The highlight of your visit to Minnesota could be your trip to the Boundary Waters. Minnesota camping, canoeing and "up close" with nature experiences just don't get any better than this.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA), set aside in 1926 to preserve its primitive character, is a part of the Superior National Forest. It is more than a million acres featuring over 1200 canoe routes through over 1,000 portage-linked lakes and rivers. The area includes 16 hiking trails and at least 2,000 designated camping sites.
The BWCA extends for nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary with Canada's Quetico Provincial Park and is bordered on the west by Voyageurs National Park. Visitors come to canoe, portage and camp in the freedom and spirit of the French Voyageurs of 200 years ago.
Some things you need to know to plan a trip to Minnesota's Boundary Waters:
There is a BWCA quota camping permit system. Only a designated number of permits are given out for each of the 84 entry points. It is important to book your trip as early as possible.
Designated campsites consist of a fire ring and a pit toilet. They are available on a first come first serve basis.
Portaging: You will carry your canoe and gear across the land to get it to another river or lake. Portages vary in difficulty. Some are long but fairly easy. Others can be short yet treacherous. Most are moderately easy to accomplish.
The closest airport to the BWCA is in Duluth, MN.
You can find many BWCA outfitters and guide services. Most of them are based in, or around, Ely, Minnesota.
