BWCA RESERVATIONS & PERMITS

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Permits are required year-round for all day and overnight visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Permits do not reserve a campsite, but rather grant access to a particular entry point.  

Overnight (quota) permits are not necessary from October 1 - April 30th.  During this time you may pick up a day permit (non-quota) at designated issuing stations the day of or the day before entry.  Similarly, during the summer season, day permits can be obtained in the same fashion. 

RESERVING A BWCA PERMIT

The permit reservation process starts each year when lottery applications for permit reservations for Fall Lake entry points D (Fall Lake & Beyond) and 24 (Fall Lake) and Moose Lake entry points F (Moose-Newfound-Sucker), G (Moose-Prairie-Basswood) and 25 (Moose Lake). Lottery applications can be submitted online starting from 12:01 am CT on December 19, 2012 to 11:59 pm CT on January 21, 2013. The lottery will run on January 22. 

All other entry points will open for reservations on a first come first serve beginning 9:00 a.m. CT on January 30th, 2013 at 9 a.m.

When making a reservation, you will be asked for the following information:

• BWCA Entry point

• Arrival date

• Estimated exit date

• Trip Leader's name, address, postal code and telephone number

• Estimated number of people and watercraft

• Permit issuing station

• Method of payment (i.e. credit card number and expiry date)

Reservation Fees:  A $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each reserved permit.

Use Fees:  A per person user fee is charged for your group when reserving an Overnight Permit for entries from 1st of May to 30th September each year.

Seasonal Fee Cards:  Seasonal Fee Cards may be purchased in person after May 1 from any Superior National Forest District Office. This card fulfills the fee requirements for the season but does not eliminate the need for obtaining a BWCAW permit and paying the $6 non-refundable reservation fee.

** Please note that the discounted prices for the seasonal fee cards are only applied at the time of issuing the permit. When making reservations, you will pay for a minimum of 2 adult overnight user fees. Refunds will be applied at the time of permit issuance. ** All cards (Interagency Senior/Access Pass Holders, or Seasonal) must be presented at the time of permit pickup to receive a discount, otherwise the full fee will be charged.