Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Permits

Permits are required year-round for all day and overnight visits to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Different types of permits and related fees may apply, depending on the date, point of entry, mode of travel, and nature of your group.

Group Leaders or Individuals MUST have their permit with them at all times while in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Make sure to read through ALL the information on this page for reserving and picking up your permit.

When Do I Need a Permit?

May 1 to September 30 - Any visitor taking an overnight trip (paddle, motor, or hiking) or a motorized day trip is required to obtain a quota permit (reserved or walk-in).

October 1 to April 30 - Self-issued permits are required for non-motorized day use visitors year-round and for all overnight visitors entering the BWCAW

When Do Permits Go On Sale?

All quota permits for entry points are released on a first come, first served basis at 9:00 a.m. CT on the last Wednesday in January.

What Types of Permits Are Available or Needed?

Quota Permits

The quota limits the number of groups entering the BWCAW at a particular entry point each day. In addition to daily quotas, motorized use is limited by a weekly motor quota.

Groups may only enter the BWCAW on the entry date and through the entry point specified on the permit.
Permits may not be transferred to someone not listed on the permit.
Reservations are recommended since there are a limited number of permits available for each entry point.
Quota permits are only issued at Forest Service permit issuing stations, cooperating businesses, and through Recreation.gov

Walk-In Permits

Walk-up permits for any entry point with available quota may be obtained.
Can be picked up the day before or on the date of entry.

Self-Issued, Non-Quota Permits

No reservations are needed for these permits.

Required year-round for all non-motorized day use visitors and any motorized day use into Little Vermilion Lake
From October 1 and April 30 - all overnight visitors must have a self-issued permit
From May 1 to September 30 if you have a quota permit you do NOT need a walk-in permit
Forms for self-issued permits are available at entry point kiosks and at Forest Service Offices

Non-Profit Organization Reservations

Non-profit organizations that are planning trips into Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness must have permits.

You may reserve a maximum of three (3) permits per season under the organizations name.
- The organization member picking up the permits will become the Group Leader at the time of pickup; their name will be the name on the permit for the organization.
If you need more than three (3) permits they must be reserved in the Group Leaders name and not the name of the organization.

Band Membership

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa can access the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with their Band membership card in possession. Party members that are not Band members are required to have a permit.

If your trip to the BWCAW will include entry into Canada, you should contact the Canadian Border Services Agency at least 6-8 weeks in advance of your trip to obtain a Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit.

To apply for a RABC Program permit, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States.
Visit the Canada Border Services Agency website for more information on a CanPass, including eligibility, documents, fees, and applications.
Permits for Quetico Provincial Park are required for overnight and day use entry. Visit the Ontario Parks website for permit information.
If you plan on fishing in Canada, including the Canadian side of the border lakes, you must have an Outdoors Card and/or Canadian fishing license.

Entry Into Canada

U.S. citizens can present a valid U.S. Passport, Passport Card, Enhanced Driver’s License, Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), or Form I-872 American Indian Card or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card.
Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Driver’s License or Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST). U.S. and Canadian citizen
Children under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious group, or other youth group) need only present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. The birth certificate can be original, photocopy or certified copy.
If you enter the United States from Canada on your BWCAW trip, you must report to a Customs Border Protection (CBP) officer for inspection at a port of entry or a designated inspection location every time you enter the U.S. from Canada by boat.
Alternatively, the CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival — Mobile(ROAM) application can be used by boaters to check-in remotely. Download the CBP ROAM™ app prior to departure- from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more information.

For further questions about crossing the U.S./Canadian border, please call a local port of entry: (218) 283-2541 (International Falls) or (218) 475-2244 (Grand Portage).

Recreating on Crown Land

For information about camping and recreation on Ontario’s Crown land outside of provincial parks and conservation reserves, please visit Ontario's website.

How Much Are Permits?

User fees are charged for all overnight visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness between May and September 30.

User Fees Per Person Per Trip

Who	Price
Adults 18+	$16.00
Interagency Senior/Access Pass Holders*	$8.00
Youth 0-17	$8.00
Youth Access Pass Holder	$4.00
Day Use Visitors (Non-Quota Self-issued)	$0.00

*All Interagency Senior and Access Passes must be presented for validation when picking up permit or the discount will not be honored.

Cooperating businesses may charge up to $2.00 to issue an overnight permit.

Reservation Fees

When making reservations you will be charged a minimum of 2 adult overnight user fees.

Reservation Fee: $6.00
Minimum Deposit Permit Holding Fee: $32.00 - required when making an advanced reservation for quota permits.
- If final fees are less than $32.00 the difference will be refunded when the permit is issued

How Many People Can I Bring With Me?

Nine (9) people and four (4) watercraft are the maximum allowed together in the wilderness.
You may not exceed the limit as a group at any time or anywhere (on water, portages, campsites) in the BWCAW.
Smaller groups enhance your wilderness experience and chances of seeing wildlife, and decrease resource impacts.

Where Can I Get/Pick-up a Permit?

Permit reservations are done through Recreation.gov. All permits for all entry points are released on a first come, first served basis beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the last Wednesday of January.

You can also call Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777

Note: When your trip includes travel to or from Canada, select Paddle to/from Canada or Motor to/from Canada for the permit type when reserving your BWCAW permit

Permit Issuing Locations

A commercial permit issue station is a business that has an agreement with the Forest Service to issue mandatory quota permits at their location.

Review hours of operation and locations carefully and select an issue station near your entry point.
Only the permit holder or alternate permit holders specified at the time of reservation can pick up the permit (photo I.D. required).
Permits must be picked up on the entry date or one day prior at the location specified.
Issue stations may be changed online at Recreation.gov or by calling the contact center or Forest Service.
Commercial issue stations may charge a service fee (up to $2) for issuing overnight permits.

Picking Up Your Permit

Permits can only be picked up the day before or the day of entry.
Please check with your desired permit pick-up location to confirm their hours.
Remember to bring a photo ID when you pick up your permits.
Non-profits should be prepared to show evidence of legal non-profit status when picking up your permit(s).

Who Can Pick Up the Permit?

Permits may only be picked up by a group leader or alternate listed on the permit.
- Make sure to provide alternates when reserving your permit in case your group leader can't go.
- Alternates cannot be added after a permit is reserved.

The person signing the permit must be with the group the entire trip.

If your group size changes, additional user fees will be collected or a refund will be credited to the credit card used to pay

Leave No Trace Video Series

Permit holders are responsible for sharing the Leave No Trace Video Series with their group prior to departure:

Watch the first two Forest Service Leave No Trace videos and review Leave No Trace principles before picking up your permit.

The third video and the series will be shown to all groups when picking up a permit.

Changes and Cancellations

Each time a change is made you will receive a new confirmation email noting the changes made.

One Day Before Your Visit

You will be able to pay for the entire group, if you have not already
You can change the group size up to one day prior online; group size changes can be made at the permit issuing station as needed.

Cancellations and No Shows

If you cancel three (3) days or more before your visit your trip will be fully refunded
If canceled two (2) days or less before your visit the minimum deposit of $32.00 will be retained, additional payments will be refunded.
If you do not cancel and are a no show the Forest Service retains the entire payment made.

If you need to cancel please do so as soon as possible so the permits can be released.