Boundary Waters Canoe Area

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area contains over a thousand lakes and attracts visitors with its reputation for canoeing, fishing, backpacking and remote wilderness hiking.  Permits are required for all overnight visits to the BWCA wilderness area.  The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is one of Minnesota's top tourist attractions, drawing visitors from all over the United States as well as abroad.  Although there are many campgrounds surrounding the BWCA wilderness, most campsites in the Boundary Waters are accessible only by water.  Most lakes and rivers are interconnected by portage trails, resulting in over 1000 miles of canoe routes. Routes are easily chosen by selecting chains of lakes and portages of any length and difficulty. Some of the most popular entry points include Lake One, Trout Lake, Moose Lake, and Snowbank Lake near Ely, Saganaga Lake and Seagull Lake at the end of the Gunflint Trail, and Sawbill Lake near Tofte.  Fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area can be some of the best in Minnesota. Game species include northern pike, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, whitefish and lake trout.