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Welcome to the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness! To preserve the values of this great wilderness, certain
rules must be followed. Remember, BWCAW Permits are required! And, starting the summer of
1998, overnight wilderness visitors will be required to pay a camping
use fee.
The BWCA Reservation Web site
has real-time permit availability, this is an external link to the National
Recreation Reservation Service.
To
order a permit for entry dates from May 1 through September 30 use an
outfitter or order your own permit on the
BWCAW Reservations Web site.
You do not need to pay for a permit for dates not within this range. You only
need to complete a free self-issue permit, pick one up from any
Ranger Station.
Self-Issued Permits (Entry dates from October 1 through April 30 ONLY)
- The self-issuing permits are valid
during the summer for non-motorized day use, and for any day use from Crane Lake to Lake
Vermilion.
- Self-issuing permits are available at
any Forest Service office and at major BWCAW entry points.
- The summer quota permit system has not
changed. Reservations are still made through the BWCAW Reservation System.
In accepting a permit you, as party
leader, agree to be responsible for any violation of the following:
The following are enforceable
Forest Service regulations (maximum penalty of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail).
Travel Permits
- You must enter the BWCAW
at the entry point and on the entry date shown on your permit.
- You may not re-enter on a
different date using the same permit.
- Permit stubs become
invalid when the group leader exits the wilderness.
Group Size
- Nine (9) people and four
(4) watercraft are the maximum allowed together in the wilderness.
- You may not exceed the
limit at any time or anywhere (on water, portages, campsites) in the BWCAW.
- Smaller groups increase
your wilderness experience and decrease the impacts.
Toilet Facilities & Water
Quality
- Use latrines at designated
campsites.
- Latrines are not garbage
cans and should be used for the intended purpose only. Personal waste items
such as cigarettes, cotton swabs, or plastic feminine products should always
be packed out and should never go into the latrines.
- If you're not near a
latrine, 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 hole and cover with needles
and leaves.
- Bathe and wash dishes at
least 150-200 feet from lakes and streams.
- All soaps pollute water
including soaps labeled "biodegradable."
Containers
- Cans and glass bottles are
not allowed.
- Containers of fuel, insect
repellent, medicines, personal toilet articles, and other items that are not
foods or beverages are the only cans and bottles you may keep in their
original containers.
- Food may be packaged in
plastic containers that must be packed out with you.
Food and Fish Remains
- Try to plan your meals so
you don't have leftovers. If you do, pack them out.
- Dispose of fish remains by
traveling well away from campsites, trails, portages and shorelines.
Campfires
- Fires are allowed within
the steel fire grates at designated campsites or as specifically approved on
your visitor’s permit.
- Bringing a small camp
stove may be a better idea because it heats food more quickly, has less impact
than a fire, and comes in handy during rainy weather.
- Due to the potential fire
danger, fire restrictions may be put into effect. Check on current conditions
just prior to your trip. You may be required to use a camp stove if there is a
campfire restriction.
- If you build a fire, burn
only small diameter dead wood found lying on the ground. Do not burn trash.
- Collect firewood away from
campsites by paddling down the shore and walking into the woods where it is
more abundant.
- Wood easily broken by hand
or cut with a small folding saw eliminates the need for an axe.
- Drown your fire with water
any time you are going to be away from your camp or at bedtime. Stir the ashes
until they are cold to the touch with a bare hand.
- Transporting wood from out
of state is prohibited.
Campsites
- All members of a permit
group must camp together.
- Camp only at Forest
Service designated campsites that have steel fire grates and wilderness
latrines.
- Make camp early in the day
to ensure finding an available campsite.
- It is illegal to cut live
vegetation for any reason.
- You may camp up to
fourteen (14) consecutive days on a specific site.
Storing Watercraft
- Only watercraft and
equipment used in connection with your current visit may be stored and left
unattended.
- All equipment and personal
property must be carried out with you at the end of each trip.
Cultural Heritage
- Leave archaeological,
historical, and rock painting sites undisturbed.
- The use of metal detectors
is prohibited.
Firearms & 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.
- State game laws apply in
the BWCAW.
- Fireworks of any kind are
illegal.
Pets
- Dogs impact wildlife and
barking intrudes on the experience of others. They must be under control at
all times.
- Dispose of fecal matter
150 feet from water sources, campsites, and portages, or deposit it in a
latrine.
Motor-Powered Watercraft
Regulations
- Motor-powered watercraft
are permitted only on the following designated lakes. 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) is allowed.
Lakes With 10 Horsepower
Limit
On these lakes, the
possession of one additional motor no greater than 6 horsepower is permitted, as
long as motors in use do not exceed 10 horsepower. - Clearwater, North Fowl,
South Fowl, Seagull (no motors generally west of Three Mile Island), sections of
Island River within the BWCAW.
Lakes With 25 Horsepower
Limit
- On these lakes or portions
of these lakes, the possession of one additional motor no greater than 10
horsepower is permitted, as long as motors in use do not exceed 25 horsepower:
- Basswood (except that portion north of Jackfish Bay and Washington Island),
Saganaga (except that portion west of American Point), Fall, Newton, Moose,
Newfound, Sucker, Snowbank, East Bearskin, South Farm, Trout.
Lakes With No Horsepower
Limits
- Little Vermilion, Loon, Lac
La Croix (not beyond the south end of Snow Bay in the U.S.A.), Loon River.
Portage Wheels
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.
Non-Profit Organizations
A group must have an official
tax-exempt status to qualify as a non-profit organization. If your permit
reservation is audited, your group must be able to produce a tax-exempt number.
All the people on the trip, with the exception of a guide, must be associated
with the non-profit organization. Non-profit organizations may reserve as many
permits as they like. However, there is a limit of no more than three (3)
permits within a permit season to be reserved under the name of any one
non-profit organization name as the Organization name associated with the
Permit. Additional permits can only be reserved under a specific person's name
as group leader with no association to the Non-profit organization.
The only benefit to reserving
a permit having an association to a non-profit organization's name is that the
permit may then be issued to anyone who can prove affiliation with the
organization in the same location. For example, if a permit is reserved with an
association to Non-profit organization "Girl Scouts, Troop 16, Chicago" then
anyone affiliated with that particular organization may have the permit issued
to her/him. When reserving a permit associated with a non-profit organization,
the non-profit organization's name, address and a contact person for the
organization is required. The Customer profile must be under the contact
person’s name and the organization under profile must be set to the Non-profit
Organization. The representative of the non-profit organization that actually
picks up the permit becomes the group leader, must remain with the group for the
duration of the trip, and will be responsible to see that the group follows
BWCAW regulations. Please contact the Forest Service office nearest your planned
entry point for additional information about reserving permits planning for
non-profit organizations.
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