Boundary Waters Camping Equipment Rentals - Minnesota

Canoe Camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area - What to Know

If you want to get in touch with nature, escape the crowds, and disconnect, Northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) is just the ticket. 

Located in the Northwoods of Minnesota, the BWCA offers 1.1 million acres of untapped wilderness, with the option to also explore the neighboring Canadian park, Quetico, which has another million acres. 

This massive and pristine area was carved out by ancient glaciers, leaving thousands of lakes, valleys, and ridges that can be explored by canoe in the warmer months and by ski, dogsled, or snowshoe in the winter months. Highlights of a trip to the BWCA area are canoeing, fishing, swimming and camping under the stars.

Days in the Boundary Waters consist of paddling tranquil lake after lake, portaging canoes between the lakes on historic routes traversed by early fur traders and shared with wildlife, and setting up camp in one of the 2000 backcountry campsites perched on the glacial lakes. If you are lucky, you may spot one of the resident moose or hear wolves howling at night as you tuck into your tent.

If you’re wondering how to plan a trip to the Boundary Waters, TripOutside’s outfitter recommendations above are a great way to ensure you get the expert guidance and advice you need, as well as all the equipment required for your adventure.

A Short History of the BWCA

The area of Minnesota that we now call the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was believed to have first been inhabited by Woodland Indians, followed by Sioux Indians and the Ojibwe tribe. In the late 1600s, European explorers began to visit the area and soon it was regularly populated with traders and adventurers.

The ownership of the Boundary Waters was disputed by the United States and Canada, and the border that made the BWCA part of the USA wasn’t established until 1842. Preservation of the Boundary Waters area began in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until 1978 that activists and residents of the surrounding area created the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act, which protected the entire space.  Despite the Wilderness protection, there have been major threats recently to the BWCA’s pristine watershed by several mining companies.

How to Get to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

To get to the Boundary Waters, most visitors fly to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) and drive to Ely, Tofte or Grand Marais. This takes about three hours and forty-five minutes. 

Others continue from the Twin Cities via a short connecting flight to Duluth, which is a two-hour drive from the BWCA. However, there is a lot to be seen from Duluth to the BWCA, and most locals would advise more time for special stops along the way to admire waterfalls and scenic views of Lake Superior.

The Best Time to Visit Boundary Waters

The summer months are the busiest time of year in the BWCA, and the majority of travelers head to the area to enjoy canoeing the Boundary Waters in the warm weather and swimming in the lakes after they’ve set up camp. June and July are typically the most popular months for canoe trips.  These months have some of the warmest weather, but they are also known for mosquitos, especially after sunset.   August welcomes cooler nights which means less mosquitos, and the water is still plenty warm for swimming.

You can visit the Boundary Waters any time of the year, and the mode of transportation switches to skis and snowshoes in the winter months.  The vast majority of visitors come in summer, but the BWCA is still magical in winter.  Whatever the season, if you are looking for a backcountry trip in a vast, undisturbed wilderness, this is the best place to do so.

BWCA Entry Points

In order to access the BWCA, you’ll need to enter at an official entry point. The Boundary Waters has about 70 different entry points through which paddlers can enter the wilderness for day trips or overnight trips. Typically, there is parking available at each entry point to leave a vehicle while in the BWCA. 

There are three general areas in which you can enter the BWCA: on the western side of the BWCA in Ely, MN, on the eastern side near Tofte, MN and off the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, MN. Most travelers choose an entry point based on where they’ll be traveling from and which areas of the wilderness they want to explore. However, each entry point only allows a certain number of people into BWCA per day through the allocation of Boundary Waters permits, which may also impact your decision.

You can read our recommendations for the best Boundary Waters entry points in our Boundary Waters for Beginners Guide.

The 5 Best Things To Do in Boundary Waters

Canoeing

Boundary waters canoe trips are perhaps the most popular activity for visitors to the area. There’s no better way, and often no other way, to properly explore this wilderness than from a canoe, admiring the scenery from the water and traveling across lakes and ponds to islands and otherwise unreachable parts of the forest.

Hiking

If you don’t enjoy spending your time in a canoe however, hiking is also a great way to explore Boundary Waters. Wind your way along the paths and trails that link the BWCA lakes together and set up camp in one of the many designated campsites to extend your trek, making the most of the peaceful tranquility of this protected part of the world.

Wild Camping

There are over 2000 designated campsites around the BWCA, which operate on a  first-come, first-served basis. If you want to stay for more than a day in the Boundary Waters area then you’ll get to wild camp in this wilderness in one of the designated campsites, providing a fantastic opportunity to feel closer to nature and enjoy going back to basics during your trip.

If you’re wondering about how to camp in the Boundary Waters, we recommend looking at different campsite locations in line with your route before you travel, or speaking to a recommended local outfitter listed above for advice.

Stargazing

Finally, one of the best things about Boundary Waters is the lack of pollution, both on the ground and up in the sky. Without any significant light sources nearby, the stargazing opportunities are fantastic and the area is one of only 15 Dark Sky Sanctuaries, so can easily entertain you for an entire evening if you’re spending the night in the wilderness.

It’s also possible to see the Northern Lights when you’re camping in the BWCA if you’re lucky and plan your trip at the right time of year.

Boundary Waters Rules and Regulations 

Guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service sets out a range of Boundary Waters rules that need to be followed if you’re visiting the area. You must read up on these regulations before you visit and ensure that you follow ‘Leave No Trace’ principles in order to maintain the beauty and sustainably of the wilderness.

Some of the key rules to remember include:

• Only enter the BWCA at the entry point and on the date marked on your permit
• No more than 9 people and 4 watercraft in a group
• Using the bathroom, bathing and dish washing should be done at least 200 feet from lakes and streams
• All trash, leftover food and litter must be taken with you outside of the BWCA at the end of your trip (pack it out!)
• Campfires are allowed only in campsite fire grates at designated campsites
• Only burn small diameter dead wood found lying on the ground.  Never burn plastic or cut down live trees or other plants.
• No camping outside of designated sites in the summer
• No camping at the same site for more than fourteen days
• Leave what you find - do not take rocks, plants or antlers
• Store food properly to protect wildlife
• Pets must always be kept under control
• No discharging of firearms outside of the regulated areas
• No fireworks or drones
• No motorized watercrafts outside of designated areas

It’s a good idea to stick to official lists of what to bring to the Boundary Waters so that you don’t unintentionally break any of the rules or damage the area.

You can read a full breakdown of the rules of the Bounday Waters Canoe Area Wilderness here.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Outfitters

To get insider knowledge and advice about your route, as well as rent gear, local outfitters are a wise choice. These local experts have many years of BWCA experience and will be able to share in-depth insights into the best Boundary Waters routes, campsites and entry points, along with providing the best kind of gear for the trip you have in mind.

All of TripOutside’s trusted BWCA outfitters have reviews with four stars or above to ensure a great experience for all. You can hear local tips, tricks, and more from Piragis Northwoods Company co-founder, Steve Piragis in this episode of the TripOutside podcast.

Save the Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is threatened by sulfide-ore copper mining.  The Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters is leading the effort to ensure permanent protection for the Boundary Waters Wilderness, America's most visited Wilderness and Minnesota's crown jewel, from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining.

What would a Twin Metals mine on the edge of the Boundary Waters mean? Pollution. Here’s a look at different ways this toxic mine could pollute the Wilderness. Not this mine. Not this place. #SavetheBWCA

Find out more about how you can help Save the BWCA!