, sailboats, sailboards) are allowed. Mechanical assistance is only permitted over the following: International Boundary, Four-Mile Portage, Fall-Newton-Pipestone and Back Bay Portages into Basswood Lake, Prairie Portage, Vermilion-Trout Lake Portage. Use of any other motorized or mechanical equipment of any type is not permitted within the wilderness.
Loon spreading its wings (Spice Lake)
CAMPFIRES: Check on current fire restrictions before you leave. Potential fire danger may prohibit the use of campfires. If fires are allowed, they must be contained within the steel fire grates at designated campsites or as specifically approved on your visitor’s permit. Collect firewood away from campsites by paddling down the shore and walking into the woods where it is more abundant. Gathering wood that is easily broken by hand or cut with a small folding saw eliminates the need for an axe. Bringing wood with you from out of state is prohibited. Use a camp stove for cooking. Modern stoves are easy to use, are more efficient, and can feed a hungry group even in inclement weather.
CAMPSITES: All members of a permit group must camp together. You may camp up to 14 consecutive days on a specific site. If you are traveling on a popular route, choosing a campsite early in the day will ensure that you will have a place to stay. Camp only at Forest Service designated campsites that have steel fire grates and wilderness latrines. It is unlawful to cut live vegetation for any reason. Old camping traditions, such as using moss or boughs for a bed and digging drainage trenches around tents, tarps, or anywhere else is also not permitted.
LATRINES: If a latrine is not available at your campsite, dig a small hole 6 to 8 inches deep at least 150–200 feet or more back from the water’s edge. When finished, fill the hole and cover with needles and leaves. Do not use latrines as garbage receptacles.
LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT)
Every paddler and camper who visits the BWCA, no matter how diligent, leaves a record of that visit. Understanding the consequences of our interactions with the environment and practicing a Leave No Trace ethic can preserve the wilderness for the generations that will follow far into the future.
The Forest Service began development of the Leave No Trace ethic in the 1960s, and by the mid-1980s had created a formal program that builds understanding and awareness of low impact camping practices. As an incorporated 501-c-3, nonprofit organization LNT now partners with the Forest Service, Department of the Interior, and National Park Service to promote the program. Learn more about Leave No Trace practices at www.lnt.org.
While planning your trip, add the 20-minute BWCAW Leave No Trace User Education video to your checklist. After viewing this video, BWCAW paddlers and campers will understand how they can preserve the long-term health of the BWCAW by following responsible recreation practices. Contact any Forest Service office to obtain a copy of the video. The following LNT advice is especially pertinent to BWCAW visitors:
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS: Take rest breaks away from trails, portages, and other visitors. Don’t occupy campsites for day use, as this may prevent someone from camping overnight. Respect the peace and solitude of the wilderness. Sound carries far across open water—especially on a quiet evening. Keep noise to a minimum and you’ll improve the quality of the wilderness experience for yourself and for others. You will also greatly improve your chance of seeing wildlife.
RESPECT WILDLIFE: Do not follow or approach wildlife. Never feed animals. It can damage their health and alter their natural behaviors. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations properly. When fishing, use lead-free tackle.
DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Deposit human or dog waste in the latrines. Wash yourself and dishes with biodegradable soap away from streams or lakes. Remember that burning trash in fire grates is illegal. Pack it out.
TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES: Using established trails and campsites minimizes your impact on the wilderness. Keep campsites small and stay in areas where vegetation is absent to keep the human footprint as small as practical. Leave clean campsites for those who follow. Walk in single file in the middle of the trail, even when the trail is muddy.
PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE: Know area rules and regulations. Prepare for extreme weather. Use a map and compass.
MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS: Use a lightweight stove for cooking. When fires are permitted, use an established fire grate and keep fires small. Burn all wood and coals to ash, and make sure the fire is completely out. Collect firewood away from campsites to prevent enlarging and defacing the area.
LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND: Leave archaeological, historical, and rock painting sites undisturbed so the next paddler can have the same sense of wonder you experienced. If you need to take a memory, use a camera to capture the scene. Do not introduce or transport non-native plants, live bait, or animals.
FOOD: Bring sealable plastic bags to pack out empty food containers or other waste. When packing, remember that cans and glass bottles are not allowed. Metal fuel containers, insect repellent, and toiletries are exceptions.
SOAP: Bathe and wash dishes at least 150–200 feet from any body of water. Use biodegradable soaps to avoid polluting the water.
FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS: Discharging a firearm is prohibited within 150 yards of a campsite or occupied area, or in any manner or location that places people or property at risk of injury or damage. State game laws apply in the BWCAW. Fireworks of any kind are illegal.
Primitive Management Areas
For small groups of visitors who desire a more primitive and secluded wilderness experience, there are 12 designated Primitive Management Areas (PMAs) within the BWCAW that are managed like Quetico Provincial Park on the Canadian side of the border. These PMAs cover 124,000 acres of the most remote parts of the wilderness.
Travel through the PMAs requires more effort and skill than is needed in most parts of the BWCAW. The Forest Service does not maintain portage trails and campsites in these areas, and most lakes within the PMA must be reached