12/18/09 – Below is the Forest Service news release about BWCA Wilderness entry permits for the 2010 season. Although they call it a lottery, if you apply for overnight permits in the Sawbill area anytime in the next four weeks, you are highly likely to get the permit. – Bill

The lottery for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) permits opened December 1, 2009 and will continue through January 15, 2010. The lottery provides the first opportunity for visitors to reserve a BWCAW permit for the coming season.
Applicants must set up an account on www.recreation.gov to enter the lottery. It is a quick and easy process. Application results can be viewed online between January 16 and January 20.
Remember, faxed or mailed applications, and payments made by check and money order WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Only successful applicants will be charged a non-refundable $12.00 reservation fee and applicable overnight user fees.
Beginning January 20, 2010, first-come first-served wilderness permit reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov . Reservations may be made by phone beginning February 1, 2010 by calling the National Recreation Reservation Service toll free at (877) 550-6777.
Please visit www.recreation.gov for additional information.
The BWCAW lottery was established to fairly distribute available quotas for entry dates and entry points where demand exceeds availability. For those who know their desired entry date and location well in advance, the lottery offers an early opportunity to make a reservation. In the lottery process, permits are awarded through a computer-generated, random selection.
The purpose of the wilderness permit quota system is to distribute visitors and use in a manner that protects the natural resources and wilderness values, and limits the social encounters to which are appropriate for each management area.